Eastern Michigan Athletics

Academic Progress Rate_Story

EMU Athletics Strong Again In NCAA's APR Report

5/23/2018 2:00:00 PM | General, SASS

Nine of EMU's sports posted scores equal to or better than a year ago

Complete NCAA Release.

Complete EMU Numbers.

YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) — The Eastern Michigan University Department of Athletics continues to thrive academically in the Academic Progress Rate (APR), as released by the NCAA today, May 23.
 
All of the Eagles' sports had multi-year APR rates of 940 or above with the men's cross country and volleyball team posting perfect 1000 single-year rates in the latest report for the 2016-17 year. Additionally, seven teams equaled or exceeded their best multi-year score since the APR began in 2004-05. All 21 of EMU's teams were comfortably above the NCAA's minimum score of 930. Meanwhile, the men's cross country and volleyball programs at Eastern Michigan posted the highest APR scores in the Mid-American Conference.

"We prepare our student-athletes to achieve academic and athletic excellence," Vice President/Director of Athletics Scott Wetherbee said. "Consistent with our mission, we take great pride in how our student-athletes embody the highest standards of excellence in the classroom, on the field, and how they are engaged in the community. Our faculty, staff, coaches, and administration work tirelessly to assist our student-athletes in achieving their goals, including their academic and athletic endeavors."    

In all, nine of EMU's sports posted scores equal to or better than a year ago. The largest increases came from the women's basketball program (improving from 953 to 981) and football (climbing from 947 to 959). Women's tennis (improving eight points to 984), men's cross country (up six points to 1000), and women's track & field (climbing three points to 984) also made strong increases.

The women's basketball, men's cross country, football, men's track & field, women's track & field, volleyball, and wrestling programs all posted their best multi-year rates ever. The Eastern Michigan men's cross country and volleyball squads were awarded public recognition a week ago for ranking among the top 10 percent of all Division I programs in their respective sport. It was the sixth straight year that volleyball has been honored, while it marked the first time since 2004-05 for men's cross country.

Additionally, six of the Eagles teams ranked in the top half of the Mid-American Conference.

APR scores are based on retention and eligibility of each scholarship student-athlete. Each student-athlete can earn four points per year – one point for first-semester eligibility, one point for first-semester retention, one point for second-semester eligibility, and one point for second-semester retention. The total points earned are then divided by total points possible and the decimal place is dropped for the APR score.

"We've seen a remarkable evolutionary shift in Division I over the last 14 years. Administrators, coaches and students all make academic achievement and graduation top focus areas," Emmert said. "The APR is  a powerful metric that leads ultimately to more graduates and more student-athletes with better opportunities after college."

Since the Division I membership created the Academic Performance Program 14 years ago, more than 16,000 former athletes earned APR points for their prior teams by returning to college after their eligibility ran out and earning a degree. Of those 16,000, more than half participated in football, baseball or basketball — the highest-profile sports in Division I. Those students generally 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.

The APR is a real-time measure of eligibility, retention and graduation of student-athletes competing on every NCAA Division I athletics team. The most recent scores are based on a multi-year rate that averages scores from the 2013-14, 2014-15, 2015-16, and 2016-17 academic years. The goal of academic reform is improvement, not punishment. Not only does academic reform ensure accountability for student-athletes, teams, and institutions, but it also provides fairness by considering individual circumstances per team and school.
 
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