INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Just days after Lamar University celebrated the Class of 2020 during spring commencement, the NCAA released its annual Academic Progress Rate (APR) numbers. The Cardinals finished the season with seven sports recording a perfect 1,000 score for the year and two programs posting a 1,000 score for the rolling four-year period (which includes the 2015-16 academic year through 2018-19).
 
The Cardinal men's and women's tennis teams recorded the 1,000 scores for the four-year rolling average, while men's cross country, men's golf, men's tennis, women's basketball, women's tennis, women's golf and soccer each posted a 1,000 for the year.
 
In addition to the perfect scores, the LU soccer, volleyball and men's golf team's closed out the four-year cohort with a 980 or better.
 
LU added to the record-setting numbers reported by the NCAA Tuesday afternoon. According to the NCAA, Division I student-athletes earned an overall multiyear APR of 983 for a third consecutive season.
 
"The NCAA as whole has been setting records based on the APR data for the past three years and I'm proud to say that Lamar University has been a key piece of that record setting trend," said LU Director of Athletics Marco Born. "APR was a plan that was created approximately 15 years ago by the NCAA membership to help keep institutions accountable for their eligibility and retention of each student-athlete. Since its inception, our coaches and staff have taken this very seriously."
 
To be able to compete in the postseason, teams must hit and maintain a 930 APR – a number chosen by NCAA members because it reflects a 50-percent graduation rate.
 
"The Committee on Academics commends Division I students engaged in intercollegiate athletics for their hard work and depth of commitment to success in both academics and athletic pursuits," said NCAA Division I Committee on Academics chairperson John J. DeGioia. "The strong academic standards provided by the Academic Performance Program have led to thousands of students graduating and gaining access to the lifelong benefits of a college education. We are proud of them for their accomplishments and Division I member institutions for their dedication to a common framework for sustained student achievement."
 
In addition to the strong numbers reported by the NCAA, the Cardinals celebrated the graduation of 36 student-athletes this past Friday.