Five Samford University teams have received public recognition awards from the National Collegiate Athletic Association.  The NCAA released its public recognition awards April 22 for the teams achieving the highest level of academic performance in Division I.

Samford teams that received the public recognition awards are women's basketball, women's cross country, women's golf, women's indoor track and field and women's soccer. This marks the second consecutive year five Samford teams have earned public recognition awards.

These teams posted multiyear Academic Progress Rate (APR) scores in the top 10 percent of all squads nationally in their respective sports. The public recognition awards are part of a broad Division I academic reform effort, according to Peter Neuberger, Samford's senior associate director of athletics.

"This latest recognition reflects the athletic department's consistent commitment to the enhancement of the profile of our student-athletes and the support they are provided by the Samford University administration, faculty and coaching staffs," Neuberger said.  "This academic responsibility fits in nicely with our new Southern Conference peer institutions.

Samford's five teams ranks first among Division 1 schools in the state of Alabama and tied for fourth among Southern Conference member-schools. In the state, the University of Alabama and Alabama A&M University each had one team earn the award. Eight Southern Conference schools earned public recognition awards.

The APR provides a real-time look at a team's academic success each semester by tracking the academic progress of each student-athlete, Neuberger said. The APR includes eligibility, retention and graduation in the calculation and provides a clear picture of the academic culture in each sport.

High-performing teams receiving public recognition awards posted APR scores ranging from 965 to a perfect 1,000.  The university's overall APRs will be announced by the NCAA later in the spring.


ALABAMA SCHOOLS

Alabama A&M University (1)        Women's Basketball
 
University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa (1)    Women's Volleyball
 
Samford University (5)            Women's Basketball
Women's Cross Country
Women's Golf
Women's Soccer
Women's Track, Indoor     
                       
 
OTHER SOUTHERN CONFERENCE SCHOOLS

Appalachian State University (1)        Women's Field Hockey
 
Davidson College (11)            Men's Basketball
Men's Cross Country
Men's Football
Men's Golf
Men's Track, Indoor
Men's Track, Outdoor
Women's Cross Country
Women's Soccer
Women'sTennis
Women's Track, Indoor
Women's Volleyball
 
Elon University (5)                Men's Basketball
Women's Cross Country
Women's Golf
Women's Softball
Women's Volleyball
 
Furman University (6)                Men's Cross Country
Men's Golf
Men's Track, Outdoor
Women's Basketball
Women's Track, Indoor
Women's Track, Outdoor
 
The Citadel (2)                Women's Track, Indoor
Mixed Rifle
 
University of North Carolina-Greensboro (2)    Women's Basketball
Women's Tennis
 
Wofford College (8)                Men's Cross Country
Men's Tennis
Men's Track, Indoor
Men's Track, Outdoor
Women's Basketball
Women's Cross Country
Women's Track, Indoor
Women's Track, Outdoor


For more information:

Public Recognition Awards by Sport:  http://www.ncaa.org/wps/ncaa?ContentID=48770

Public Recognition Awards by Institution:  http://www.ncaa.org/wps/ncaa?ContentID=48769

www.samfordsports.com

www.soconsports.com