May 7, 2009

CINCINNATI – The University of Cincinnati Department of Athletics posted solid scores on the 2007-08 NCAA Division I Academic Progress Rate (APR) Institutional Report, which gauges an institution’s academic performance through eligibility and retention. The Bearcats men’s basketball team, which showed improvement in its multiyear rate for the third straight season, and the first-year lacrosse program and women’s soccer, each posted perfect scores of 1000 for the 2007-08 season.

Of the Bearcats’ 18 athletics programs, 17 received multiyear scores of 927 or higher for the 2007-08 academic  year. Programs must attain a multiyear APR score of 925 or higher to avoid contemporaneous penalties. This multiyear APR is derived from data submitted by UC for the 2004-05, 2005-06, 2006-07, 2007-08 academic years.

Despite the perfect score in 2007-08, the men's basketball team does not meet the minimum multiyear average APR score of 925. By raising its multiyear average from 838 in 2004-05 to over 900 (902) in 2007-08 with single-year scores of 977 and 1000 the last two years, the program is no longer subject for historic penalties. UC has avoided historic penalties the last two years by receiving waivers from the NCAA based on mitigating circumstances surrounding the coaching change.

“Our student-athletes, coaches and academic staff have put in a great deal of hard work over the last three years as we have increased our APR score,” said head men’s basketball coach Mick Cronin. “I am proud of the job they have done and we will continue to compete both in the classroom and on the court.”

Cincinnati’s volleyball team owns the department’s highest multiyear average with a score of 984, followed by men’s cross country (981), women’s swimming (977), and men’s golf (974).  The football team posted a score of 947, which ranks fourth among football-playing schools in the BIG EAST Conference. UC’s score was also above the national average (939) and above the football Bowl Subdivision average (941).