NEW ORLEANS – A record-tying 14 Sun Belt Conference programs have been recognized for outstanding performance in the classroom by the NCAA.
 
Based on their most recent multiyear Academic Progress Rate, these teams have earned NCAA Public Recognition Awards for posting scores in the top 10 percent of their sport. The APR is an annual scorecard of academic achievement calculated for all Division I sports teams nationally.

APR Academic Public Recognition Award Winners:
Appalachian State - Women's Golf
Arkansas State - Men's Cross Country
Arkansas State - Women's Golf
Arkansas State - Women's Tennis
Georgia Southern - Women's Volleyball
Georgia State - Softball
Georgia State - Women's Cross Country
Texas State - Women's Cross Country
Texas State - Women's Golf
Texas State - Women's Tennis
Troy - Women's Golf
UL Lafayette - Men's Cross Country
UL Monroe - Men's Golf
UT Arlington - Women's Tennis
 
The 14 total teams honored ties last year’s record setting number.
 
Each year, the NCAA honors selected Division I sports teams by publicly recognizing their latest multiyear NCAA Division I Academic Progress Rate (APR).  This announcement is part of the overall Division I academic reform effort and is intended to highlight teams that demonstrate a commitment to academic progress and retention of student-athletes by achieving the top APRs within their respective sports.  Specifically, these teams posted multiyear APRs in the top 10 percent of all squads in each sport.
 
The APR provides a real-time look at a team's academic success each semester by tracking the academic progress of each student-athlete on scholarship.  The APR accounts for eligibility, retention and graduation and provides a measure of each team's academic performance.