April 25, 2008

DAVIS, Calif. - The NCAA announced on Thursday that three UC Davis teams - women's tennis, women's soccer and men's water polo - have been honored with public recognition awards for Academic Progress Rate (APR) success.

A total of 712 teams representing 192 Division I institutions received honors for posting multi-year APR scores in the top 10 percent off all teams in their sports. Teams receiving public recognition had APR scores ranging from 965 to a perfect score of 1,000, according to the NCAA.

The APR is part of the NCAA's committment to academic reform and measures eligibilty and retention of student-athletes. Points are awarded to student-athletes each term for each of those areas and are the basis for a program's APR. Teams need to have an APR of at least 925 to avoid possible penalties.

"Congratulations to these teams and their student-athletes for success in the classroom," NCAA President Myles Brand said in a press release announcing all Div. I awards. "They are setting a great example for their peers and future student-athletes as well."

A total of 401 women's teams nationwide received the public recognition along with 311 men's or mixed squads. The 712 teams represent 11.4 percent of the 6,772 Division I squads.

UC Davis is in its first year of NCAA Division I membership and is also in its first official year of the Big West Conference.