Northern Arizona University student-athletes in all 15 of its sponsored sports are exceeding academic standards set by the National Collegiate Athletic Association.
The NCAA’s annual Academic Progress Rate report, released today, measures eligibility, retention and graduation of student-athletes competing on every Division I sports team and has been shown to predict later graduation success.
“The graduation of our student-athletes is the primary goal of our department and the APR figures released by the NCAA indicate the priority and importance we place in these measures,” said athletics director Jim Fallis.
The multiyear APR score is based on a four-year rolling average registering overall athlete eligibility and retention during the 2005-06, 2006-07, 2007-08 and 2008-09 school years. Teams must meet a minimum APR score of 925 out of 1000 points possible or risk losing scholarships and face other sanctions over time, including bans on postseason play.
For the first time in the report’s six years of data, NAU has recorded multiyear scores above 925 in all 15 of its sponsored sports.
At NAU, five teams had scores above 970 with 12 programs above 950.
The volleyball team has the highest multiyear APR score at 979, while the women’s basketball team had a multiyear rate of 977. Women’s soccer and women’s swimming were recorded at 976, and the women’s golf and tennis programs recorded 975.
Football saw continued improvement in its rate since the initial figures were released in 2005-06, scoring a 937 in the report after a 919 last season. Men’s basketball had a 931 APR, just short of the Division I average of 940.
View the 2010 multiyear Academic Progress Rate reports by school.