Trio of Razorback Programs Earn APR National Recognition

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Three University of Arkansas intercollegiate athletic programs earned public recognition awards for their exemplary academic performance by the NCAA on Wednesday. The Razorbacks’ women’s golf, gymnastics and women’s tennis teams were honored for their standing among the top 10 percent of academic performing teams in the country in their respective sports in the multi-year Academic Progress Rate (APR) for the 2016-17 academic year.

The programs earned a perfect 1,000 multiyear APR rate based on scores from the 2013-14, 2014-15, 2015-16 and 2016-17 academic years. The University of Arkansas has earned a total of 23 awards since the start of the APR Public Recognition program.

“Congratulations to our women’s golf, gymnastics and women’s tennis programs on being recognized nationally for their academic excellence,” Vice Chancellor and Director of Athletics Hunter Yurachek said. “To rank among the top 10 percent of programs in the nation, in their respective sports, is a remarkable accomplishment. Their academic achievement is a testament to the dedication of our student-athletes, coaches and staff in our continued focus on student-athlete success.”

For the ninth time, including the fifth-consecutive year, the University of Arkansas women’s golf program earned a public recognition award for its exemplary academic performance. The nine recognitions for women’s golf is a program record. In addition to this year’s selection, the Razorback women’s golf program was previously recognized for the 2004-05, 2005-06, 2006-07, 2007-08, 2012-13, 2013-14, 2014-15, 2015-16 seasons. The women’s golf program has also been exceptional on the course winning a school-record seven tournaments in 2017-18. Last week, the women’s golf team won the NCAA Austin Regional and advanced to the NCAA Men’s and Women’s Golf Championships to be held in Stillwater, Oklahoma, May 18-23.

The Arkansas Gymnastics program was honored with an NCAA Public Recognition Award for the fourth time. Prior to the most recent award, gymnastics was recognized in 2009-10, 2010-11 and 2011-12. Arkansas made its 15th-consecutive NCAA Regional appearance this season, before advancing to its eighth NCAA Gymnastics Championship.

Women’s Tennis became the seventh Razorback program to earn distinction from the NCAA as part of the APR Public Recognition Awards. The 2016-17 honor was the first for the program and marked the first time a Razorback sport made its debut in the public recognition awards since both swimming and diving and volleyball earned their first honors in 2011-12. Arkansas made a run at this year’s SEC Women’s Tennis Tournament, winning three of its four matches, earning its first tournament semifinal berth in a decade and just the third semifinal appearance in school history.

Each year, the NCAA honors selected Division I sports teams by publicly recognizing their latest multiyear NCAA Division I APR.  This announcement is part of the overall Division I academic reform effort and is intended to highlight teams that demonstrate a commitment to academic progress and retention of student-athletes by achieving the top APRs within their respective sports. Specifically, these teams posted multiyear APRs in the top 10 percent of all squads in each sport.

The APR measures eligibility, graduation and retention each semester or academic term and provides a clear picture of the academic performance for each team in every sport. The NCAA is announcing multiyear APR scores for all Division I teams, including those earning public recognition awards, on May 23.

The University of Arkansas has earned a public recognition award in 12 of the 13 years since the program was initiated. In addition to women’s golf, gymnastics and women’s tennis four other programs have previously been recognized.

Men’s golf and volleyball were both recognized in 2011-12, 2012-13 and 2013-14. Men’s tennis was honored in 2010-11 and 2011-12. Swimming and diving was one of five programs, a school record, recognized in 2011-12 joining men’s golf, men’s tennis, gymnastics and volleyball.