INDIANAPOLIS -- Thirty programs from America East member institutions received Public Recognition Awards for their Academic Progress Rates from the NCAA, the organization announced this morning. The number of teams earning recognition is the most for America East since 2006 and second most for the conference since the program’s inception.
Boston University led all America East schools with eight squads recognized. University of Hartford had six squads honored, while University of New Hampshire, Stony Brook University and University of Vermont each received four awards.
Of the 30 teams honored, four won America East regular-season or tournament championships over the past year. Boston University’s women’s soccer team won its fourth straight regular-season and conference titles after winning 16 games and recording the second-longest shutout streak (13 games) in NCAA history. The Terriers’ men’s cross country squad won its first league crown since 2000, while the women’s tennis team won their 17th consecutive conference championship. Boston U.’s softball team also captured its third straight regular-season title.
In addition to this year’s champions, the teams honored have won 21 America East regular-season or conference championships since 2006-07, the range from which this year’s scores are based. Besides the aforementioned squads, Binghamton’s volleyball team won the 2009league title and Boston University’s women’s swimming and softball teams won titles in 2009 and 2010.
The Academic Progress Rate provides a real-time look at a team’s academic success each semester by tracking the academic progress of student-athletes on every Division I sports team. The APR accounts for eligibility, retention and graduation and provides a measure of each team’s academic performance.
The 909 teams receiving awards scored in the top 10 percent of their respective sport and received scores ranging from 977 to a perfect 1,000. This year’s rates are based on scores from the 2006-07, 2007-08, 2008-09 and 2009-10 academic years.
“Most student-athletes excel at balancing their academic and athletics commitments, yet each year there are those who perform at extraordinary levels,” NCAA President Mark Emmert said. “By achieving the highest levels of academic success as a team, these young men and women truly embody what it means to be a successful NCAA student-athlete.”
Full APR scores for all teams, including penalties for low-performing teams, will be released May 24.
America East Teams Receiving NCAA APR Awards
Binghamton
Volleyball
Boston University
Men's Cross Country
Men's Ice Hockey
Women's Golf
Softball
Women's Soccer
Women's Swimming
Men's Tennis
Women's Tennis
Hartford
Men's Cross Country
Men's Tennis
Men's Indoor Track & Field
Men's Outdoor Track & Field
Women's Indoor Track & Field
Women's Outdoor Track & Field
Volleyball
Maine
Men's Cross Country
Women's Cross Country
New Hampshire
Football
Men's Indoor Track & Field
Men's Outdoor Track & Field
Women's Gymnastics
Stony Brook
Men's Cross Country
Men's Indoor Track & Field
Men's Outdoor Track & Field
Women's Outdoor Track & Field
Vermont
Men's Cross Country
Field Hockey
Women's Skiing
Women's Soccer