INDIANAPOLIS -- Highlighted by multi-year marks of 980 and above for eight different programs, including six sports who earned a perfect score last year, all Indiana State's athletic teams have met and exceeded the NCAA's Academic Progress Rate multi-year standard for the ninth straight time as the NCAA released its latest Division I APR data from the 2017-18 academic year. In fact, the average score of 985 not only exceeds the national average of 983 -- it is the highest in the history of the athletics department.
To compete in the 2019-20 postseason, teams must achieve a 930 four-year APR. NCAA members chose the 930 standard because that score predicts, on average, a 50 percent graduation rate for teams at that APR level. Additionally, teams must earn at least a 930 four-year APR to avoid penalties.
Since the Division I membership created the Academic Performance Program 15 years ago, more than 17,500 former student-athletes have earned APR points for their prior teams by returning to college and earning a degree after their eligibility expired. Of those, more than half (9,174) competed in football, baseball or basketball. These students typically do not count in graduation rates because they earn degrees outside the six-year window allowed by both the federal graduation rate and the NCAA's Graduation Success Rate.
During the 2017-18 academic year, six different Sycamore sports programs earned perfect scores of 1,000 including softball, men's and women's cross country, women's swimming and diving, women's track and field and women's golf. That total is the third-highest in department history and the most since 2009-10.
"We are proud of our student-athletes for being successful both on the field and in the classroom," Director of Athletics
Sherard Clinkscales said. "The hard work of
Joel McMullen, Tonya Sawyer,
Michelle Stodden and
Brooke Porter have ensured that our APR scores are continually on the rise and in most cases exceed the national average. I want to send a special congratulations to women's golf, men's and women's cross country, softball, women's swimming and diving and women's track and field for achieving perfect APR scores in 2017-18. This report is further proof of our dedication to academic success for our student-athletes and our goal to help them earn their degree and become productive members of society after graduation."
Softball's four-year APR of 996 led the way for the Sycamores, including their perfect score of 1,000 from the 2017-18 season. Volleyball posted a score of 989 while both women's golf and women's soccer enjoyed marks of 987. Women's Golf likewise had a perfect score of 1,000 last season. Women's Cross Country posted a multi-year score of 986, including their perfect mark of 1,000 over the previous academic year. Women's Track & Field tallied a score of 980 which included a perfect score of 1,000 from 2017-18.
Men's Basketball recorded a score of 976 while baseball was right behind at 967. Men's Cross Country posted a mark of 964 and was one of six programs to record perfect scores of 1,000 in 2017-18. Women's Swimming & Diving, who recorded a perfect score of 2017-18, raised their mark to 961. Men's Track & Field enjoyed a score of 957 while football came in at 954 and Women's Basketball was at 938.
The Academic Progress Rate measures the eligibility, retention and graduation of student-athletes competing on every Division I sports team and also serves as a predictor of graduation success. Each year, the NCAA tracks the classroom performance of student-athletes on every Division I team through the annual scorecard of academic achievement, known as APR. The score measures eligibility and retention each semester or quarter and provides a clear picture of the academic culture in each sport. The most recent APRs are multi-year rates based on scores from the 2014-15, 2015-16, 2016-17 and 2017-18 academic years.
For more information on the Academic Progress Rate, please visit the NCAA website at www.ncaa.org.
