Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Athletics Strong Again In NCAA's APR Report
6/14/2022 1:00:00 PM | General, SASS
Nine of EMU's sports posted scores equal to or better than the 2018-19 report
Complete Release (PDF) | NCAA Database.
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, June 14.
All of the Eagles' 18 sports had multi-year APR rates of 955 or above with the men's golf and women's golf teams posting perfect 1000 single-year rates in the latest report for the 2020-21 year. Additionally, five teams equaled or exceeded their best multi-year score since the APR began in 2004-05. All of EMU's teams were comfortably above the NCAA's minimum score of 930. Meanwhile, the football, men's golf, and women's golf programs at Eastern Michigan posted the highest APR scores in the Mid-American Conference.
The public announcement of APRs returned after a one-year hiatus. This spring, the Division I Board of Directors approved the continual suspension of APR penalties for an additional year due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic; however, it supported the public release of the APR data.
"We prepare our student-athletes to achieve academic and athletic excellence," EMU 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 multi-year scores equal to or better than the 2018-19 report. The largest increases came from the baseball program (improving from 964 to 978) and women's basketball (climbing from 982 to 991). Gymnastics (improving five points to 995) and soccer (climbing five points to 997) also made strong increases.
The football, men's golf, women's golf, women's basketball, and soccer programs all posted their best multi-year rates ever.
In total, five intercollegiate sport programs at Eastern improved their single-year APR scores, while an additional three programs (men's golf, women's golf, and women's gymnastics) maintained their single-year scores. Football improved from 987 to 991 for its highest single-year rate in program history, while women's basketball saw a 53-point increase from 947 to 1000. Men's cross country moved from a 929 in 2018-19 to a 1,000 in 2020-21, soccer grew its single-year tally from 978 to 990, and men's track improved from 941 to 944.
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 academic year, every Division I sports team across the country calculates its APR using a simple and consistent formula. Each term, scholarship student-athletes can earn 1 point for remaining eligible and 1 point for staying in school or graduating.
"The APR data continues to demonstrate the high level of academic achievement of our student-athletes and teams, and their resiliency to excel through a global pandemic and instability in the intercollegiate landscape," said Division I Committee on Academics chair Dianne Harrison, president emerita at California State University, Northridge. "The APR has been and continues to be a valuable real-time tool that provides us with an opportunity to identify and work with schools that may need additional assistance to improve their academic support services. Overall, the Academic Performance Program furthers the NCAA's commitment to academic excellence and integrity and the public release of this APR data while penalties are suspended is a reasonable interim step."
Despite having to deal with the many challenges of recent years, Division I student-athletes continue to perform well in the classroom. The national four-year Academic Progress Rate is 984, up one point from the last publicly reported rate in May 2020. Men's basketball improved by two points to 968, while baseball (977), football (964) and women's basketball (983) remained steady for their four-year average.
Throughout 18 years of the Academic Performance Program, more than 20,000 student-athletes have gone back to school to earn their degrees — earning points for their former team. For the high-profile sports of football, baseball, and men's and women's basketball, more than 10,400 former student-athletes have returned to college to complete their degrees. These student-athletes are typically not counted in the federal graduation rate or Graduation Success Rate calculations.
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 2017-18, 2018-19, 2019-20, and 2020-21 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.
The minimum APR academic standard for each team is 930. Typically, teams that scored below the benchmark would have to face penalties that encourage an emphasis and prioritization on academics. However, due to the current penalty suspension in place, teams will not be subjected to penalties this year. Last year, APR data was not released publicly, and penalties were not assessed.
The Division I Committee on Academics has developed and implemented policies and initiatives to improve academic support services on campuses. Additionally, the national office is actively involved in working with schools to enhance their academic programs to help student-athletes successfully earn their degrees.
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, June 14.
All of the Eagles' 18 sports had multi-year APR rates of 955 or above with the men's golf and women's golf teams posting perfect 1000 single-year rates in the latest report for the 2020-21 year. Additionally, five teams equaled or exceeded their best multi-year score since the APR began in 2004-05. All of EMU's teams were comfortably above the NCAA's minimum score of 930. Meanwhile, the football, men's golf, and women's golf programs at Eastern Michigan posted the highest APR scores in the Mid-American Conference.
The public announcement of APRs returned after a one-year hiatus. This spring, the Division I Board of Directors approved the continual suspension of APR penalties for an additional year due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic; however, it supported the public release of the APR data.
"We prepare our student-athletes to achieve academic and athletic excellence," EMU 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 multi-year scores equal to or better than the 2018-19 report. The largest increases came from the baseball program (improving from 964 to 978) and women's basketball (climbing from 982 to 991). Gymnastics (improving five points to 995) and soccer (climbing five points to 997) also made strong increases.
The football, men's golf, women's golf, women's basketball, and soccer programs all posted their best multi-year rates ever.
In total, five intercollegiate sport programs at Eastern improved their single-year APR scores, while an additional three programs (men's golf, women's golf, and women's gymnastics) maintained their single-year scores. Football improved from 987 to 991 for its highest single-year rate in program history, while women's basketball saw a 53-point increase from 947 to 1000. Men's cross country moved from a 929 in 2018-19 to a 1,000 in 2020-21, soccer grew its single-year tally from 978 to 990, and men's track improved from 941 to 944.
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 academic year, every Division I sports team across the country calculates its APR using a simple and consistent formula. Each term, scholarship student-athletes can earn 1 point for remaining eligible and 1 point for staying in school or graduating.
"The APR data continues to demonstrate the high level of academic achievement of our student-athletes and teams, and their resiliency to excel through a global pandemic and instability in the intercollegiate landscape," said Division I Committee on Academics chair Dianne Harrison, president emerita at California State University, Northridge. "The APR has been and continues to be a valuable real-time tool that provides us with an opportunity to identify and work with schools that may need additional assistance to improve their academic support services. Overall, the Academic Performance Program furthers the NCAA's commitment to academic excellence and integrity and the public release of this APR data while penalties are suspended is a reasonable interim step."
Despite having to deal with the many challenges of recent years, Division I student-athletes continue to perform well in the classroom. The national four-year Academic Progress Rate is 984, up one point from the last publicly reported rate in May 2020. Men's basketball improved by two points to 968, while baseball (977), football (964) and women's basketball (983) remained steady for their four-year average.
Throughout 18 years of the Academic Performance Program, more than 20,000 student-athletes have gone back to school to earn their degrees — earning points for their former team. For the high-profile sports of football, baseball, and men's and women's basketball, more than 10,400 former student-athletes have returned to college to complete their degrees. These student-athletes are typically not counted in the federal graduation rate or Graduation Success Rate calculations.
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 2017-18, 2018-19, 2019-20, and 2020-21 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.
The minimum APR academic standard for each team is 930. Typically, teams that scored below the benchmark would have to face penalties that encourage an emphasis and prioritization on academics. However, due to the current penalty suspension in place, teams will not be subjected to penalties this year. Last year, APR data was not released publicly, and penalties were not assessed.
The Division I Committee on Academics has developed and implemented policies and initiatives to improve academic support services on campuses. Additionally, the national office is actively involved in working with schools to enhance their academic programs to help student-athletes successfully earn their degrees.
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