SEVEN UNH SPORTS PROGRAMS HONORED BY NCAA FOR ACADEMICS

INDIANAPOLIS—The University of New Hampshire athletic department saw seven different sports programs honored on Wed., April 22, as recipients of 2008-09 NCAA Public Recognition Awards for their efforts in the classroom.

The teams receiving the honor for UNH included: men’s cross country, football, men’s soccer, men’s indoor and outdoor track and field, and women’s indoor and outdoor track and field.

Just to show how impressive winning the award is, the UNH football team was one of only 23 teams in both FBS and FCS that were recognized. Also impressive was the fact that four of the 23 teams were members of the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA), one of the strongest football conferences in FCS this past year. UNH, Richmond (national champion), Villanova and William & Mary were all honored from the CAA.

UNH was also outstanding among teams in the America East Conference, leading all America East schools with six conference teams honored. No other school in America East had more than three teams named to the list. In all, America East had 18 programs recognized

The NCAA honored NCAA Division I sports teams with public recognition awards for their latest multiyear NCAA Division I Academic Progress Rate (APR).  These teams posted multiyear APRs in the top 10 percent of all squads in their respective sports.  The public recognition awards are part of the broad 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-athlete.  The APR includes eligibility, retention and graduation in the calculation and provides a clear picture of the academic culture in each sport. 

 Multiyear APRs for all Division I sports teams, including the teams receiving public recognition awards, will be announced Wednesday, May 6.