COLLEGE PARK, MD – The University of Maryland has set a departmental record for its best Academic Progress Rate (APR) score with a 985 per the data released by the NCAA on Tuesday. Eight programs also posted perfect 1,000 APR scores: women’s basketball, cross country, women’s golf, gymnastics, men’s lacrosse, women’s soccer, softball and volleyball.
The women’s cross country and women’s golf teams both earned multi-year scores of 1000 and earned NCAA APR Public Recognition Awards for excellence within their sports.
In total, nine intercollegiate sport programs at the University of Maryland improved their single-year APR scores, while an additional five programs maintained their single-year scores.
“I want to congratulate our student-athletes and our Gossett Center staff on a record-setting year,” said Damon Evans, Barry P. Gossett Director of Athletics. “To set a school record for overall APR with a 985 is an impressive accomplishment, something we take a lot of pride in. Our commitment to academic excellence is demonstrated by eight programs recording perfect 1,000 APR scores and nine teams improving their APR from last year. These are tremendous achievements to be celebrated."
Baseball’s single-year score rose 40 points from 942 (2019-20) to 982 (2020-21). Football earned its third-highest single-year APR in program history, since the inception of APR in 2003 with a 987. Men’s lacrosse posted it's second consecutive perfect 1000, while wrestling improved its single-year score by 22 points from 2019-20 (988).
The women’s teams were equally impressive with seven teams earning perfect 1,000 single-year scores including; women’s basketball, cross country, women’s golf, gymnastics, softball, women’s soccer, and volleyball. Field hockey maintained their impressive 989 from 2019-20.
Maryland’s women’s track and field program earned an impressive 982, just one point shy of their 2019-20 mark of 983.
Maryland Athletics Departmental overall APR score of 985 earns the NCAA Academic Unit. The average of single-year rates for all teams is used to determine eligibility for this standard. By earning the Academic Unit, a portion of Division I revenue is distributed to member schools based on the academic achievement of student-athletes. The model allows schools with higher graduation rates and academic success to qualify for more funds.
"I’m extremely proud of our student-athletes, Gossett Student-Athlete Center (GSAC) staff, coaches and administration for their commitment to academic excellence,” said Brady Rourke, Director of the Gossett Center. “Our Academic Performance Rates (APR) numbers show a commitment to academic success. University of Maryland student-athletes compete at the highest levels, while earning a world-class education. It requires discipline, focus, communication, and perseverance to maintain and improve a high level of academic standing. Earning a departmental 985 APR score is no small feat and is an impressive accomplishment. Our Academic Services team prides itself on proactive academic counseling and a culture of mentorship from new student orientation through graduation. Together, we congratulate to our student-athletes who continue to display their commitment to academic excellence"
The newly released multi-year APR scores are comprised of data submitted for 2017-18, 2018-19, 2019-20, 2020-21. The APR index was developed by the NCAA to provide a "real time" snapshot on a semester-by-semester basis in order to measure the eligibility and retention of student-athletes in all Division I institutions. The APR is part of a larger package of initiatives, the NCAA Academic Performance Program, which was mandated by the NCAA Board of Directors to improve the academic performance of athletic teams.
In calculating the APR, all student-athletes receiving athletics financial aid are considered "counters" and each semester receives one point for retention/graduation and one point for meeting NCAA and University of Maryland eligibility standards for competition. The maximum number of APR points a student-athlete can earn in an academic year is four (two in the fall semester and two in the spring semester). A team's APR is the total number of eligibility/retention points earned divided by the maximum number of points possible. This APR number is then multiplied by 1000. (For example, a team that receives 94 percent of all possible points would have a team APR of 940.)
The women’s cross country and women’s golf teams both earned multi-year scores of 1000 and earned NCAA APR Public Recognition Awards for excellence within their sports.
In total, nine intercollegiate sport programs at the University of Maryland improved their single-year APR scores, while an additional five programs maintained their single-year scores.
“I want to congratulate our student-athletes and our Gossett Center staff on a record-setting year,” said Damon Evans, Barry P. Gossett Director of Athletics. “To set a school record for overall APR with a 985 is an impressive accomplishment, something we take a lot of pride in. Our commitment to academic excellence is demonstrated by eight programs recording perfect 1,000 APR scores and nine teams improving their APR from last year. These are tremendous achievements to be celebrated."
Baseball’s single-year score rose 40 points from 942 (2019-20) to 982 (2020-21). Football earned its third-highest single-year APR in program history, since the inception of APR in 2003 with a 987. Men’s lacrosse posted it's second consecutive perfect 1000, while wrestling improved its single-year score by 22 points from 2019-20 (988).
The women’s teams were equally impressive with seven teams earning perfect 1,000 single-year scores including; women’s basketball, cross country, women’s golf, gymnastics, softball, women’s soccer, and volleyball. Field hockey maintained their impressive 989 from 2019-20.
Maryland’s women’s track and field program earned an impressive 982, just one point shy of their 2019-20 mark of 983.
Maryland Athletics Departmental overall APR score of 985 earns the NCAA Academic Unit. The average of single-year rates for all teams is used to determine eligibility for this standard. By earning the Academic Unit, a portion of Division I revenue is distributed to member schools based on the academic achievement of student-athletes. The model allows schools with higher graduation rates and academic success to qualify for more funds.
"I’m extremely proud of our student-athletes, Gossett Student-Athlete Center (GSAC) staff, coaches and administration for their commitment to academic excellence,” said Brady Rourke, Director of the Gossett Center. “Our Academic Performance Rates (APR) numbers show a commitment to academic success. University of Maryland student-athletes compete at the highest levels, while earning a world-class education. It requires discipline, focus, communication, and perseverance to maintain and improve a high level of academic standing. Earning a departmental 985 APR score is no small feat and is an impressive accomplishment. Our Academic Services team prides itself on proactive academic counseling and a culture of mentorship from new student orientation through graduation. Together, we congratulate to our student-athletes who continue to display their commitment to academic excellence"
The newly released multi-year APR scores are comprised of data submitted for 2017-18, 2018-19, 2019-20, 2020-21. The APR index was developed by the NCAA to provide a "real time" snapshot on a semester-by-semester basis in order to measure the eligibility and retention of student-athletes in all Division I institutions. The APR is part of a larger package of initiatives, the NCAA Academic Performance Program, which was mandated by the NCAA Board of Directors to improve the academic performance of athletic teams.
In calculating the APR, all student-athletes receiving athletics financial aid are considered "counters" and each semester receives one point for retention/graduation and one point for meeting NCAA and University of Maryland eligibility standards for competition. The maximum number of APR points a student-athlete can earn in an academic year is four (two in the fall semester and two in the spring semester). A team's APR is the total number of eligibility/retention points earned divided by the maximum number of points possible. This APR number is then multiplied by 1000. (For example, a team that receives 94 percent of all possible points would have a team APR of 940.)
