Six UP Teams Recognized for Academic Excellence by NCAA

Six University of Portland Teams Recognized for Academic Excellence by NCAA

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 14, 2012

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Six University of Portland athletics teams were honored for earning Public Recognition Awards based on their most recent multi-year Academic Progress Rate, the NCAA announced on Thursday. These awards are given each year to teams with APRs in the top 10 percent in each sport. Portland’s recognized programs included men’s basketball, women’s soccer, women’s cross country, women’s indoor and outdoor track, and volleyball.

The women’s soccer and volleyball teams have now been recognized six consecutive years, while the women’s indoor and outdoor track programs earned their third straight awards. Men’s basketball and women’s cross country were recognized for the first time. The six programs recognized were the most of any West Coast Conference institution as the league had a total of 19 programs honored.

Full APRs for all teams, including access to postseason play and penalties for low-performing teams, will be released June 20.

The 954 teams publicly recognized this year for high achievement represent 560 women’s teams and 394 men’s or mixed squads. In 2011, 909 teams were recognized.

Top performing APRs this year ranged from 978 to a perfect 1,000, with the majority of teams earning a perfect APR. The number of teams in some sports may exceed 10 percent depending on the number of perfect scores.

“These teams prove that it is possible to not only balance academic and athletic commitment, as most student-athletes do; but to exceed standards and post outstanding academic scores,” said NCAA President Mark Emmert. “The drive and determination shown in the classroom and on the field by these men and women represent what it means to be an NCAA student-athlete.”

Each year, the NCAA tracks the classroom performance of student-athletes on every Division I team through the annual scorecard of academic achievement, known as APR. The score measures eligibility and retention each semester or quarter and provides a clear picture of the academic culture in each sport. The most recent APRs are multi-year rates based on scores from the 2007-08, 2008-09, 2009-10 and 2010-11 academic years.