Northwestern University Athletics
Ten Wildcat Varsity Programs Earn NCAA APR Public Recognition Awards
5/12/2010 12:00:00 AM | General
May 12, 2010
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern has put together its most impressive performance since the inception of the Academic Progress Rate (APR) program, earning a program-best 10 Public Recognition Awards according to the most recent data released today (Wednesday, May 12) by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).
The 10 Northwestern varsity programs were honored by the NCAA with public recognition awards for being in the top-10 percent of their respective sports in their latest multi-year APR scores, double NU's total last season and the best total in the Big Ten this year by four. Fifty-three percent of Northwestern's varsity programs were publicly recognized; the next highest in the Big Ten was Michigan with 24 percent.
Wildcat teams honored for being in the top 10 percent are: baseball, men's basketball, football, men's soccer, men's tennis, wrestling, women's golf, softball, women's tennis and volleyball. The most recent APRs are multi-year rates based on scores from the 2005-06, 2006-07, 2007-08 and 2008-09 academic years.
"To be certain, every one of our student-athletes in all 19 sports represent what being a true student-athlete is all about," Northwestern Director of Athletics and Recreation Jim Phillips said. "To have more than half of our programs earn this noteworthy national recognition makes us exceptionally proud to remain a leader among our peers in the classroom."
The APR provides a real-time view of a team's academic success by tracking the progress of each student-athlete during the school year. By measuring eligibility and retention each semester or quarter, the APR provides a clear picture of the academic culture in each sport. An APR score of 925 is the minimum level of academic success; teams scoring below 925 can lose scholarships and face other sanctions over time, including bans on postseason play.
The full APR release with data for every team in the NCAA will be released on a date in the near future. For the complete NCAA release on its APR Public Recognition Awards, link to NCAA.org.
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