Forty SoCon Programs Earn NCAA Public Recognition Award
SPARTANBURG, S.C. ? The National Collegiate Athletic Association released its 2008-09 Public Recognition Awards for schools ranking in the top 10 percent of all Division I teams in their respective sport. Forty Southern Conference programs from eight league members garnered the award, an increase of 10 teams from the 30 programs that earned the award in 2008.
Teams honored by the NCAA earned multiple Academic Progress Report (APR) scores in the top 10 percent for the past four years. The most recent APR scores are multi-year rates based on the scores from the 2004-05, 2005-06, 2006-07 and 2007-08 academic years. The public recognition awards are part of the overall Division I academic reform effort.
“Congratulations to the student-athletes and coaches of these 40 programs that have excelled in meeting this standard,” said Southern Conference Commissioner John Iamarino. “We’re extremely proud that the SoCon membership continues to earn NCAA recognition for our academic performance.”
Fifteen men’s programs in the SoCon earned the Public Recognition Award, while 25 women’s programs earned national plaudits. Davidson College led all conference schools with 11 teams earning the award. Seven SoCon schools had multiple programs earn the award, while four members had at least one men’s and one women’s program earn recognition from the NCAA.
NCAA Public Recognition Award by Sport:
Men’s Sports
Basketball ? Davidson, Elon
Cross Country ? Davidson, Furman, Wofford
Football ? Davidson
Golf ? Davidson, Furman
Indoor Track ? Davidson, Wofford
Outdoor Track ? Davidson, Furman, Wofford
Rifle ? The Citadel (mixed)
Tennis - Wofford
Women’s Sports
Basketball ? Furman, UNC Greensboro, Samford, Wofford
Cross Country ? Davidson, Elon, Samford, Wofford
Field Hockey ? Appalachian State
Golf ? Elon, Samford
Indoor Track ? Davidson, Furman, Samford, Wofford
Outdoor Track ? The Citadel, Furman, Wofford
Rifle ? The Citadel (mixed)
Soccer ? Davidson, Samford
Softball - Elon
Tennis ? Davidson, UNC Greensboro
Volleyball ? Davidson, Elon
BACKGROUND ON APR PUBLIC RECOGNITION AWARDS
The NCAA is honoring Division I sports teams with public recognition awards for their latest multi-year Academic Progress Rate scores. These teams posted multi-year APR scores in the top 10 percent of all squads in their respective sports. The most recent APR scores are multi-year rates based on the scores from the 2004-05, 2005-06, 2006-07 and 2007-08 academic years. The public recognition awards are part of the overall 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.
Multi-year APR scores for all Division I sports teams, including the teams receiving public recognition awards, will be announced May 6. The announcement also will include immediate and historical penalties for low-performing teams.