MAAC Schools Achieve Academic Success in Recent APR Results
MAAC Sports
EDISON, NJ – NCAA Division I student-athletes continue to make gains in the classroom, again earning all-time high results in the most recent measurement of the Academic Progress Rate. The NCAA Division I 2014-15 overall four-year rate is 979, up one point from the previous year’s mark. Nationwide three point improvements in men’s and women’s basketball and football all contributed to that increase. Men’s basketball teams earned a 964 (up from 961) and women’s basketball teams earned a 978 (up from 975). In comparison, MAAC men’s and women’s basketball programs topped national averages at 969 and 993 respectively.
Division I academic reform effort and is intended to highlight teams that demonstrate a commitment to academic progress and retention of student-athletes by achieving the top APRs within their respective sports. Specifically, these teams posted multiyear APRs in the top 10 percent of all squads in each sport.
All eleven Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) schools had at least one team that posted multi-year APR’s in the top 10% of all squads in each sport, with Fairfield, Iona, Siena and Niagara having 6, 6, 5, and 5 teams respectively in the top 10% in each sport. Furthermore, on the women’s side each institution had at least one program with a perfect score. On the men’s side, the MAAC realized increases in six of their sports (BB, MBB,MXC,MLAX, MSOC, and MTEN) offered to the membership. Conversely, APR statistics grew within five female sports (WBB, WGOF, WROW, and WSWIM) in comparison to 2013-14. The largest growth total came from women’s rowing which jumped 13 APR points.
“Student-athlete welfare is a buzz word in the college sports community and there is no better measure of a Division I schools commitment to their athletes than the NCAA’s APR success, particularly the number of MAAC team in the top 10% of their sport,” notes MAAC Commissioner Richard Ensor. “I congratulate all the student-athletes, coaches and administrators whose hard work in the classroom and support has led to this recognition.”
The APR provides a real-time look at a team's academic success each semester by tracking the academic progress of each student-athlete on scholarship. The APR accounts for eligibility, retention and graduation and provides a measure of each team's academic performance.