Published on January 13, 2008 by Joey Mullins  
Posted by Joey Mullins on 2008-05-07

Samford University's athletic teams received high scores in the NCAA's Academic Progress Rate (APR) Public Report, released by the association on May 6.

"Of all the scoreboards for intercollegiate athletics, we are extremely proud to score so well again in these APR results," Director of Athletics Bob Roller said. "Samford student-athletes have consistently been ranked near the top of these very important statistical sheets, and we applaud these young women and men. It's a credit to the type of student-athlete that our coaches recruit to Samford and to the work of Peter Neuberger (Senior Associate Athletic Director) and Chris Scott of our Academic Enhancement Program."

Eight of Samford's athletic teams posted multi-year scores in the 80th percentile or higher in their respective sport nationally, and five teams scored in the 90th percentile or higher, earning Public Recognition Awards.

"Strong academic success is a hallmark at Samford University," University Provost Dr. Brad Creed said. "We are especially proud that we are a university where student-athletes achieve the same high levels of academic success we have come to expect from all our undergraduate students."

Two Samford teams (women's cross country and women's golf) scored a perfect 1,000 in the report, and nine of Samford's 17 teams scored a 980 or better. Samford's average score was 981.4.

Among schools in the state of Alabama, Samford ranks first in 11 of its 17 sports. The Bulldogs are second in the state in five sports.

The APR compilations, first made public in 2005, are based on academic eligibility, retention and graduation rates for student-athletes at all 334 NCAA Division I member institutions. Samford competes in eight men's and nine women's varsity sports at the Division I level. In the inaugural overall ratings in 2005, Samford tied for seventh nationally.

 
Samford is a leading Christian university offering undergraduate programs grounded in the liberal arts with an array of nationally recognized graduate and professional schools. Founded in 1841, Samford is the 87th-oldest institution of higher learning in the United States. Samford enrolls 5,791 students from 49 states, Puerto Rico and 16 countries in its 10 academic schools: arts, arts and sciences, business, divinity, education, health professions, law, nursing, pharmacy and public health. Samford fields 17 athletic teams that compete in the tradition-rich Southern Conference and ranks 6th nationally for its Graduation Success Rate among all NCAA Division I schools.