INDIANAPOLIS - The NCAA formally released public recognition today of the 2007-08 sports teams achieving the highest level of academic performance in Division I, and the list included 30 Southern Conference programs in 17 different sports. These teams posted multiyear Academic Progress Rate (APR) scores in the top 10 percent of all squads in their respective sports. The public recognition awards are part of the broad Division I academic reform effort.

 

The APR provides a real-time look at a team's academic success each semester by tracking the academic progress of each student-athlete. The APR includes eligibility, retention and graduation in the calculation and provides a clear picture of the academic culture in each sport. High-performing teams receiving awards posted APR scores ranging from 965 to a perfect 1,000.

 

Seven league institutions had programs which received Public Recognition Awards, led by Davidson with 14 different teams earning recognition. Furman followed with six recognized teams while Elon had four. UNC Greensboro and Wofford had two each and Appalachian State and College of Charleston boasted one award-winning team apiece.

 

Samford University will bring an additional five high performing squads to the Southern Conference beginning in July, as the institution received 2007-08 Public Recognition Awards in the sports of women’s basketball, women’s cross country, women’s golf, and women’s indoor and outdoor track.

 

The following Southern Conference squads posted multiyear APR scores in the top 10 percent of all squads in their respective sports:

 

Appalachian State University - Women's Cross Country

 

College of Charleston - Men's Cross Country

 

Davidson College -      Men's Baseball    

                                    Men's Basketball    

                                    Men's Cross Country    

                                    Men's Football    

                                    Men's Golf    

                                    Men's Soccer    

                                    Men's Swimming    

                                    Men's Track, Indoor    

                                    Men's Track, Outdoor    

                                    Women's Basketball    

                                    Women's Cross Country    

                                    Women's Soccer    

                                    Women's Tennis    

                                    Women's Track, Indoor

 

Elon University -           Men's Basketball    

                                    Women's Cross Country    

                                    Women's Golf    

                                    Women's Volleyball

 

Furman University -    Men's Football    

                                    Men's Golf    

                                    Men's Track, Outdoor    

                                    Women's Basketball    

                                    Women's Track, Indoor    

                                    Women's Track, Outdoor

 

University of North Carolina at Greensboro - 

Women's Basketball    

                                    Women's Tennis

 

*Samford University  - Women's Basketball    

                                    Women's Cross Country    

                                    Women's Golf    

                                    Women's Track, Indoor    

                                    Women's Track, Outdoor

 

Wofford College -        Men's Football    

                                    Men's Tennis

 

* - Southern Conference member beginning July 1, 2008.