Four Baylor University athletics programs received National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I Academic Performance Program awards Wednesday afternoon. Baylor baseball, men’s basketball, softball and soccer teams scored in the Top 10 percent nationally in Academic Progress Rate (APR) in their respective sports.
Softball has been recognized seven times in the last eight years with the honor, while soccer received its first APR public recognition award.
Altogether Baylor has received 19 public APR awards in seven different sports, including baseball (2007, 2012, 2018), men’s basketball (2009, 2018), men’s cross country (2006, 2011), men’s golf (2010), women’s golf (2009, 2010, 2015) soccer (2018) and softball (2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018).
The APR is an annual scorecard of academic achievement calculated for all Division I sports teams. Seven national championship teams so far this year have earned Public Recognition Awards.
“I applaud every program earning a Public Recognition Award this year for their commitment to going above and beyond to prepare students for life after college through academic achievement,” NCAA President Mark Emmert said. “To have nine national champions so far this year — including men’s and women’s basketball — be among those recognized illustrates that student-athletes succeed athletically and academically.”
Teams earning Public Recognition Awards increased to 1,284, up by 79 from the previous academic year, largely as a result of an increase in perfect scores. Of the teams recognized, 457 competed in men’s or mixed sports, and 827 competed in women’s sports. APRs for programs in the Top 10 percent ranged from 985 to a perfect 1,000, and the number of teams posting perfect scores increased to 1,188, marking an increase of 98 teams from last year.
APR scores for all Division I teams will be released May 23. 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 2013-14, 2014-15, 2015-16 and 2016-17 academic years.
