INDIANAPOLIS -- The Saint Mary's volleyball and men's track programs were among the more than 1,000 NCAA Division I sports teams recognized for outstanding performance in the classroom.
Based on their most recent multiyear Academic Progress Rate, these teams have earned NCAA Public Recognition Awards for posting scores in the top 10 percent of their sport. The APR is an annual scorecard of academic achievement calculated for all Division I sports teams nationally.
The SMC volleyball program has earned NCAA recognition for its APR in each of the last four years, while the men's track program owns three straight years of the honor. The SMC women's basketball, women's soccer, women's tennis, men's cross country, women's track and men's soccer programs have also earned recognition since the program begin 11 years ago.
The 1,071 teams publicly recognized for high achievement include 649 women's teams and 422 men's or mixed squads. This year, schools combined the indoor and outdoor track and field teams into one team score, which slightly reduced the overall number of teams earning Public Recognition Awards.
The scores required to be listed among the top 10 percent ranged from 983 to a perfect 1,000, depending on the sport. A total of 944 teams eanred a perfect APR score.
We want to ensure college athletes are getting the most out of their experience, and academics are a top priority in this effort," said NCAA President Mark Emmert. "The teams honored today earned recognition by making a commitment to success in the classroom as well as in competition. We celebrate their achievement and dedication to preparing themselves for life after college."
All Division I teams' APR scores will be released at a later date. All teams must meet a certain academic threshold to qualify for the postseason and can face penalties for continued low academic performance.
The APR measures eligibility, graduation and retention each term and provides a clear picture of the academic performance for each team in every sport.
The most recent APRs are multiyear rates based on scores from the 2011-2012, 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2014-15 academic years.
Click here for the list of 110 teams that have earned Public Recognition Awards in each of 11 years of the Public Recognition program.
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