Grove City College students posted an impressive record of academic achievement over the spring semester, despite an international pandemic that had them adjusting, nearly overnight, to a new form of learning.
More than 57 percent of the College’s 2,100 undergraduates made the Dean’s List for their work during the semester, much of which was done online after safety concerns and government guidelines concerning the coronavirus forced the closure of campus in March. The College tapped its deep technological resources and online expertise to shift more than 800 course to remote instruction and students and faculty likewise met the unprecedented challenge.
“Our students at Grove City finished the spring semester with incredible resiliency. Even with the immediate transition to all distance delivery of classes, student performance was unwavering,” Dr. Peter M. Frank ’95, provost and vice president of Academic Affairs. “I was impressed with the number of students who continued to pursue academic excellence, and remained positive and hardworking, despite the challenges of moving home.”
Nearly 10 percent of the student body, or 193 students, had a perfect 4.00 grade point average (GPA.) Of the 1,148 students on the spring Dean’s List, 436 achieved high distinction (3.85 to 4.00 GPA) and 429 with distinction (3.60 to 3.84 GPA.) Overall, the average GPA for Grove City College students was 3.33.
The Class of 2020 posted similarly impressive numbers, including a four-year graduation rate of nearly 80 percent, which is almost 40 points above the national average of 42 percent. Roughly 49 percent of the 504-member class graduated with honors.
After a semester online, the College plans to open as scheduled for the fall semester on Aug. 24 with new safety protocols in place to maintain the health and safety of the campus community.
“We are eagerly preparing for a new freshmen class, and all returning students, to gather on campus this fall. It will be a blessing to join together, in-person as a community, and engage in face-to-face learning once again,” Frank said.