Women’s Soccer Ranked Among Top-10 Percent Nationally In APR

INDIANAPOLIS – The St. Bonaventure women's soccer team was recognized by NCAA officials on Thursday for having a four-year cohort Academic Progress Rate (APR) which places it in the top-10 percent nationally within its sport.

The Bonnies' multiyear rate over the past four seasons is 997 (out of 1,000), the highest among all 14 teams at St. Bonaventure. The report is based on data submitted for the 2007-08, 2008-09, 2009-10 and 2010-11 academic years.

Bona is joined by George Washington as the only other Atlantic 10 school – and one of just 33 teams – in the top-10 percent nationally.

The APR is a real-time measure of eligibility, retention and graduation of student-athletes competing on every Division I sports team which has been shown to predict later graduation success. Teams scoring below certain thresholds can face penalties, such as scholarship losses and restrictions on practice and competition.

"I'm glad that our players have shown they not only can compete on the field, but also have achieved tremendous academic success," said head coach Manoj Khettry, whose teams have made four consecutive Atlantic 10 Championship appearances. "I'm proud that they've proven to be great ambassadors for the university on the pitch, in the classroom and throughout the community."

Every student-athlete has the opportunity to earn one eligibility point and one retention point at the end of each semester, for a total of four possible points each academic year. The number of points earned by the entire team is divided by the total possible points to determine a team's APR for each year. The total points earned over the previous four years are divided by the total possible points for those four years to determine the four-year rate.

Each year the NCAA honors select D-I sports teams by publicly recognizing their latest multiyear APR. This announcement is part of the overall D-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.

Multiyear APRs for all D-I sports teams, including teams receiving public recognition, will be announced next Wednesday, June 20.