Annual APR Scores Continue At High Level

BOULDER — The University of Colorado Academic Progress Rate (APR) report based on information for the four-year period from 2015-16 through 2018-19 released Monday by the NCAA, along with those of all other Division I schools, shows the women leading the way in another generally strong academic showing for the Buffs.

Two-thirds of CU's squads earned a perfect 1000 score for the 2018-19 academic year, tying the all-time department high previously attained in 2016-17, as eight of the nine women's squads reached this pinnacle. In addition, CU had five programs earn perfect 1000 scores for the four-year period, fifth-most in the Pac-12 behind Arizona State, Cal, Stanford (all 10-plus) and Southern California (6), but all of whom sponsor several more sports than Colorado.

The four-year APR average of CU athletic programs – 984 out of a possible 1000 – came within two points of the department's 2015-16 high of 986, and far exceeded the 973 it has averaged over the 15 years of APR calculations since the NCAA's Academic Performance Program was introduced in 2003.

Here are the significant accomplishments that CU student-athletes recorded in the latest NCAA report:

Of CU's 15 programs (the NCAA combines indoor and outdoor track), nine teams have averages that met or exceeded the multiyear national average for their sport, with the other six comfortably above the 930 minimum required to avoid any penalties;
The women's golf team earned its seventh straight perfect single-year score of 1000, and for the fourth straight year, won the NCAA's Public Recognition Award by landing in the top 10 percent of its sport. Women's skiing earned the accolade for a second straight year and is now on a five year run of APR perfection, while men's skiing, women's cross country, and women's lacrosse join them in earning the Public Recognition Award. With five squads at a four-year 1000, the department has far surpassed its previous high of three, last attained in 2013-2014;
Overall, 10 programs scored a perfect 1000 in their 2018-19 annual APR. Men's golf, women's basketball, women's soccer, women's tennis and women's track all joined the above squads in the 1000 club for this report;
Ten squads achieved multiyear scores over 970, including eight of 990 or higher. To compete in the 2020-21 postseason and to avoid penalties, teams must achieve a minimum four-year APR score of 930, a number which predicts, on average, a 50 percent graduation rate. All CU squads remain firmly above this multiyear benchmark.
Nine programs maintained or increased their multiyear APR figures, with men's golf showing the largest improvement at 9 points.
Football and men's basketball are the two sports most scrutinized. Football's multiyear APR of 955 dropped a bit from the last report, partially due to the head coaching change and roster fluctuations. At a 961 multiyear APR, men's basketball is just a shade below the Division I national average for public institutions by two points.

"In a fast-changing intercollegiate athletics landscape," said third-year Faculty Athletics Representative, Dr. Joe Jupille, "CU student athletes continue to excel academically. The 2018-19 annual APR scores, as well as the multiyear performance, fall right in line with our historical averages. Steady excellence in a turbulent world merits our recognition and appreciation."

"We continue to have an excellent APR report overall, a testimony to the commitment of our student-athletes and the coaches and our academic counselors and staff members in the Herbst Academic Center who support them," CU athletic director Rick George said. "For 10 of our 15 programs to record perfect 1000 scores for the latest academic grading period is a great achievement, and the fact that eight of our nine women's teams to attain perfection truly shows their hard work and dedication. We continue to create the proper culture and atmosphere for them to succeed, and that's a credit to everyone who comes into contact with our student-athletes."

Starting this year, these APR scores, Graduation Success Rate (GSR) or Federal Graduation Rate (FGR) metrics can earn additional revenue for the athletic departments nation-wide. CU Boulder Chancellor Philip DiStefano was on the committee that created the concept of new academic money, or "Values-Based Revenue Distribution" (VBRD), designed to reward institutions for their accomplishments in the classroom.

Funds for the VBRD will come out of the revenue for the men's Division I basketball championship, and will be awarded based on any of three achievements: single-year team average APR of 985, a Graduate Success Rate (GSR) of 90 percent or higher or a Federal Graduation Rate (FGR) for student-athletes 13 percent or higher than the general student body. CU is one of eleven Pac-12 institutions to earn such an academic unit for the conference this year, based on its GSR of over 90%.

The reporting covered all 17 of CU's intercollegiate sport programs (team-by-team statistical data; once again, indoor and outdoor track teams are combined; team GPA is cumulative value as of the Fall 2019 semester. The cumulative GPA of all 352 student-athletes was 3.006, on par with the university average of 3.01 (#—nine programs saw their cumulative numbers improve over the previous year; the other six dipped only slightly, all .050 or less):

Program	2018-19 APR	Four-Year APR 2015-16 to 2018-19	Team GPA (Cumulative)
Men's Basketball	942	961	2.671 (up)
Men's Cross Country	906	956	2.914 (up)
Football	934	955	2.636 (down)
Men's Golf	1000	981	3.094 (down)
Men's Skiing	1000	1000	3.351 (up)
Men's Indoor/Outdoor Track	941	969	2.935 (up)
Women's Basketball	1000	985	2.865 (down)
Women's Cross Country	1000	1000	3.484 (up)
Women's Golf	1000	1000	3.372 (up)
Women's Lacrosse	1000	1000	3.436 (up)
Women's Skiing	1000	1000	3.290 (down)
Women's Soccer	1000	997	3.260 (up)
Women's Tennis	1000	991	3.150 (down)
Women's Indoor/Outdoor Track	1000	996	3.342 (down)
Women's Volleyball	957	964	3.199 (up)

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