ACC Teams Continue to Perform Well on APR

GREENSBORO, N.C. – The member institutions of the Atlantic Coast Conference continue to rank high in the latest report card on the NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR), which was released on Tuesday. ACC teams are among the high percentage of athletic teams at Division I colleges and universities that meet standards and excel academically.

The Academic Progress Rate, a multi-year rate based on the most recent four years of data, is a real-time measure of eligibility and retention of student-athletes competing on every Division I sports team. The most recent APR scores are based on scores from the 2008-09, 2009-10, 2010-11 and 2011-12 academic years. This year marks the ninth year of APR data for most teams.

In the fall of 2011, the Division I Board of Directors approved tougher academic standards, including setting a new standard that teams must meet to participate in postseason competition. The goal of the NCAA’s academic performance program is improvement, not punishment. Not only does the program ensure accountability for student-athletes, teams and institutions, but also it provides fairness by considering individual circumstances per team and school.

Under the revised penalty structure, the Division I Board of Directors has set a cut score of 900 (out of 1,000) as a threshold for teams to meet or face possible sanctions. As was also the case a year ago, no sports from any ACC institutions are subject to penalties from this year’s APR release.

ACC Highlights include:

• Despite rising academic standards, ACC teams continue to build upon their success in the classroom.
  • 6 of 12 ACC baseball teams have an improved APR from last year (11 of 12 teams above Division I average)
  • 8 of 12 ACC men’s basketball teams have an improved APR from last year (8 of 12 teams above Division I average)
  • 5 of 12 ACC women’s basketball teams stayed consistent or improved its APR from last year (9 of 12 teams above Division I average) o 7 of 12 ACC football teams have an improved APR from last year (8 of 12 teams above Division I average)
• As was also the case a year ago, no sports from any ACC institutions are subject to penalties from this year’s APR release.