Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell Athletics Continues Strong Performance in NCAA's APR Report
3/1/2006 7:00:00 AM | General
March 1, 2006
LEWISBURG, Pa. - The NCAA on Wednesday released its second yearly set of Academic Performance Rate (APR) data, which features a recently implemented formula that is now used to track student-athlete eligibility and retention and could lead to sanctions against institutions not meeting certain minimum standards.
For the second straight year, Bucknell scored very well in the APR report, with each of its 26 varsity programs easily meeting the 925-point cutoff. Scores under 925 could result in certain NCAA-imposed penalties, including loss of scholarships.
Under the APR system, a student-athlete can be awarded two points per semester - one for remaining academically eligible throughout the semester and another for being retained for the next term. Team percentages are then calculated to determine its APR.
The latest APR data represents a two-year average based on institutional reporting for the 2003-04 and 2004-05 academic years; ultimately the NCAA will evaluate programs based on a four-year rolling average.
Fourteen Bison sports boasted perfect 1,000 scores in the 2006 report - men's cross country, men's golf, men's soccer, men's swimming and diving, men's tennis, women's cross country, women's rowing, women's golf, women's lacrosse, women's soccer, women's swimming and diving, women's tennis, women's indoor track and field and women's water polo. Others, such as football and men's and women's basketball, were well above the national average.
"The NCAA's recent APR report is a true representation of the hard work we see from Bucknell's student-athletes and coaches every day, as well as the tremendous support we receive from our faculty," said director of athletics and recreation John Hardt. "In recent years Bucknell has led the nation in student-athlete graduation rate, while Bucknell routinely ranks among the national and Patriot League leaders in Academic All-Americans, Scholar-Athlete Award recipients, and Academic Honor Roll members. Our number one priority - the education and welfare of our student-athletes - will never change. We look forward to working with the NCAA as it continues to strive toward a shared focus."
Bucknell is a highly-selective, privately endowed liberal arts institution with an enrollment of approximately 3,350 undergraduate students. Bucknell competes in NCAA Division I as a member of the Patriot League and has full membership along with American, Army, Colgate, Holy Cross, Lafayette, Lehigh and Navy. Bucknell has won the Presidents' Cup, signifying the Patriot League's all-sports champion, in 11 of 15 years, including seven of the last eight years.
Bucknell has annually ranked among the national leaders in the graduation rate of its student-athletes. Three times Bucknell has ranked FIRST in the nation in graduation rates, including 2004. In addition, Bucknell ranks fourth in Division I in the total number of ESPN the Magazine Academic All-America selections, with 110 national honorees since 1970. In the Fall 2005 semester 253 Bison student-athletes earned Dean's List recognition with grade-point averages of 3.50 or better, including 20 who had perfect 4.0 averages.
