The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB APR Scores Rank Among Best in Conference USA
6/30/2017 3:36:00 PM | Academics
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - UAB athletics teams continue to excel in the classroom, as evidence by the recent round of Academic Progress Rate (APR) scores released by the NCAA.
Following in the footsteps of their accomplishments during the 2015-2016 academic year, when 13 different Blazer teams achieved a perfect multi-year APR score of 1,000, UAB student-athletes shined once again during a historical 2016-2017 campaign.
Cumulatively, Blazer student-athletes combined to achieve their highest average GPA in history for a single semester, notching a 3.14 during the 2016 Fall term, while subsequently finishing the Spring with a 3.07. In all, 59 Blazer student-athletes graduated during the academic year.
"Excellence in the classroom continues to be a point of pride for Blazer athletics," UAB Director of Athletics Mark Ingram said. "Our student-athletes work hard and are thus deserving of the notoriety that coincides with these achievements. The entire support staff at our institution, from coaches to academic advisors, are to be commended for the dedication they emanate on a daily basis."
Four different Blazer teams (men's basketball, men's soccer, women's bowling, and women's soccer) recorded APR scores that ranked the highest in the history of their respective programs. Additionally, the women's cross country, golf, tennis, and volleyball teams tied for the top overall spot among Conference USA member institutions, as all four attained a perfect score of 1,000.
Adding to the accolades, the women's softball and rifle teams each had banner years as well, placing first outright in Conference USA, while women's beach volleyball managed a tie for the top spot.
Currently, 15 UAB teams have a multi-year APR score that is higher than their respective sports national average.
The APR provides a real-time glimpse at a team's scholastic success each semester by tracking the academic progress of each student-athlete on scholarship. The metric accounts for the eligibility, retention, and graduation of each student-athlete.
One point is awarded to an individual for maintaining eligibility and an additional point for retention. Teams with a score of 930 or below are penalized by the NCAA.
"I'm proud of the energy and effort our student-athletes and staff have put into making these outstanding academic achievements possible," said Associate Athletics Director for Student-Athlete Services Fernandez West. "The support from our coaches and university has been outstanding."
NCAA President Mark Emmert commended Division I student-athletes for their continued academic achievement and dedication on and off the field.
"I am so pleased that the Academic Progress Rates continue to rise, but I am more excited about what those numbers mean: Thousands of college athletes continue to make real progress toward earning their degrees. A college degree, combined with the skills they learn while participating in sports, will provide countless opportunities for them later in life," NCAA President Mark Emmert said.
For more information on UAB Athletics and its successes in the classroom, follow @UAB_Athletics and @UAB_SASS on Twitter.
