University of Pittsburgh Athletics
13 Pitt Programs Exceed National APR Average
4/20/2016 12:00:00 AM | General
PITTSBURGH - The University of Pittsburgh athletic programs posted strong numbers in the most recent measurement of the Academic Progress Rate, as scores were released by NCAA Wednesday afternoon. Division I student-athletes across the country continue to make gains in the classroom, earning all-time high results in the APR.
"As a whole, we are pleased with the level of progress we have made in our APR scores during the most recent reporting cycle," said Athletic Director Scott Barnes. "An overwhelming majority of our programs showed an increase in scoring and we have a terrific plan in place to continue that growth. Seven of our teams posted their best scores since the APR was introduced and we are going to use that positive momentum to keep building on our already strong academic profile."
Pitt had 13 of its 17 programs perform at or above the national average, including the women's tennis team that posted a perfect 1000 for the second straight year and the fourth time overall since the start of the APR. Other programs performing at or above the national average were men's swimming & diving, women's cross country, men's basketball, women's volleyball, women's swimming & diving, women's basketball, softball, wrestling, women's track & field, men's cross country, men's soccer and football.
Pitt's scores were at or above last year's marks for 15 of 17 programs, with women's volleyball showing the largest jump of +22 for a score of 995. The men's basketball team dropped five points from last year's perfect 1000 but still finished well above the national average of 964 for the sport. Four programs - women's volleyball, men's swimming & diving, baseball and men's cross country - showed double-digit growth in APR scores.
The Panthers placed in the upper part the ACC in nine sports with women's tennis ranking tied for first with the perfect score. Wrestling was second among ACC schools with a 987, while men's basketball (995) and men's swimming & diving (997) were tied for third.
In total seven programs - men's cross country, football, men's swimming & diving, wrestling, women's cross country, softball and tennis - registered their top APR scores.
Nationally, the 2014-15 overall four-year rate is 979, up one point from the previous year's mark. Three-point improvements in men's and women's basketball and football all contributed to that increase. Men's basketball teams earned a 964 (up from 961), women's basketball teams earned a 978 (up from 975) and football teams earned a 959 (up from 956).
Every Division I sports team across the nation calculates its APR each academic year, similar to a report card. Scholarship student-athletes each semester earn one point for remaining eligible and one point for staying in school or graduating. As tracked through the APR, more than 14,000 former college athletes have returned to school to get their degrees since the NCAA created the measurement tool. Each of those students earns back a lost APR point for their team. More than 7,500 competed in baseball, men's basketball, football and women's basketball - the highest-profile sports in college athletics. Each of those graduates earned APR points for their team.
Rates are an average of each school's performance for the last four years. National aggregates are based on all teams with usable data at the time of analysis. APRs for each team, lists of teams receiving public recognition and those receiving sanctions are available online through the NCAA's searchable database.
2014-15 - Pitt APR Scores by Program
Program Score - Change from 2013-14 - ACC Rank - National Average
Women's Tennis - 1000 - = - T-1st - 985
Men's Swimming and Diving - 997 - +17 - T-3rd - 980
Women's Cross Country - 996 - +6 - 7th - 986
Men's Basketball - 995 - -5 - T-3rd - 964
Women's Volleyball - 995 - +22 - T-6th - 984
Women's Swimming and Diving - 992 - +9 - 9th - 990
Women's Gymnastics - 990 - +5 - n/a - 992
Women's Basketball - 989 - +5 - 7th - 978
Softball - 988 - +4 - 7th - 981
Men's Wrestling - 987 - = - 2nd - 970
Women's Track & Field - 985 - +4 - 11th - 981
Women's Soccer - 982 - +9 - 13th - 984
Men's Cross Country - 980 - +10 - 13th - 977
Men's Soccer - 976 - -10 - T-4th - 974
Football - 970 - +7 - 8th - 964
Baseball - 955 - +14 - 14th - 970
Men's Track & Field - 949 - +2 - 14th - 969
Programs above the national average in bold
Postseason access loss and penalties
In order to compete in the 2016-17 postseason, teams must achieve a 930 four-year APR. NCAA member representatives chose the 930 standard because that score predicts a 50 percent graduation rate for the team. Additionally, teams must earn at least a 930 APR to avoid penalties. Teams scoring below 930 can face consequences intended to direct additional focus on academics. Those penalties can include practice restrictions and playing-season reductions. The intention is to fill time that would have been spent on athletics with academic activities.
#H2P
"As a whole, we are pleased with the level of progress we have made in our APR scores during the most recent reporting cycle," said Athletic Director Scott Barnes. "An overwhelming majority of our programs showed an increase in scoring and we have a terrific plan in place to continue that growth. Seven of our teams posted their best scores since the APR was introduced and we are going to use that positive momentum to keep building on our already strong academic profile."
Pitt had 13 of its 17 programs perform at or above the national average, including the women's tennis team that posted a perfect 1000 for the second straight year and the fourth time overall since the start of the APR. Other programs performing at or above the national average were men's swimming & diving, women's cross country, men's basketball, women's volleyball, women's swimming & diving, women's basketball, softball, wrestling, women's track & field, men's cross country, men's soccer and football.
Pitt's scores were at or above last year's marks for 15 of 17 programs, with women's volleyball showing the largest jump of +22 for a score of 995. The men's basketball team dropped five points from last year's perfect 1000 but still finished well above the national average of 964 for the sport. Four programs - women's volleyball, men's swimming & diving, baseball and men's cross country - showed double-digit growth in APR scores.
The Panthers placed in the upper part the ACC in nine sports with women's tennis ranking tied for first with the perfect score. Wrestling was second among ACC schools with a 987, while men's basketball (995) and men's swimming & diving (997) were tied for third.
In total seven programs - men's cross country, football, men's swimming & diving, wrestling, women's cross country, softball and tennis - registered their top APR scores.
Nationally, the 2014-15 overall four-year rate is 979, up one point from the previous year's mark. Three-point improvements in men's and women's basketball and football all contributed to that increase. Men's basketball teams earned a 964 (up from 961), women's basketball teams earned a 978 (up from 975) and football teams earned a 959 (up from 956).
Every Division I sports team across the nation calculates its APR each academic year, similar to a report card. Scholarship student-athletes each semester earn one point for remaining eligible and one point for staying in school or graduating. As tracked through the APR, more than 14,000 former college athletes have returned to school to get their degrees since the NCAA created the measurement tool. Each of those students earns back a lost APR point for their team. More than 7,500 competed in baseball, men's basketball, football and women's basketball - the highest-profile sports in college athletics. Each of those graduates earned APR points for their team.
Rates are an average of each school's performance for the last four years. National aggregates are based on all teams with usable data at the time of analysis. APRs for each team, lists of teams receiving public recognition and those receiving sanctions are available online through the NCAA's searchable database.
2014-15 - Pitt APR Scores by Program
Program Score - Change from 2013-14 - ACC Rank - National Average
Women's Tennis - 1000 - = - T-1st - 985
Men's Swimming and Diving - 997 - +17 - T-3rd - 980
Women's Cross Country - 996 - +6 - 7th - 986
Men's Basketball - 995 - -5 - T-3rd - 964
Women's Volleyball - 995 - +22 - T-6th - 984
Women's Swimming and Diving - 992 - +9 - 9th - 990
Women's Gymnastics - 990 - +5 - n/a - 992
Women's Basketball - 989 - +5 - 7th - 978
Softball - 988 - +4 - 7th - 981
Men's Wrestling - 987 - = - 2nd - 970
Women's Track & Field - 985 - +4 - 11th - 981
Women's Soccer - 982 - +9 - 13th - 984
Men's Cross Country - 980 - +10 - 13th - 977
Men's Soccer - 976 - -10 - T-4th - 974
Football - 970 - +7 - 8th - 964
Baseball - 955 - +14 - 14th - 970
Men's Track & Field - 949 - +2 - 14th - 969
Programs above the national average in bold
Postseason access loss and penalties
In order to compete in the 2016-17 postseason, teams must achieve a 930 four-year APR. NCAA member representatives chose the 930 standard because that score predicts a 50 percent graduation rate for the team. Additionally, teams must earn at least a 930 APR to avoid penalties. Teams scoring below 930 can face consequences intended to direct additional focus on academics. Those penalties can include practice restrictions and playing-season reductions. The intention is to fill time that would have been spent on athletics with academic activities.
#H2P
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