NSU Athletics Statement on NCAA APR Release

 NORFOLK, Virginia -- Norfolk State University Athletics Director Marty L. Miller released the following statement Wednesday in response to the NCAA's yearly release of the Academic Progress Rate (APR) data:

"I was disappointed to receive the news that our men's track team is still ineligible for postseason competition next season. We realized last year that it could take two years for the program to recover from critical retention and eligibility issues it has encountered over the past few years in order to meet the required NCAA benchmarks.

"The track student-athletes made significant academic progress during the 2012-13 school year by recording a single-year APR score of 927 and achieving a cumulative grade point average of 2.77. However, the team fell three points short of the required 930 APR score to have received consideration for postseason competition.

"In an effort to correct the retention challenges and improve the APR score, several initiatives have been implemented to improve the track program's recruiting and advising processes.

"The results are already paying dividends. The preliminary APR scores for 2013-14 have increased significantly. Of the 150 NSU student-athletes who earned a 3.0 or better GPA in the fall 2013 semester, 22 were track student-athletes. With this level of academic performance and the commitment of student-athletes to return to the program next season, the men's track team is on pace to achieve the 2013-14 APR goals and be eligible to participate in postseason competition the following year."

Matt Michalec, Asst. AD/Communications
COURTESY NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION