UNM, NMSU athletes show academic progress – Albuquerque Journal

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The University of New Mexico and New Mexico State University each showed marked improvement in the APR data released by the NCAA for the 2015-16 academic year continuing a trend for each. None of either schools athletic programs incurred a penalty for failure to meet minimum standards. The schools had a combined 14 programs score a perfect 1,000 for 15-16.

In a school statement, UNM athletic director Paul Krebs called all of the Lobos programs scoring above 950 a tremendous accomplishment. This is our seventh consecutive year of excellent APR scores, and its a tribute to our student-athletes, who have a tremendous drive to success in the classroom.

The Academic Progress Rate is calculated this way:

Each student-athlete receiving athletically related financial aid earns one point for staying in school and one point for being academically eligible.

A teams total points are divided by points possible and then multiplied by 1,000 to equal the teams Academic Progress Rate.

In addition to a teams current-year APR, its rolling four-year APR is also used to determine accountability.

Currently, teams must earn a 930 four-year average APR or a 940 average over the most recent two years to participate in NCAA championships. In 2015-16 and beyond, teams must earn a four-year APR of 930 to compete in championships.

By and large, UNMs and NMSUs scores for 2015-16 improved their four-year aggregates.

For NMSU, scores for 14 of 15 varsity sports calculated by the NCAA for 15-16 were higher than or equal to the four-year score. For UNM, 13 of 19 programs were as good or better.

Among the higher-profile sports:

n In mens basketball, NMSUs score for 2015-16 was a perfect 1,000, lifting the four-year aggregate to 966. For UNM, the 15-16 score was 980, the four-year score 975.

n In football, UNM had a 967 total for 15-16, lifting its four-year score to 958. New Mexico States yearly score was 972, improving its four-year total to 950.

n Womens basketball: NMSU had a perfect 1,000 for 2015-16, improving the four-year score to 942. New Mexico also scored 1,000 for 15-16 and a four-year aggregate of 972.

Overall, UNM had seven perfect scores for 2015-16: baseball, mens golf, mens tennis, womens basketball, womens cross country, womens golf and volleyball. Four of those programs mens golf, mens tennis, womens golf and womens tennis had perfect four-year scores.

New Mexico State also had seven 1,000 scores for 2015-16: mens basketball, mens tennis, womens basketball, womens cross country, womens golf, womens tennis, volleyball. The Aggies womens golf and tennis programs have perfect four-year aggregates.

Only 26 NCAA Division I programs incurred new penalties as a result of poor APR scores. Of those, 17 will be barred from postseason play in 2017-18.

None of UNMs fellow Mountain West Conference schools were penalized. Nor were any of NMSUs conference partners in the Western Athletic Conference or the Sun Belt Conference (football only). New Mexico State will leave the Sun Belt and become a football independent in 2018.

The Academic Progress Rate was introduced in 2007 in an effort to measure and improve student-athlete graduation rates and retention. Both UNM and NMSU have incurred penalties in the form of scholarship reductions, but not since 2009.

Neither school has had a program barred from postseason play as a result of poor APR scores.

Academic Progress Rate

Multi-year followed by 2015-16 in parentheses

Mens Sports UNM NMSU All D1

Baseball 954 (1,000) 959 (979) 973

Basketball 975 (980) 966 (1,000) 966

Cross country 989 (977) 934 (955) 979

Football 958 (967) 950 (972) 962

Golf 1,000 (1,000) 944 (969) 984

Skiing 971 (971) 987

Soccer 980 (978) 977

Tennis 1,000 (1,000) 971 (1,000) 981

Track/field 990 (973) 971

Womens sports UNM NMSU All D1

Basketball 972 (1,000) 942 (1,000) 980

Cross country 996 (1,000) 963 (1,000) 988

Golf 1,000 (1,000) 1,000 (1,000) 990

Skiing 986 (977) 993

Soccer 991 (992) 964 (956) 986

Softball 982 (986) 988 (988) 983

Swim/dive 976 (966) 987 (989) 991

Tennis 991 (964) 1,000 (1,000) 988

Track/field 992 (992) 982 (991) 982

Volleyball* 984 (1,000) 995 (1,000) 987

*Indoor; no information yet for UNM beach volleyball

NCAA

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UNM, NMSU athletes show academic progress - Albuquerque Journal