A record 13 programs, including men’s basketball, post perfect single-year APR scores of 1,000.
Football & women’s soccer programs log record multi-year APR scores.
TAMPA, MAY 19, 2020 – University of South Florida Athletics continued to see academic success reach ever-higher levels as a record 13 programs logged perfect single-year scores and the department posted an overall record 995 single-year score when the NCAA released its most recent Academic Progress Rate (APR) data Wednesday.
All 16 of the Bulls’ evaluated programs logged a multi-year APR score of 959 or better, a baseline that rose 12 points over the last report, to well exceed the NCAA’s minimum APR standard score of 930. Meanwhile, 13 programs posted a score of 975 or better. The NCAA’s 2020 multi-year APR scores comprise data from the previous four academic years.
“Our student-athletes and coaches’ commitment to academic success, as well as our tremendous Academic Services staff and top-notch academic facilities – such as the Fishman Family Center – continue to deliver record-setting results in the classroom,” Vice President of Athletics Michael Kelly said. “I’m very proud of what we have accomplished and the student-athletes who continue to achieve their academic goals.”
Among the 13 programs to post perfect single-year APR scores for 2018-19 was men’s basketball, which continues to see its academic success accelerate under head coach Brian Gregory, who completed his third season in 2019-20. Also earning perfect single-year scores were baseball, men’s cross country, men’s golf, men’s soccer, men’s tennis, women’s cross country, women’s golf, softball, women’s soccer, women’s tennis, women’s track and field and volleyball. The Bulls saw nine teams post perfect single-year APR scores of 1,000 for the 2017-18 academic year, up from four teams to do so the year prior.
Both the football program (979) and women’s soccer program (997) posted record multi-year scores, football surpassing the mark of 973 set in 2013. The American Athletic Conference champion women’s soccer program, led by head coach Denise Schilte-Brown, posted a record multi-year APR score for the fourth straight year.
The men’s track and field program’s 974 multi-year score marked its highest since 2005, the first year of APR reporting, while women’s volleyball (994) and women’s cross country (985) posted their highest marks in nine years. Women’s track and field (990) had its highest score in eight years.
The women’s golf program, led by head coach Erika Brennan, posted a perfect multi-year score of 1,000 for the seventh straight report and the men’s golf program, led by head coach Steve Bradley, posted a perfect score as well for the first time since 2006. Both were honored by the NCAA last week with a Public Recognition Award. USF teams have received a total to 32 such honors.
Meanwhile, the softball program (997) led by head coach Ken Eriksen and the women’s golf program continued streaks of a 990 or better score in all 15 reports since APR reporting began.
USF saw 60 student-athletes earn their degrees during spring commencement ceremonies and nearly 350 have earned degrees in the last four years.
The 2020 APR report features a four-year compilation of data from the 2015-16, 2016-17, 2017-18 and 2018-19 academic years. The APR uses formulas related to student-athlete retention and eligibility to measure the academic performances of all participants who receive grants-in-aid on every team at every NCAA Division I college and university. It provides a real-time look at a team’s academic success each semester by tracking the academic progress of each student-athlete, and a clear picture of the academic culture in each sport.
Academic Progress Rate
The APR, or Academic Progress Rate, holds institutions accountable for the academic progress of their student-athletes through a team-based metric that accounts for the eligibility and retention of each student-athlete for each academic term.
The APR is calculated as follows:
- Each student-athlete receiving athletically related financial aid earns one point for staying in school and one point for being academically eligible.
- A team’s total points are divided by points possible and then multiplied by 1,000 to equal the team’s Academic Progress Rate.
- In addition to a team’s current-year APR, its rolling four-year APR is also used to determine accountability.
The APR is based on four years of data, with the most current year’s data added and the oldest year removed to create a four-year (multi-year) rolling rate. Penalties can be applied if an athletic team’s multi-year APR score is below 930.
About USF Athletics
USF Athletics sponsors 19 varsity men’s and women’s teams that compete in 11 different sports, 18 at the NCAA Division I level in the American Athletic Conference. The Bulls’ athletic program began in 1965 and is in its 54th season in 2019-20. Nearly 450 student-athletes train and compete in the athletic district located on the east end of the campus in Tampa, Fla. The Bulls have claimed 19 American Athletic Conference team titles since joining the conference in 2013, and own 120 conference titles overall. Eleven USF programs reached national postseason competition in the 2018-19 season and six were ranked in the Top 25 nationally. The Bulls posted a combined annual grade-point average over 3.0 for the fourth straight year in 2018-19 and have posted a program record 10 straight semesters with a combined GPA over 3.0. USF has had nearly 350 student-athletes earn their degree since 2016-17.
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