University of Massachusets Athletics
Three Programs Recognized By NCAA For Academic Achievement
May 19, 2011 | Men's Track & Field
May 19, 2011
AMHERST, Mass. - The UMass women's soccer, softball, and men's outdoor track & field teams were honored this week by being named recipients of Public Recognition Awards from the NCAA, based on the most recent multi-year Academic Progress Rates. The awards are given to teams scoring in the top 10 percent in each sport with their APRs. This is the third-straight honor for the women's soccer team, while the softball and men's track programs are being recognized for the second year in a row.
Full APR scores for all teams will be released on May 24.
NCAA President Mark Emmert said top-performing teams this year posted APR scores ranging from 977 to a perfect 1,000. The number of teams in some sports may exceed 10 percent depending on the number of perfect scores.
"Most student-athletes excel at balancing their academic and athletics commitments, yet each year there are those who perform at extraordinary levels," Emmert said. "By achieving the highest levels of academic success as a team, these young men and women truly embody what it means to be a successful NCAA student-athlete."
By measuring eligibility and retention each semester or quarter, the APR provides a clear picture of the academic culture in each sport, Emmert said. The most recent APRs are multi-year rates based on scores from the 2006-07, 2007-08, 2008-09 and 2009-10 academic years.
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.