Seton Hall Athletics will hopefully build on a record-set- ting academic performance from 2012-13 with the opening of the Charles W. Doehler Academic Center for Excellence.
Constructed for use in under four months, the center opened earlier this month.
The center more than doubles the size of the last academic area and now offers more support to the 200-plus varsity student-athletes.
The completely renovated area has two group meeting rooms, two private tutoring areas, study lounges and offices.
Plaques are hung in the hallways that honor athletic and academic accomplishments.
"Seeing the final product and the reaction the student-athletes have had has been a rewarding experience," Matt Geibel, Director of Academic Support Services said in a statement. As long as I have been here; academics have always been a major point of emphasis but I think the construction of this space signifies our desire to reach new heights and we would like to express gratitude to all those who helped make it possible."
The project was funded primarily by donations made to the Pirate Blue Athletic Fund.
"We have a very distinct vision of the type of the elite student-athlete experience we believe Seton Hall Athletics can provide and in order to make it a reality, we had to first lay a foundation," Director of Athletics Pat Lyons said. The academic center comes at the height of student-athlete performance in the classroom.
Last year 171 student-athletes were named to the 2012-13 Big East Academic All-Star Team. That number makes up 71 per- cent of student-athletes.
Additionally 125 student-athletes qualified for the Dean's List in Fall 2012, which is 52 percent of student-athletes. The cumulative GPA is now at 3.251, which is the highest it has ever been according to the Seton Hall Athletics 2012-13 Annual Report.
The cumulative GPA of student-athletes has increased every semester since Spring 2010.
Last year, the men's and women's golf, softball, tennis and volleyball teams earned national recognition for finishing in the top-10 percentile for Academic Progress Rating (APR).
"We have a very distinct vision of the type of the elite student-athlete experience we believe Seton Hall Athletics can provide and in order to make it a reality, we had to first lay a foundation," Lyons said. "Our principal function as stewards of this department is to make decisions that are in the best interest our student-athletes."
T.J. Brennan can be reached at thomas.brennan@student.shu.edu.
