Courtesy: PC Sports InformationThe NCAA released its Academic Progress Rate Report on Tuesday, with five Presbyterian College teams being recognized for their high scores. Those teams that were noted for APRs in the top 10 percent of all squads in each sport were baseball, softball, women's cross country, women's golf and women's soccer.
It was the second year in a row these five sports, which were the most of any Big South school, were honored.
Each year the NCAA honors selected Division I sports teams by publicly recognizing their latest multiyear APR. This announcement is part of the overall Division I academic reform effort and is intended to highlight teams who demonstrate a commitment to academic progress and retention of student-athletes by achieving the top APRs within their respective sports.
The most recent APRs are multi-year rates based on scores from the 2006-07, 2007-08, 2008-09 and 2009-10 academic years.
Specifically, these teams posted multiyear APRs in the top 10 percent of all squads in each sport. The top-performing teams this year posted APR scores ranging from 977 to a perfect 1,000.
"The APR recognition shows that the student-athletes here at Presbyterian College put academics first," said Director of Athletics Brian Reese. "I'd like to commend them for their hard work and dedication in the classroom. The ability to balance being a student and an athlete is a difficult one and they succeed in both."
All of the Blue Hose sports are in good standing. 15 of PC's 16 sports exceeded the NCAA's minimum of 925, with the men's golf the lone exception. Men's golf, with just six players, is not subject to penalties due to the squad-size adjustment.
The 909 teams publicly recognized this year for high achievement represent 14 percent of the 6,385 eligible Division I teams. The list includes 525 women's teams and 384 men's or mixed squads. Last year, 841 teams were recognized.
A total of 239 institutions, out of 335 Division I colleges and universities, placed at least one team on the top APR list. Another 11 schools that offer athletics in more than one division, out of 52 overall within the NCAA, placed Division I teams on the list as well.
The APR provides a real-time look at a team's academic success each semester by tracking the academic progress of each student-athlete on scholarship. The APR accounts for eligibility, retention and graduation and provides a measure of each team's academic performance.
The most recent APRs are multi-year rates based on scores from the 2006-07, 2007-08, 2008-09 and 2009-10 academic years.
Link to Public Recognition Awards
Link to Searchable Database - new APR data will be available May 24
