April 27, 2007

INDIANAPOLIS - Three Saint Joseph's University athletic teams - women's soccer, softball, and women's tennis - have earned a Public Recognition Award from the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) for earning high scores in the latest Academic Progress Rate (APR) compilation.

The three SJU teams all had 100 percent retention, eligibility and graduation rates in 2005-06.

The public recognition awards are part of the broad Division I academic reform effort. The 839 teams recognized by the NCAA posted multi-year APR scores in the top 10 percent of all squads in their respective sports. They represent 217 Division I colleges and universities, or two-thirds of the 326 institutions that compete in NCAA Division I athletics. High-performing teams receiving awards posted APR scores ranging from 975 to a perfect 1,000, said NCAA President Myles Brand.

"These teams prove once again that student-athletes are students first, and many of them are excellent students," Brand said. "I want to personally congratulate these teams and their student-athletes who are working hard in their sport and in the classroom and setting a great example for all students."

To view the complete list of awards by institution click here.

Multi-year APR scores for all 6,110 Division I sports teams, including the teams receiving public recognition awards, will be announced Wednesday (May 2). The announcement also will include immediate and historical penalties for low-performing teams.