INDIANAPOLIS -- Six Bradley University intercollegiate athletic teams were recognized by the NCAA Wednesday for posting a multiyear Academic Progress Rate (APR) among the top 10 percent in the country for their respective sports. The six team Public Recognition Awards are the most for any school in the Missouri Valley Conference and the most for Bradley since the NCAA introduced the honor as part of its Academic Performance Program four years ago.
The six Bradley teams recognized Wednesday were Men's Golf, Women's Cross Country, Women's Golf, Women's Tennis, Women's Indoor Track and Women's Outdoor Track. In addition to leading The Valley in APR Public Recognition Awards, Bradley was one of just three MVC institutions represented by both genders. Bradley's indoor and outdoor teams were the only track and field programs for either gender represented in The Valley, while the men's golf (Creighton) and women's tennis (UNI) programs each were joined by only one other MVC team.
"We take great pride in the performance of the six teams honored by the NCAA," said Bradley Director of Athletics Dr. Michael Cross. "Finishing in the top ten percent nationally for their respective sports demonstrates that Bradley student-athletes value their classroom experience and are taking full advantage of the distinctive educational opportunities that exist at Bradley University. This honor is shared by these student-athletes with their coaches, academic advisers and the faculty with whom they work so closely in their various academic pursuits."
In addition to The Valley comparison, Bradley's six awards were second among the 13 NCAA Division I institutions in the state of Illinois and third among the 31 Division I institutions in Illinois and the contiguous states of Indiana, Iowa, Missouri and Wisconsin, trailing only Northwestern (10) and Notre Dame (14).
Wednesday's NCAA announcement is part of the overall Division I academic reform effort and is intended to highlight teams who demonstrate a commitment to academic progress and retention of student-athletes by achieving the top APRs within their respective sports. The APR provides a real-time look at a team's academic success each semester by tracking the academic progress of each student-athlete on scholarship. The APR accounts for eligibility, retention and graduation and provides a measure of each team's academic performance.
Wednesday's announcement of the NCAA APR Public Recognition Awards is the latest distinction for the academic success of Bradley University student-athletes. According to the latest figures released in November, Bradley led The Valley in NCAA Graduation Success Rate at 93 percent, marking the ninth time in 10 years Bradley has led the league's 10 institutions in either Federal Graduation Rate or NCAA Graduation Success Rate.