The NCAA recognized more than 800 Division I sports teams Wednesday for their exceptional work in the classroom as part of the NCAA’s Academic Performance Program, and the Montana State women’s tennis ranked among the elite.
Based on their most recent multiyear Academic Progress Rates, 841 teams have earned NCAA Public Recognition Awards, up from 767 teams last year. The awards are given annually to teams scoring in the top 10 percent in each sport with their APRs.
The APR provides a real-time view of a team’s academic success by tracking the progress of each student-athlete during the school year. By measuring eligibility and retention each semester or quarter, the APR provides a clear picture of the academic culture in each sport.
“It’s a wonderful achievement for our women’s tennis team to be recognized nationally for being in the top 10-percent of all programs across the country,” Peter Fields, MSU Athletics Director said. “It is a tribute to the coaches and student-athletes that they hit this milestone.”
Only five squads earned the honor from the Big Sky Conference, including MSU, Eastern Washington men’s cross country, Idaho State women’s cross country, Northern Colorado women’s indoor track and field, and Sacramento State women’s basketball.
“Most Division I student-athletes and teams take seriously their dual responsibilities in the classroom and on the court or field of play, but every year there is a special category of teams that perform exceptionally well and deserve this noteworthy recognition,” NCAA Interim President and former Montana State
Vice President for Administration, Jim Isch said.
High-performing teams receiving public recognition awards this year posted APR scores ranging from 978 to a perfect 1,000. The number of teams in some sports may exceed 10 percent depending on how many achieved perfect scores. The most recent APRs are multi-year rates based on scores from the 2005-06, 2006-07, 2007-08 and 2008-09 academic years.