INDIANAPOLIS – The NCAA released its annual Academic Progress Rate (APR) report Wednesday, as 11 of Illinois State's 19 sports equaled or exceeded the national average for public universities in their sport.
"We are proud of the academic success of our student-athletes here at Illinois State and today's NCAA release of APR scores is just another reason why," Senior Associate Director of Athletics for Compliance & Student Services Cindy Harris said. "Academic achievements are a testament first and foremost to the student-athletes, who work so hard in the classroom, but also to our coaches who make academics a top priority each and every day. We certainly applaud the committed and caring faculty and staff at Illinois State who teach, mentor, and provide support to our 480 student-athletes, as they make all the difference."
Among Illinois State's 19 squads, five teams earned perfect single-year APR scores (1000) for 2014-15 including men's golf, men's tennis, gymnastics and volleyball. As released last week, the men's golf team earned a perfect 1000 for the fourth-consecutive year, which means that their four-year APR score is also a perfect 1000.
Other highlights included:
• The ISU football team earned an APR score of 970, 17 points higher than the Division I average for FCS Football (953), and the APR of 970 was the highest in the Missouri Valley Football Conference.
• The ISU women's basketball team earned an APR score of 995, 17 points higher than the Division I average for women's basketball (978). The APR score of 995 ranked them in a three-way tie for the top-spot in the Missouri Valley Conference with Bradley and Drake, who also earned a 995.
• All of ISU's teams included in the data have an APR score above the NCAA's 930 figure for possible penalties.
NCAA President Mark Emmert applauded Division I student-athletes for their continued academic achievement and dedication to earning a degree.
"Division I student-athletes learn to balance playing a sport they love with the pursuit of a degree, and we honor their continued success in the classroom. The APR data prove that students can achieve both academically and athletically," Emmert said. "Supporting our students as they work toward graduation is a top priority of everyone involved in college athletics."
The APR measures eligibility, graduation and retention each semester or quarter and provides a clear picture of the academic performance for each team in each sport. The most recent APRs are multi-year rates based on scores from 2011-12, 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2014-15 academic years.
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