Five Programs Earn NCAA Public Recognition Awards

AMHERST, Mass. -- Five University of Massachusetts athletic programs have been honored with NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) Public Recognition Awards, the organization announced on Tuesday. Women's cross country, rowing, women's soccer, women's swimming and diving and tennis all scored in the top 10% of their sports nationally.

This marked the eighth straight year the women's cross country team earned the Public Recognition Award, and 10th time overall. It also the sixth time for the women's soccer program, fourth for rowing, third for women's swimming and diving and second straight for tennis.

The APR is an annual scorecard of academic achievement calculated for all Division I sports teams.

Teams earning Public Recognition Awards increased to 1,380 nationally, up by 52 from the previous academic year, largely due to an increase in squads with perfect scores. APRs for programs in the top 10% ranged from 987 to a perfect 1,000. The number of teams posting perfect scores increased to 1,266, an increase of 52 teams from last year.

"The number of teams earning Public Recognition Awards — including those earning perfect scores — has increased again, demonstrating the commitment member schools and college athletes have made to high academic achievement," NCAA President Mark Emmert said. "Congratulations to these teams for their continued academic success."

APR scores for all Division I teams will be released May 19. The APR measures eligibility, graduation and retention each semester or academic term and provides a clear picture of the academic performance for each team in every sport. All teams must meet an academic threshold of 930 to qualify for the postseason and can face penalties for continued low academic performance.

The most recent APRs are multiyear rates based on scores from the 2015-16, 2016-17, 2017-18 and 2018-19 academic years.

University of Massachusets Athletics

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