WEST HARTFORD, Conn. — The University of Hartford Department of Athletics saw its student-athletes enjoy an exceptional academic semester this past spring. The Hawks combined to earn a 3.66 departmental grade point average for the 2020 spring semester, marking the 28th consecutive semester that Hartford's student-athletes have finished with at least a 3.0 departmental GPA.
 
Hartford's overall student-athlete GPA improved by more than two percentage points from the previous semester (+0.24), as the Hawks combined for a 3.42 GPA in the Fall 2019 semester.
 
Hartford saw 89 percent of its 382 student-athletes earn a GPA of 3.0 or better, as 339 individuals reached that mark. In addition, 66 percent (252 student-athletes) of Hawks student-athletes achieved at least a 3.5 GPA, while more than one-fifth of Hartford's student-athletes — a whopping 78 individuals — posted a perfect 4.0 GPA this past spring.
 
Hartford's teams enjoyed unprecedented academic success this past semester, with all 17 teams posting at least a 3.0 GPA. Most impressively, each of the Hawks' NCAA Division I programs achieved at least a 3.4 GPA.
  
Setting the pace for the Hawks was the volleyball team, which combined for a 3.92 GPA. Thirteen of the team's 14 members combined for a GPA of at least 3.5, including nine student-athletes that posted a perfect 4.0 mark.
 
The women's golf team posted the second-highest GPA in the department (3.87) after seeing half of its eight-member squad record a 4.0 GPA. The women's golf team was followed by softball (3.84), women's soccer (3.78) and women's cross country (3.74). Men's indoor track and field led Hartford's men's teams with a 3.69 GPA, while men's outdoor track and field and men's cross country were next with respective GPAs of 3.68.
 
The University of Hartford Department of Athletics has set the academic standard in the America East, as the Hawks will be vying for third Walter Harrison America East Academic Cup in the past four years. Last year, the Hawks combined for a 3.29 GPA — led by six programs that finished with the highest GPA in the conference — to finish second in the Academic Cup standings.
 
Named after former University of Hartford President Walter Harrison in 2017, the Walter Harrison Academic Cup is awarded to the America East institution with the highest overall GPA each year. The Hawks have taken home the Walter Harrison Academic Cup seven times since the inception of the award, including each year from 2012-15.