Mercer Athletic Teams Receive High Marks in Annual NCAA APR Report
4/20/2016 12:00:00 AM | General, Academics
MACON, Ga. – The Mercer University athletic programs performed well in the annual report of Academic Progress Rates (APR) released by the NCAA on Wednesday afternoon, as eight programs registered scores above the national average for their respective sport in the multi-year APR.
The APR is a point system based on scholarship athletes' eligibility and retention for a pre-determined time period. This year's report is for the four-year period beginning in the fall of 2011. Points are awarded each semester for academic eligibility and retention.
In order to compete in the 2016-17 postseason, teams must achieve a 930 four-year APR. NCAA member representatives chose the 930 standard because that score predicts a 50 percent graduation rate for the team. Additionally, teams must earn at least a 930 APR to avoid penalties, including scholarship reductions.
A perfect APR score is 1000, a mark that both men's golf and women's indoor volleyball accomplished in this year's report. All Mercer teams achieved a 950 or above on the four-year scale, with eight teams reaching or surpassing the 975 threshold, including men's golf (1000), women's indoor volleyball (1000), women's soccer (995), women's cross country (994), men's soccer (985), softball (982), men's basketball (976) and football (975).
Furthermore, the Bears were even more impressive in the single-year APR scores. Eight teams recorded perfect scores of 1000 for the 2014-15 year. Those teams were men's basketball, men's golf, men's soccer, men's tennis, women's basketball, women's cross country, women's soccer and women's indoor volleyball.
"We are focused on the academic success of our student-athletes and it is something that we keep at the forefront of our mission as an athletic department," said Mercer Director of Athletics Jim Cole. "These results speak to the commitment we have to success in the classroom and I want to thank the student-athletes, coaches and academic staff for continuing our strong results in the annual APR report."
Mercer's beach volleyball team did not receive a rating due to the sport being in just its third year of existence as a recognized NCAA sport.
The APR measures eligibility, graduation and retention each term and provides a clear picture of the academic performance for each team in every sport.
Mercer APR Four-Year Scores:
Men's Sports:
Baseball, 959
Basketball, 976
Cross Country, 961
Football, 975
Golf, 1000
Lacrosse, 964
Soccer, 985
Tennis, 973
Women's Sports:
Basketball, 964
Cross Country, 994
Golf, 974
Lacrosse, 970
Soccer, 995
Softball, 982
Tennis, 970
Track & Field, 972
Volleyball, 1000
