UL among 8 Sun Belt schools with high APR score

Daily Advertiser, June 21, 2012

NEW ORLEANS – Over 95 percent of Sun Belt Conference teams earned a multi-year Academic Progress Rate (APR) of over 925 as the NCAA released its annual APR report on Wednesday.

UL is one of eight schools in the conference to have 100 percent of its programs above the 925 APR score requirement. Other schools include UALR, Denver, Florida Atlantic, Middle Tennessee, North Texas, Troy and Western Kentucky.

 

The most recent APR scores are based on a multi-year rate that averages scores from the 2007-08, 2008-09, 2009-10 and 2010-11 academic years.

The Division I Board of Directors set cut scores of 925 and 900 (out of 1,000) as a threshold for teams to meet or face possible immediate and historical sanctions.

In total, 95.2 percent of Sun Belt Conference teams earned a multi-year APR score over 925. The league’s APR numbers are up compared to a year ago, as Sun Belt Conference institutions improved from 92.4 percent of all programs hitting the 925 threshold.

“Sun Belt Conference member institutions continue to show a great amount of progress in regards to APR,” said Sun Belt Assistant Commissioner for Compliance Scott Connors. “Our institutions have demonstrated a willingness to improve and it is clear that they are continuing to make strides in the classroom.”

Twelve Sun Belt Conference teams were recognized by the NCAA last week for earning Public Recognition Awards, based on their most recent multi-year APR. These awards are given each year to teams with APRs in the top 10 percent in each sport. For the second consecutive year, the Sun Belt has had at least ten teams earn the award. Last year, ten teams in the conference received the honor and two additional teams were recognized this year.

Six of the 12 teams received the recognition for a second consecutive year: Middle Tennessee’s football team and men’s golf team, North Texas’ men’s cross country team, Denver’s men’s golf team, FIU’s women’s tennis team and Western Kentucky’s volleyball team.

 

Florida Atlantic had three teams receive the honor, the most in the league. FAU’s women’s cross country, women’s tennis and men’s golf teams were recognized. Additionally, UALR’s women’s golf team, UL soccer team and Arkansas State’s men’s golf team earned the award.

No Sun Belt institutions will be ineligible this upcoming season from postseason play at the conference or NCAA level due to APR sanctions.