The Robert Morris University department of athletics was honored for its work in the classroom Wednesday by the Northeast Conference, as it was bestowed the 2019 NEC Institutional Academic Award.

RMU student-athletes that compete in NEC sports combined to post a 3.432 grade point average (GPA) during the 2018-19 academic year. The Colonials edged out LIU Brooklyn (3.427), with both schools breaking the league record of 3.423 that was set last year by Saint Francis U.

It marks the third time Robert Morris has claimed the NEC Institutional Academic Award, as the Colonials also won the honor in 2012 and 2014. In 2012, RMU posted a 3.279 GPA among NEC sports and in 2014 finished at 3.295.

"Establishing the record for highest grade point average in department history and earning the NEC Institutional Academic Award is a wonderful achievement by our student-athletes," Robert Morris Vice President & Director of Athletics Chris King said. "We are especially proud of the tradition of academic excellence that has been established at Robert Morris University. Earning the NEC Institutional Academic Award for the third time in eight years is an indication of the hard work and dedication of our student-athletes to excel in the classroom and the commitment by our head coaches to recruit the best and the brightest. This honor is also shared by our faculty and the Center for Student Success staff, who all mentor, teach and advise our student-athletes."

RMU was bolstered by four programs that claimed 2018-19 NEC Team GPA Awards. The Robert Morris volleyball team finished with a 3.846 team GPA during the 2018-19, the highest GPA for any NEC program since 2014-15.

The RMU cross country squad won its first NEC Team GPA Award since 2012 by recording a GPA of 3.707 in 2018-19, while the Robert Morris women's basketball team earned its third consecutive Team GPA Award by posting a GPA of 3.739 in 2018-19. The RMU softball program, meanwhile, finished with a 3.659 GPA in 2018-19 to claim back-to-back honors. In all, 11 of the 13 programs that compete in the NEC for Robert Morris recorded a GPA of 3.177 or higher.

"We are pleased but not surprised that our student-athletes perform at such a high level in the classroom as well as on the field and on the court," Robert Morris University President Dr. Chris Howard said. "They are leaders on campus and in their communities, and we are grateful for the esteem they bring to Robert Morris University."

Overall, the NEC's 4,500+ student-athletes posted a combined 3.265 GPA during the 2018-19 academic year, the second highest GPA in league history. The record of 3.281 was set in 2017-18.

"It was a banner year in the classroom for NEC student-athletes and I couldn't be any prouder," NEC Commissioner Noreen Morris said. "For Robert Morris to break the all-time NEC GPA record, it illustrates the institutional-wide dedication and commitment made toward the academic achievement of Colonial student-athletes. Likewise, NEC student-athletes continued to rise to the occasion with a near-record conference-wide GPA, which reflects the support they receive on campus and the NEC Council of Presidents' emphasis on their academic advancement and overall development."

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