By TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Once again, the Tennessee Tech football team has represented the Ohio Valley Conference at the national level when it comes to academics, achieving the highest Academic Progress Rate (APR) in the league for the third consecutive season and receiving honors from the Football Championship Subdivision Athletics Directors Association (FCS ADA).
The APR Award recognizes one institution at each of the 13 FCS conferences that has the highest APR score. In addition, the Association also recognizes one institution from each conference that has improved the most from the previous year. In all, 27 awards will be given this year.
"Our Association is pleased to present these awards to spotlight the mission of all FCS programs, embracing the academic progress of their student-athletes, who will become leaders off the field," said FCS ADA President Jeff Tingey, director of athletics at Idaho State University. "Thanks to Forward Progress, we are pleased to continue to recognize the FCS institutions and their football programs for continuing to reach exemplary APR scores."
Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) member colleges and universities adopted a comprehensive academic reform package designed to improve the academic success and graduation of all student-athletes. The centerpiece of the package is the academic measurement for teams, known as the APR.
While this represents Tech's third straight such honor, the following institutions have also been ranked in their respective conference with the highest APR score the past two years: Big Sky -- UC Davis; Big South -- Coastal Carolina; Northeast -- Bryant; Patriot League -- College of the Holy Cross; Southern Conference -- Wofford; and the Ivy League -- Dartmouth.
The following institutions received their awards during the FCS ADA Luncheon sponsored by Borden Perlman Insurance Agency, on Monday, June 13 in conjunction with the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) Convention at the Hilton Anatole Hotel in Dallas, Texas.
| Conference | Highest APR in | Most Improved for | ||
| 2014-15 | 2014-15 | |||
| Big Sky Conference | UC Davis | North Dakota | ||
| Big South Conference | Coastal Carolina | Presbyterian | ||
| Colonial Athletic Association | Villanova, New Hapmshire | Stony Brook | ||
| MEAC | Hampton | South Carolina State | ||
| Missouri Valley | Illinois State | Missouri State | ||
| Northeast Conference | Bryant | Wagner | ||
| Ohio Valley Conference | Tennessee Tech | Eastern Kentucky | ||
| Patriot League | Georgetown | Bucknell | ||
| Pioneer Football League | Dayton | Stetson | ||
| Southern Conference | Wofford | Chattanooga | ||
| Southland Conference | McNeese State | Southeastern Louisiana | ||
| SWAC | Jackson State | Alabama State | ||
| Ivy League | Dartmouth | Columbia | ||
About the FCS ADA: Now in its 23rd year, the Football Championship Subdivision Athletics Directors Association's mission is to enhance Football Championship Subdivision football. For more information on the FCS ADA, please visit www.fcsada.com. The FCS ADA is administered by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA), which is in its 51st year. For more information on NACDA and the 17 professional associations that fall under its umbrella, please visit www.nacda.com.
About Forward Progress Athletics Consulting: Forward Progress is the industry leader in providing academic and APP-related consulting to NCAA institutions, conferences and individuals. Discover more at www.ForwardProgressAC.com.
