Furman Student-Athletes Win With 96 Graduation Success Rate

When Furman University senior Megan Marvin isn’t chasing her dreams on the track, she’s pursuing  academics with just as much enthusiasm, and she shines in both: the SoCon reigning 800-meter champion has a 3.91 GPA as a math-economics major and data analytics minor. Marvin, from Chapel Hill, North Carolina, believes iron sharpens iron. “Being a better student helps me be a better athlete.”

Her fellow student-athletes would agree. Together, the Paladins scored a 96 on the NCAA Graduation Success Rate (GSR) released in November. Nine of 14 sports posted perfect marks of 100, including men’s and women’s cross-country and track and field, men’s basketball, women’s basketball, men’s golf, women’s golf, softball, men’s tennis and women’s tennis.

The score places Furman in the No. 2 spot in the Southern Conference and among the top 50 schools in the nation, said Tyler Rosenberger, associate athletic director for Compliance and Academic Services. Schools ahead of Furman in the top 50 include Notre Dame, Boston University, Duke and Georgetown. “It’s great company to be in,” he said.

Paladin student-athletes are accepted into Furman just like the rest of the students, Rosenberg said. They go to classes and have advisors and mentors just like other students. They also participate in The Pathways Program, a cornerstone of The Furman Advantage that provides two years of mentorship aimed at helping students identify their strengths and prepare them for careers. The Furman Advantage, a four-year personalized pathway to graduation, is an attractive recruiting tool for student-athletes, just as it is for non-athlete students, Rosenberg said.

Marvin said the support she feels from the Furman community allows her to “take on these big goals on the track and in the classroom,” she said.

Time management is key for student-athletes. During their season, student-athletes like Marvin compete or practice up to 20 hours a week, on top of taking about 16 credit hours a semester.

Marvin manages her time by making a schedule, sticking to it and drawing inspiration from her fellow students. “My teammates and classmates are hardworking people. We go to coffee shops and do homework. Of course, we have fun together, too. But all of us strive to be the best on and off the track because that makes us better and gives us the skills we’ll need after Furman.”

Marvin added a fifth year to make the most of her areas of study.

“The math gives me the tools to analyze data models, and my econ background helps me apply the tools to the real world,” she said. “Data analytics has given me a whole other set of skills in coding and programming. That’s been life-changing for me.”

Marvin has lots to be proud of on the track, too. At the Vanderbilt Invitational in January, she notched a Paladin record in the 1000m (2:45.91) and posted a 4:47.20 mile, topping the SoCon leaderboard. She was named SoCon indoor track athlete of the week on Jan. 22. “It was a nice way to start the season,” she said.

“Coming to Furman was one of the best decisions of my life,” Marvin said. “The Furman family, the experiences, the relationships, and being surrounded by coaches and professors who expect the best from me – I know I couldn’t have gotten that anywhere else.”