According to Iowa State’s recent report to the NCAA, 59 percent of the athletes who entered ISU as freshmen during the 1989-90 school year graduated from ISU within six years.

Despite a slight decrease in the athletes’ graduation rate from the previous year, Iowa State should remain at the top of the Big 12 Conference.

Iowa State’s graduation rate over the past four years has been 61 percent, which is the best in the conference.

Steve McDonnell, head of the Student Athletes Services, said the university tries to “provide comprehensive help” to athletes.

While the program has been successful, McDonnell attributes much of the credit to the athletes and their coaches.

Student Athlete Services takes an active role in helping prepare each athlete scholastically, said McDonnell.

The program provides several full-time counselors, tutors, and study seminars, and also monitors each student’s progress.

McDonnell said he is not as concerned with comparing Iowa State athletes with those from other universities, as he is with the comparing the athletes with the rest of ISU’s student body.

Overall, 62 percent of the 89-90 freshman class received degrees from ISU, which was three percent higher than the athletes’ rate. McDonnell said his main goal is for the athletes to “do the best at this institution.”

ISU Athletic Director Gene Smith said that the high graduation rate for athletes “speaks well for our institution.” According to Smith, ISU’s “strong academic tradition” helps attract good athletes who are looking to excel in the classroom as well.

Smith gave credit to the Student Athlete Services, as well as the coaches.

“The coaches do an unbelievable job recruiting good athletes and good students,” he said.

The success of ISU’s student-athletes not only helps the athletic program, but also the university as a whole because the athletic teams are continuously in the public eye, said Smith.

According to Smith, ISU is not done promoting its high academic standard.

“So far we’ve done well, but I’m not satisfied. We have a lot of work to do,” he said.