University Times

Amid rising academic standards for National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I sports teams, Pitt’s 19 Division I teams exceeded the NCAA’s minimum four-year academic progress rates (APRs).

In addition, according to the NCAA 2012-13 APR public report, six Pitt women’s teams (basketball, cross-country, gymnastics, softball, tennis and volleyball) and three Pitt men’s teams (basketball, swimming and wrestling) achieved perfect scores of 1000 in their most recent (2012-13) one-year APR.

Beginning with 2012-13 championships, the NCAA began phasing in higher academic standards, requiring teams to earn a four-year APR of at least 900, or a 930 average over the most recent two years to be eligible for postseason play.

The NCAA calculates APRs by crediting scholarship student-athletes with one point for staying in school and one point for being academically eligible. A team’s total points are divided by the number of points possible then multiplied by 1,000 to calculate the APR. For the 2014-15 postseason, teams must attain a 930 multiyear APR or average 940 over the most recent two years. In 2015-16 and beyond, teams must earn a four-year APR of 930 to compete in championships.

In addition, teams that fail to meet the academic standards face penalties that include reductions in practice time and competition reductions. As anticipated, the rising standards this year are making more teams ineligible for postseason play — 36 teams this year versus 13 teams last year. In addition, 57 teams will be subject to penalties, up from 32 last year.

In the current NCAA report card, multiyear APRs represent a four-year average spanning 2009-10 through 2012-13.

Across Division I schools, the average four-year APR is 976, up two points over last year.

Four-year APRs for Pitt’s teams ranged from 995 for men’s basketball and women’s gymnastics to a low of 957 for women’s soccer. Eleven Pitt teams improved their multiyear APRs, while eight teams had APRs lower than the prior-year average.

Highest to lowest, here is how Pitt’s teams fared, compared with last year’s four-year APR:

• Women’s gymnastics, 995, up 5 points from last year.
• Men’s basketball, 995, up 20 points.
• Women’s basketball, 994, down 1 point.
• Women’s cross country, 992, down 1 point.
• Men’s soccer, 987, up 10 points.
• Women’s outdoor track, 985, down 3 points.
• Women’s indoor track, 985, down 3 points.
• Softball, 984, down 1 point.
• Women’s tennis, 984, up 1 point.
• Wrestling, 978, up 11 points.
• Women’s swimming, 977, down 6 points.
• Men’s cross country, 972, up 8 points.
• Men’s swimming, 971, up 11 points.
• Men’s outdoor track, 970, up 3 points.
• Men’s indoor track, 969, up 7 points.
• Women’s volleyball, 965, up 1 point.
• Football, 961, down 1 point.
• Baseball, 960, up 8 points.
• Women’s soccer, 957, down 11 points.

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More information, including a searchable APR database, can be found at www.ncaa.org/about/resources/research/academic-progress-rate-apr.

—Kimberly K. Barlow