May 2, 2007

DeKALB, Ill. - Each of Northern Illinois' 17 sport programs has exceeded the NCAA's academic standards - measured by the Academic Progress Rate (APR) - for 2007, according to the APR report released today by the National Collegiate Athletic Association.

The APR is a ranking developed by the NCAA to more accurately measure the academic performance of individual teams. Introduced three years ago and based on eligibility, graduation and retention, the Academic Performance Rate is now the primary tool used by the NCAA to judge academic progress.

"These APR numbers are just one indication of the academic progress Huskie student-athletes are making in the classroom," said NIU Associate Vice President/Director of Athletics Jim Phillips. "This positive report, along with the school-record grade point averages attained in the last two semesters [3.036 and 3.074], and the rising graduation rates of NIU student-athletes, is a direct result of hard work by the student-athletes, coaches and staff of Northern Illinois."

Thirteen Huskie teams, including football (914), men's (944) and women's (989) basketball, wrestling and volleyball (965), either raised their APR scores from a year ago or remained at the exact same APR number. Women's golf, which posted a perfect APR score of 1,000, was recognized, along with women's basketball (APR 989), by the NCAA last week as teams which ranked in the top 10 percent of all institutions in their respective sports.

While women's golf and women's basketball led the way among all NIU teams, 14 Northern Illinois teams reported an APR of 940 or higher. Women's gymnastics came in at 993 while men's golf led all Northern Illinois men's teams with a rate of 963. Men's basketball ranked in the top 60 to 70 percent of all men's basketball teams nationally with a 944 score.

Unlike graduation rates, which have a six-year lag and do not take into account students who transfer or leave school in good academic standing, the APR is based on eligibility, graduation and retention. Teams are awarded two points each term for each student-athlete who meets academic eligibility standards and who remains with the institution. A team's APR is the total points earned by the team at a given time, divided by the total points possible and multiplied by 1,000. Penalties, including a loss of scholarships for individual teams, are assessed based on scores that fall outside of the "confidence boundary" of 925.

The NIU football team checked in with an APR of 914, however, including the squad size adjustment, NIU's score or "upper confidence boundary" for football rises to 930. These squad size adjustments and the "confidence boundary" will be eliminated in future APR reports as four years of data will be available. In 2007, no Huskie team will be subject to any contemporaneous or historical penalties, which can include loss of scholarships.

Four Northern Illinois teams posted a "perfect" 1,000 score for the 2005-06 data only, which will carry over into future years. Those teams were men's and women's golf, women's basketball and women's gymnastics.

"The APR is still a relatively new measurement," Phillips said. "To be certain, it is another valuable academic indicator and every year, more information, as well as important trends, are becoming evident. For Northern Illinois, the upward strides made this year provide a building block for the future."

Complete information on the 2007 APR report, including each team's individual score, is available online at www.ncaa.org.

-- NIU --