June 11, 2013

COLUMBIA, S.C. –
All 19 of the University of South Carolina’s countable intercollegiate sports posted a multi-year score of 950 or better for the second-consecutive year, according to the Academic Progress Rate (APR) statistics that were released today.

“Educating our young people remains our primary focus,” said Athletics Director Ray Tanner. “Our APR numbers reflect the high level of commitment made by our coaches, academic support staff and, most importantly, our student-athletes, in achieving that goal. We believe that strong athletics and strong academics are not mutually exclusive, but rather work hand-in-hand. We are competing and having success at the highest level in both arenas.”

Highlighting the South Carolina data is seven teams (men’s/women’s golf, women’s swimming/diving, women’s tennis, cross country, men’s indoor/outdoor track) with a perfect single-year score (1,000) for the 2011-12 campaign, including the highest-ever mark for men’s track, making a jump from 917 for the 2010-11 campaign. Additionally, baseball made a single-year jump of 59 points from 913 in 2010-11 to 972 for the 2011-12 campaign, and women’s soccer rose 50 points to 973. Men’s basketball also marked a 15-point jump in its four-year average (983), while women’s basketball rose 20 points in the category (980).

“We are ecstatic to have all of our teams multi-year APR above a 950 for the second consecutive year,” Associate Athletics Director for Academics and Student Development Maria Hickman commented. “Our student-athletes are committed to being successful not only on the field but in the classroom. These numbers reflect the academic commitment of the administration, coaches and academic support staff. ”

The APR is a point system based on scholarship student-athletes’ eligibility and retention for a pre-determined four-year time period. NCAA sports falling below the established point cutoff (930) may be subject to penalties including scholarship reductions. The data released on Wednesday includes the scholarship student-athletes on rosters from the 2008-09, 2009-10, 2010-11 and 2011-12 academic years.

South Carolina’s Multi-Year APR Rate (Four-Year Rolling Period) by Sport: