NIAGARA UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS
INDIANAPOLIS, I.N. — The Niagara University Department of Athletics had 11 of its 18 programs record a multi-year Academic Progress Rate (APR) at or above the national average for their sport as reported as part of the annual NCAA Division I Academic Performance Program (APP) released on Wednesday.
Last week, four programs – men’s and women’s cross country, men’s tennis and women’s volleyball – were recognized by the NCAA for ranking in the top 10 percent in their respective sport with a perfect APR (1,000). The women’s cross country team earned a perfect APR for the eighth consecutive report, while the men’s cross country team scored a 1,000 for the seventh straight report. This is the third report in a row that the men’s tennis program earned a perfect APR score. The volleyball team earned its first perfect score since the Academic Performance Program (APP) started 14 years ago.
All 18 Niagara programs scored above the 930 benchmark established by the NCAA. 11 of those teams matched or exceeded their sport’s national average APR. Those teams that had APR scores at or above their national average were: men’s cross country (1,000), women’s cross country (1,000), men’s tennis (1,000), women’s volleyball (1,000), women’s track and field (997), women’s soccer (993), women’s basketball (991), women’s lacrosse (991), men’s golf (990), baseball (988), and men’s swimming and diving (985). Four of those programs – men’s cross country, women’s cross country, men’s tennis, and women’s volleyball – are tied for first in the MAAC in their respective sport.
13 Niagara University athletic programs recorded a perfect APR (1,000) for the 2016-17 season – baseball, men’s basketball, men’s cross country, men’s golf, men’s swimming and diving, men’s tennis, women’s basketball, women’s cross country, women’s golf, women’s soccer, women’s track and field, and women’s volleyball.
Each year, the NCAA honors selected Division I sports teams by publicly recognizing their latest multiyear NCAA Division I Academic Progress Rate (APR). This announcement is part of the overall Division I academic reform effort and is intended to highlight teams that 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 scores required to be in the top 10 ranged from 983 to a perfect 1,000, depending on the sport. The most recent APRs are multiyear rates based on scores from the 2013-14, 2014-15 and 2015-16 and 2016-17 academic years.
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.
