The NCAA has announced Division I Academic Progress Rate (APR) information for institutions across the country. Wichita State University saw one program receive recognition for a perfect score for the 2021-22 academic year – women's golf.
The APR provides a real-time look at a team's 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. The most recent multi-year APRs are based on scores from the 2018-19, 2019-20, 2020-21 and 2021-22 academic years.
"As a measure of both eligibility and retention APR is a metric on which our entire department collaborates," said Director of Athletics Kevin Saal. "Given the numerous factors contributing to eligibility and retention, the fact that so many of our program's rate above their respective sport's single-year and/or four-year cohort score, is an impressive and collective accomplishment. These results are a testament to our student-athletes resolve and our department's commitment to developing young people and programs 'The Shocker Way', through first class service to our student-athletes, coaches and Shocker Nation."
The four-year APR scores for all of WSU's 13 sports programs registered a 964 or above to be in good standing established by the NCAA's standards. A program is in good standing if it registers a multi-year rate of 930 or above. A team must achieve a 930 four-year rate in order to be eligible for competition in NCAA post-season play.
The following teams were above the national average in their sport regarding the four-year APR rates – baseball, men's basketball, men's cross country, men's track and field, women's golf and softball.
The following teams were above the national average in the sport for the 2021-22 APR rates – baseball, men's basketball, men's cross country, men's golf, men's track and field, women's basketball, women's golf, and softball.
The only student-athletes who figure into a team and institution's APR are those receiving athletic financial aid. An undergraduate student-athlete receiving athletic financial aid has the opportunity to earn two points each semester – an eligibility point and a retention point. Thus, an undergraduate student-athlete has the opportunity to earn up to four points each academic year for their team and institution. A graduate student-athlete receiving athletic financial aid has the opportunity to earn one point each semester – the eligibility point signifying the student-athlete earned six credit hours for that semester. A graduate student has the opportunity to earn up to two points each academic year for their team.
