All 16 teams finish above NCAA benchmark in latest APR report
In addition to graduating, statistics show Central Michigan student-athletes are staying eligible – and staying in Mount Pleasant.
All 16 CMU athletic teams exceeded the benchmark score in the latest Academic Progress Rate report, released by the NCAA last week covering academic years 2005-06, 2006-07, 2007-08 and 2008-09.
In addition to GPA and graduation rates, the APR serves as another component in measuring the success of an athletic program. The rate combines eligibility and retention of all athletes on scholarship.
“We’re pleased we finished ahead of the benchmarks on all fronts,” said Athletic Director Dave Heeke. “Our goal is to always be sound academically. First and foremost, our student-athletes are here to receive their education and graduate.”
Off all teams, the men’s cross country team finished the highest with a perfect 1000 score over the four-year period. The team earned praise from the NCAA last month for its achievement.
The women’s team came in a close second with a score of 991, including a perfect 1000 for the 2008-09 academic year.
“We’re really excited about not only the student-athlete piece of it, but the student piece of it,” said Willie Randolph, cross country/track and field director. “We’ve very focused and driven on making sure these athletes are graduating. I think that with the reality of making sure you’re recruiting the right athletes – like every coach across the country knows you must do – that also makes a difference in how you develop them once they get into your program.”
The football team finished fifth in the Mid-American Conference with a score of 941, falling just below the 944 Division 1 national average. The team scored 944 for the 2008-09 academic year.
Men’s basketball continues to feel the effect of a large number of transfers and issues from past seasons, barely exceeding the benchmark with a 926.
However, things appear to be improving for the team as it posted a 941 for 2008-09 and only suffered one scholarship departure from last season’s team.
“We monitor that regularly and we’re very close because of the early transitional issues of really stabilizing the program,” Heeke said. “We’re trying to work really hard as we continue to move on so we do not fall under that level. It is one that’s in that grey-area that we’re concerned going forward.”
Women’s field hockey and volleyball scored 989 and 986, respectively, to finish third and fourth.
For the 2009-10 academic year, CMU student-athletes finished with a 3.03 overall GPA with a quarter earning a 3.5 GPA or better.
Team APR scores: Baseball: 943 Men’s Basketball: 926 Men’s Cross Country: 1000 Football: 941 Men’s Indoor Track & Field: 965 Men’s Outdoor Track & Field: 975 Wrestling: 937 Women’s Basketball: 975 Women’s Cross Country: 991 Women’s Field Hockey: 989 Gymnastics: 963 Soccer: 974 Softball: 970 Women’s Indoor Track & Field: 967 Women’s Outdoor Track & Field: 967 Volleyball: 986
