Academic Progress Update: Texas athletic programs post solid scores

AUSTIN, Texas — The University of Texas athletic programs once again have their annual set of data to prove the Longhorns are advancing toward their ultimate goal – to graduate all student-athletes. UT surpassed the required NCAA standard in all 20 of its intercollegiate athletics sport programs, according to the multi-year NCAA Division I Academic Progress Rate (APR) released on Wednesday.

All 20 UT sport programs recorded at least a 970 mark in the latest APR, including five with perfect 1,000 scores (men’s basketball, men’s tennis, women’s basketball, women’s swimming and diving and volleyball). Football’s rating of 971, a 13-point increase from last year’s mark, is the team’s best multi-year mark since the NCAA began releasing the APR in 2004-05.

“I see it every day, but this once again gives me great pride in the dedication and effort our student-athletes put into competing for their teams, giving back to the community and excelling in the classroom,” said Texas Men’s Athletics Director Mike Perrin. “The recently released APR scores for our programs are tremendous across the board. They truly are a reflection of the type of well-rounded student-athletes we have at The University of Texas. These consistently high APR scores also reinforce the emphasis our coaches and staff place on education, graduation and our steadfast commitment to the overall development of our student-athletes.”

Last week, six University of Texas teams (baseball, men’s basketball, men’s tennis, women’s basketball, women’s swimming and diving and volleyball) received public recognition awards for their latest APR. That total led all Big 12 Conference institutions.

“Student academic success is the heart of our athletics program,” said Texas Women’s Athletics Director Chris Plonsky. “We are blessed to offer our men and women competitive sports opportunities, but they also pursue undergraduate degrees in a world-class academic environment. The students again have shown that they have responded to coaches, staff and faculty, all of whom are dedicated to the goal of students achieving excellence.”

The APR provides a real-time look at a team’s academic success by tracking the academic progress of each student-athlete during the school year. The APR accounts for eligibility, retention and graduation in the calculation and provides a measure of each team’s academic performance.

This APR is based on data submitted by the institution for the 2011-12, 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2014-15 academic years.

The University of Texas Academic Progress Rate

Men’s Programs: Multi-year APR

Baseball: 993

Basketball: 1,000

Cross Country: 979

Football: 971

Golf: 993

Swimming and Diving: 983

Tennis: 1,000

Track and Field: 986

Women’s Programs: Multi-year APR

Basketball: 1,000

Cross Country: 996

Golf: 991

Rowing: 998

Soccer: 991

Softball: 989

Swimming and Diving: 1,000

Tennis: 984

Track and Field: 987

Volleyball: 1,000