April 24, 2008

By Kyle Herm
www.SIUSalukis.com

INDIANAPOLIS - The Southern Illinois softball team has earned a Public Recognition Award by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) for earning a high score in the latest Academic Progress Rate (APR).

SIU softball posted a multiyear APR score in the top 10 percent of all NCAA softball teams, and was one of only 29 softball teams to be honored.

The APR provides a real-time look at a team's academic success each semester by tracking the academic progress of each student-athlete. 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 awards posted APR scores ranging from 965 to a perfect 1,000.

Multiyear APR scores for all 6,110 Division I sports teams, including the teams receiving public recognition awards, will be announced Tuesday, May 6. The announcement also will include immediate and historical penalties for low-performing teams.

Complete list of Public Recognition Award by sport

Complete list of Public Recognition Award by school