CAMBRIDGE, Mass. ? Nineteen athletics teams from seven of the nine America East member institutions, including 17 sponsored by America East, were recognized by the NCAA Wednesday afternoon with public recognition awards for their latest multiyear Division I Academic Progress Rate (APR). These teams posted multiyear APRs in the top 10 percent of all squads in their respective sports. The public recognition awards are part of the broad Division I academic reform effort.
Thirteen of the teams also received the recognition last year, including 2008 America East Champion University of New Hampshire men’s cross country. The Wildcats led all America East institutions with seven teams honored, while University of Hartford and University of Vermont each had three teams recognized. Boston University and University of Maine each had two teams awarded, while UMBC and Stony Brook followed with one team each.
Among the six teams receiving the accolade for the first time this year was Hartford women’s basketball, the 2009 America East regular-season runners-up, the only basketball team in the conference, men’s or women’s, to receive the award.
UNH football and Vermont men’s ice hockey, the only teams not sponsored by America East, each went deep into the NCAA Championship in their respective sports. The Wildcat football team advanced to the quarterfinal round of the NCAA FCS Championship, while the Catamount ice hockey team recently competed at the Frozen Four in Washington, D.C.
The APR provides a real-time look at a team’s academic success each semester by tracking the academic progress of each student-athlete. The APR includes eligibility, retention and graduation in the calculation and provides a clear picture of the academic culture in each sport.
Multiyear APRs for all Division I sports teams, including the teams receiving public recognition awards, will be announced Wednesday, May 6. The announcement also will include immediate and historical penalties for low-performing teams.
2009 NCAA Division I APR Public Recognition Awards
Boston University
Field Hockey*
Women’s Golf*
Hartford
Men’s Indoor Track & Field*
Men’s Outdoor Track & Field*
Women’s Basketball
Maine
Women’s Cross Country*
Women’s Indoor Track & Field
UMBC
Volleyball
New Hampshire
Men’s Cross Country*
Football*
Men’s Soccer*
Men’s Indoor Track & Field*
Men’s Outdooor Track & Field*
Women’s Indoor Track & Field*
Women’s Outdoor Track & Field*
Stony Brook
Women’s Outdoor Track & Field*
Vermont
Field Hockey
Men’s Ice Hockey
Softball
* 2008 award recipient