Virginia Beach, Va. - Sports team from Hampton University, the University of Maryland E. Shore and South Carolina State University are among nearly 800 Division I sports teams to receive recognition for top academic performance as part of the NCAA’s academic reform program. 

Hampton and Maryland E. Shore’s women’s bowling programs and S.C. State’s women’s track and field program earned multi-year Academic Progress Rate (APR) scores in the top 10 percent of all squads in their respective sports.  Hampton, UMES and SCSU were among 11.8 percent of all 6,484 Division team (last year, 11.4 percent) to be recognized. 

“I commend Hampton, Maryland E. Shore and South Carolina State for achieving academic excellence within their athletic programs,” stated Dennis Thomas, MEAC Commissioner.  “In addition to these fine institutions, I am proud at the job that all of our institutions are doing to provide student-athletes with the necessary tools to achieve academic success.”

The NCAA honors Division I sports teams each year who post multi-year APR scorers in the top 10 percent of all squads at their respective sports.  The most recent APR scores are multi-year rates based on the scorers from the 2004-05, 2005-06, 2006-07 and 2007-08 academic years.  The public recognition awards are part of the overall Division I academic reform effort.

The APR provides a real-time look at a team’s academic success each semester by tracking the academic progress of each student-athletes. The APR includes eligibility, retention, and graduation in the calculation and provides a clear picture of the academic culture in each sport.

Multi-year APR scores for all Division I sports teams, including the teams receiving public recognition awards, will be announced May 6.  The announcement also will include immediate and historical penalties for lowing performing teams.