April 27, 2007

WASHINGTON - American University's men's swimming and women's basketball programs have earned a Public Recognition Award from the National Collegiate Athletic Association for being in the top 10 percent of teams' Academic Progress Rates, NCAA officials announced Thursday.

The awards are part of the NCAA's incentives-disincentives program that rewards those athletic teams that perform well academically and penalizes those teams that do not. The Association's goal is to encourage improved academic performance of student-athletes on all athletic teams. APR data collection began in the 2003-04 academic year and the first report was issued in February 2005. The latest report, on which the awards are based, was issued today.

Women's basketball is one of just 33 teams nationwide to earn the honor. Meanwhile, the men's swimming team is just one of 15 teams.

For more information on Academic Progress Rates, please visit the NCAA website by clicking here.