Albuquerque, N.M. — For the fifth consecutive year, The University of New Mexico had all 21 sports above the mandated 930 mark in the NCAA Academic Progress Rate Institutional Report, released publicly by the NCAA today. The report, which is the 2013-14 report, does not contain sand volleyball, which began this past academic year.
Last Wednesday, UNM had a school record four programs in men’s tennis, women’s tennis, women’s cross country and women’s golf all earn public recognition from the NCAA for finishing in the top 10% of all Division I schools in a particular sport in APR. APR data for the 2013-14 report is a four-year rolling score that include APR data from 2010-11, 2011-12, 2012-13 and 2013-14. The 2013-14 single-year data replaces the 2009-10 single-year data for this report.
APR is a combination of eligibility and retention scores. For each semester, a student-athlete can account for two points, one for returning to school, and one for being eligible. The total points accumulated is divided by the total points possible, and then multiplied by 1000 to get the raw score.
All 21 of UNM’s sports were easily above the 930 mark established by the NCAA, and in fact, 19 of the 21 sports were above 964. Five sports, men’s golf, men’s tennis, women’s golf, women’s tennis and softball had perfect 1000s for the 2013-14 single-season report.
Women’s tennis, men’s tennis women’s cross country and women’s golf had perfect four-year scores of 1000, while nine others scored in a 980s or 990s (women’s indoor track 996, women’s outdoor track 996, women’s soccer 991, men’s golf 987, men’s skiing 987, men’s basketball 985, women’s skiing 984, men’s indoor track 983 and women’s swimming & diving 981.)
“One of our primary focuses for our department is to be a leader in APR,” said Vice President for Athletics Paul Krebs. “This makes five straight years of outstanding APR scores. It speaks highly of the work our student-athletes put in, and the of our coaches, staff and university faculty.”
One of the keys to UNM’s APR success is the Lobo Center for Student-Athlete Success, located across from Branch Field at University Stadium and The Pit. The LCSAS houses UNM’s athletics’ Student Success Managers, who oversee the academic progress of UNM’s student-athletes. The LCSAS has two complete computer labs, meeting and private study spaces, classroom, and tutoring stations. The building also houses a seven-person academic advising and success staff, two Learning strategists and a clinical Psychologist. That area is headed by Associate A.D. for Student Development Henry Villegas.
“Our student-athletes continue to do great work in the classroom,” said Villegas. “Our coaching staff understands the importance of APR and the importance of fostering an environment of athletic and academic success. We have a dedicated support staff in the Student Success Center, and our innovative programming for student-athletes as they transition into college has fostered a great environment for us with one of our core missions, developing Lobos for Life.”