The NCAA released its annual lists of the top performing programs across divisions, academically. Stetson Athletics has four programs being honored for their academic performance and achievement.

Each year, the NCAA honors selected Division I sports teams by publicly recognizing their latest multiyear NCAA Division I Academic Progress Rate (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 student-athletes by achieving the top APRs within their respective sports.

Specifically, these teams posted multiyear APRs in the top 10 percent of all squads in each sport.

For Stetson, those programs include both men’s and women’s cross country, women’s tennis and volleyball. It is the second time the women’s cross country program has been recognized since the program started in 2004. Other Stetson programs that have been recognized in past years are men’s golf (twice) and women’s rowing (twice).

“Obviously, the academic success of our student-athletes is among our most important missions and is a priority for all of our teams and coaches,” Director of Athletics Jeff Altier said. “I am proud of the accomplishments of the teams being recognized this year. We will continue to strive to have all of our teams achieve at the highest possible level, both athletically and academically and look forward to having more of our programs recognized in the future.

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.