The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Blazers Excel in NCAA APR Scores
4/13/2016 12:00:00 AM | General
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Three UAB programs were publically honored for being among the top 10 percent in Academic Progress Rates (APR), the NCAA announced Wednesday.
Women’s golf, women’s tennis and cross country all posted perfect APR scores of 1,000 to earn the distinction. Additionally, each of these three programs has not lost an APR point over four consecutive academic years, which spans the length for which the Public Recognition Award is based.
Each year, the NCAA honors selected NCAA Division I sports teams by publicly recognizing their latest multiyear NCAA Division I Academic Progress Rate. 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.
“We strive for excellence in all we do at UAB,” Blazer Director of Athletics Mark Ingram said. “The student-athletes from our women’s golf, women’s tennis and cross country teams are to be commended on being recognized as among the best in all of intercollegiate athletics for their performance in the classroom. We are proud of them, as well as their coaches, academic advisors and all who helped them achieve this honor.”
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.
“The team’s performance in the classroom has been excellent, especially over the last three semesters,” women’s golf coach Kim Wilcox said. “Our women are diligent, hard workers who want to represent themselves, their program and UAB in an exemplary fashion.”
“We take a lot of pride in getting the job done in the classroom,” women’s tennis head coach Mark Tjia said. “Our ladies understand the importance of their academics. They have been very disciplined and organized on their way to achieving the high expectations we have of them and they have set for themselves. It is also a testament to our academic staff, as our team GPA is among the best in the conference and at UAB. We believe we have one of the best academic staffs, and are thankful for the support they provide our team.”
“Having such a high APR shows the dedication of our student-athletes to not only their sport, but to getting the most of their education at UAB,” cross country head coach Matt Esche said. “They understand the value of a degree from UAB and the doors it can open for them.”
