The Dixie State University webpage posted an overall GPA, 2.977, for Trailblazer athletics for 2016-17, but compared to past cumulative GPAs this is not one of the highest GPA’s for the athletic department.
According to a press release by DSU issued in 2014, what was then Red Storm Athletics, DSU athletes reached an overall grade point average of 3.211. At the time, this was notably the highest GPA made by student athletes since 2006 at DSU.
Mo Eckroth, senior associate athletic director-compliance, said the athletic department has a goal every semester of a 3.0 GPA. She also said for some teams the GPA is higher and some teams strive to have the highest GPA within the department.
“We [the athletic department] believe with 400 student athletes, an average 3.0 [GPA] is an excellent goal,” Eckroth said.
Jimmy Knodel, director of strategic positioning for the PacWest Conference, said although the conference presents an Academic Achievement Award to the highest cumulative GPA each year, DSU yet to have been selected for such an award.
During the spring season of 2017 the overall student athlete GPA has a 3.0, accounting for a total of 305 students.
Faculty athletic representative Nathan Staheli protects the rights of student athletes by overseeing the welfare of individual athletes.
Staheli said because some academic needs of student athletes are unique, having a class just for them is helpful.
Similar to what some DSU student may have experienced their freshmen year during a Freshman Year Experience class, student athletes also participate in a FYE class specified for athletes.
Staheli advises student athletes to first identify their study habits before coming to him or a faculty member if they’re experiencing any difficulty academic-wise.
With the 2018 spring athletic season coming to a close, the latest overall GPA for DSU Trailblazer athletes is soon to come.
