May 6, 2009

Fifteen of the University of South Carolina's 19 countable intercollegiate sports either showed improvement or remained the same over the data released last year while 12 of the 19 squads either matched or posted their highest mark in the three-year history of the data, according to the Academic Progress Rate (APR) statistics released today.

The APR is a point system based on scholarship student-athletes' eligibility and retention for a pre-determined four-year time period. NCAA sports falling below the established point cutoff (925) may be subject to penalties including scholarship reductions. The data released on Wednesday includes the scholarship student-athletes on rosters for the 2004-05, 2005-06, 2006-07 and 2007-08 academic years.

Highlighting the South Carolina data is the football team posting a 2007-08 single year score of 960, the highest single year APR score the squad has achieved. In addition, men's soccer, women's cross country, women's softball and women's tennis all reported a single year APR score of 1000.

"We are very encouraged with the progress we are making across the board, especially with our football program," said Athletics Director Eric Hyman. "Although men's basketball is not where we would like it to be, I have been impressed with how that team has performed in the classroom over the past two semesters. Darrin Horn is so committed to the academic success of his squad, that I have complete confidence we'll see a dramatic improvement in the future under his leadership."

South Carolina's Multi-Year APR Rate (Four-Year Rolling Period) by Sport: