PISCATAWAY, N.J.  – The Rutgers University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics received public recognition today from the NCAA with seven programs - women's cross country, men's and women's golf, gymnastics, women's lacrosse, tennis and volleyball - earning acknowledgement for their multi-year Academic Progress Rate (APR) scores. To earn recognition, a program must post a score in the top 10 percent of its respective sport.
 
"This recognition underscores our commitment to the academic success of our student-athletes," said Director of Athletics Pat Hobbs. "We are incredibly proud of their success in the classroom.  This is a testament to their hard work and dedication off the field. It also demonstrates that academics remains a first priority for our coaches, staff and administration. Moreover, with the opening of the Gary and Barbara Rodkin Academic Success Center next year, even greater academic achievement lies ahead."

All seven of the Rutgers programs are repeat recipients after also earning recognition last year. Since the compilation of data began in 2004-05, tennis has earned recognition for its multi-year APR 10 times, followed by women's golf (9), women's lacrosse (8), gymnastics (7), volleyball (5), women's cross country (3) and men's golf (2). Since 2015-16, seven or more Scarlet Knight teams have earned public recognition.
 
The Big Ten ranked second in total number of teams with 95 squads earning Public Recognition Awards. Rutgers was third in the 14-member Big Ten Conference behind Northwestern and Michigan.

A record-setting 100 Rutgers student-athletes were recognized by the Big Conference as Fall 2019 Academic All-Conference along with a school-record 48 student-athletes honored with 2020 Winter Academic All-Big Ten honors on Monday by the league, including 23 repeat selections.
 
During the fall, Scarlet Knights from all 24 programs set all-time high marks in the classroom. Rutgers student-athletes combined for 3.172 cumulative GPA and 3.051 Fall term GPA along with 227 Dean's List selections.
 
The APR provides a real-time look at a team's academic success each semester by tracking the academic progress of each student on scholarship.  The APR accounts for eligibility, retention and graduation and provides a measure of each team's academic performance. The multiyear rates are based on scores from the 2015-16, 2016-17, 2017-18 and 2018-19 academic years.

Multiyear APRs for all Division I sports teams, including the teams receiving public recognition, will be announced May 19.

Each year, the NCAA honors selected Division I sports teams by publicly recognizing their latest multiyear NCAA Division I APR. This announcement is part of the overall Division I academic reform effort and is intended to highlight teams that demonstrate a commitment to academic progress and retention of students by achieving the top APRs within their respective sports.
 
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