SPARTANBURG, S.C. - The National Collegiate Athletic Association released its 2009-10 Public Recognition Awards for schools ranking in the top 10 percent of all Division I teams in their respective sport today (May 12). A total of forty-two Southern Conference programs from nine league members garnered the award, marking the third consecutive year the conference has seen an increase in the number of programs earning the academic distinction.
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 2005-06, 2006-07, 2007-08 and 2008-09 academic years. The public recognition awards are part of the overall Division I academic reform effort.
"This recognition is well-deserved by all the student-athletes representing these 42 programs, as well as their coaches and professors," said Southern Conference Commissioner, John Iamarino. "There are enormous time constraints involved in competing in a varsity sport while maintaining a successful academic profile and these student-athletes and programs have done a tremendous job striking a balance between the two."
Fourteen men's programs in the SoCon earned the Public Recognition Award, while 28 women's programs earned national plaudits. Davidson College led all conference schools with 13 teams earning the award. Eight SoCon schools had multiple programs earn the award, while six 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, Wofford
Football - Davidson
Golf - Davidson, Furman, Samford
Indoor Track - Davidson, Wofford
Outdoor Track - Davidson, Wofford
Rifle - The Citadel (mixed)
Tennis - Davidson
Women's Sports
Basketball - Davidson, Furman, Samford, UNC Greensboro, Wofford
Cross Country - Davidson, Elon, Furman, Samford, Wofford
Field Hockey - Appalachian State, Davidson
Golf - Elon, UNC Greensboro, Samford, Western Carolina
Indoor Track - Davidson, Furman, Samford, Wofford
Outdoor Track - Furman, The Citadel, Wofford
Rifle - The Citadel (mixed)
Soccer - Davidson
Tennis - Appalachian State
Volleyball - Davidson, Elon
BACKGROUND ON APR PUBLIC RECOGNITION AWARDS
Each year the NCAA honors selected Division I sports teams by publicly recognizing their latest multiyear APR. This announcement is part of the overall Division I academic reform effort and is intended to highlight teams who 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.
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.
Multiyear APRs for all Division I sports teams, including the teams receiving public recognition, will be announced at a later date. That announcement also will include immediate and historical penalties for low-performing teams. As in past years, you will be notified prior to this public release of scores and penalties.