UH teams pass their APR tests; none will face NCAA sanctions

No University of Hawaii sports programs are deemed in danger of postseason sanctions or scholarship reductions following the release of the latest Academic Progress Rate report Tuesday, officials said.

Eight of 18 UH sports exceeded the overall national average for the four-year period ending with the 2011-12 academic year and eight topped the individual average for their sports.

“We’re going in the right direction,” athletic director Ben Jay said.

The APR measures retention, academic eligibility and progress toward graduation. A perfect score is 1,000 and the national average is 974, with 925 considered to equate to a 50 percent graduation average.

To be eligible for the 2013-14 postseason, the NCAA said teams must attain a 900 multi-year APR or average 930 over the most recent two-year period. The standard will increase to a 930 multi-year figure or a 940 two-year average for the 2014-15 postseason.

The NCAA said 18 teams from mostly small schools face postseason penalties for 2013-14.

Between 2004 and ’08 UH men’s basketball, baseball and football teams were assessed scholarship reductions and there had been concern expressed by UH administrators that men’s basketball was on a “cliff.”

Men’s basketball had a four-year APR of 951 and was at 885 for 2011-12 and UH said it projects men’s basketball will now have a 979 four-year average when the grades from the 2012-13 season are factored in to next year’s report. 

Meanwhile, 268 schools had at least one team designated for public recognition awards for finishing in the top 10 percent. UH did not have any this year.

UH’s men’s swimming (977),  women’s cross country (986), softball, (980), soccer (978), women’s swimming (995), women’s tennis (976), women’s indoor (982) and outdoor (982) track teams surpassed the national average.

In addition, eight of 18 programs topped the national averages for their individual sports, UH said. They were: baseball, football, men’s swimming and diving, women’s cross country, softball, women’s swimming and diving, women’s indoor and outdoor track and field.

Two UH teams, men’s golf and men’s tennis, had perfect scores of 1,000 for the 2011-12 academic year, the most recently measured period. Football’s 984 was a seven-year high for a one-year score.

Jay said, “Our scores reflect the attitude and commitment of our student-athletes toward academics and graduation,” Jay said. “One of (the) top priorities as an athletics department is to graduate our student-athletes, and I’m pleased that our numbers continue to rise.”