The University student athlete graduation success rate continues to improve with a 3 percent increase from last year, according to a report issued last week by the National Collegiate Athletic Association. Student athletes are graduating at a success rate of 59 percent, according to the NCAA.

This is a vast difference from the 44 percent rate a few years ago, Rob Bernardi, athletics director, said.

The graduation success rate was created to more accurately depict the number of graduating athletes by providing a year-to-year statistic.

It differs from the federal rate, which looks at the incoming class six years ago, Bernardi said.

“It’s a little bit more accurate in terms of real time,” Bernardi said. “It shows what’s happening now as opposed to what happened six years ago.”

The graduation success rate was created to track athletes, including transfer students, throughout their college careers, according to the NCAA.

The federal rate does not count those students who have transferred from one institution to another. Transfer students are considered non-graduates at their first institution and are not included in calculations at the second, even if they graduate, according to the NCAA.

The graduation success rate was part of a reform package developed in 2003, along with the academic progress rate, which measures academic progress each semester. Institutions in which student athletes fail to improve their academic performances and graduation rates could face penalties.

These include loss of scholarships and practice time and possible suspension from NCAA membership, according to the NCAA.

Colonel athletes’ continual improvement in the graduation success rate provides proof that the University athletic department is improving, Bernardi said.

“That information is important because you can point at the statistics, something concrete, and say we are making progress,” Bernardi said. “If you can show that progress, it gives you more credibility and gives the department credibility.