NEW ORLEANS – Twenty-one Sun Belt teams have been recognized for academic excellence after scoring in the top 10 percent of their sports in the most recent Academic Progress Rates. The announcement was made by the NCAA on Wednesday as part of the association’s Public Recognition Awards.
South Alabama had the most teams recognized with five total. It is the second consecutive year that USA has led the league. Appalachian State had four teams recognized after having three a year ago.
For the second consecutive year women’s golf had the most teams honored with six total.
Appalachian State - Men's Cross Country
Appalachian State - Women's Golf
Appalachian State - Women's Soccer
Appalachian State - Women's Tennis
Arkansas State - Women's Cross Country
Arkansas State - Women's Tennis
Coastal Carolina - Women's Tennis
Georgia Southern - Men's Golf
Georgia Southern - Women's Cross Country
Georgia State - Women's Golf
ULM - Men's Basketball
ULM - Women's Golf
South Alabama - Baseball
South Alabama - Men's Cross Country
South Alabama - Men's Golf
South Alabama - Women's Cross Country
South Alabama - Women's Golf
Texas State - Women's Golf
Texas State - Women's Tennis
Troy - Women's Cross Country
Troy - Women's Golf
The NCAA’s Division I Public Recognition Awards are based on the latest multiyear NCAA Division I Academic Progress Rate and 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.
APR scores for all Division I teams will be released May 8. The APR measures eligibility, graduation and retention each semester or academic term and provides a clear picture of the academic performance for each team in every sport. All teams must meet an academic threshold of 930 to qualify for the postseason and can face penalties for continued low academic performance.
The most recent APRs are multiyear rates based on scores from the 2014-15, 2015-16, 2016-17 and 2017-18 academic years.