OU Football Leads Big 12 in APR

NORMAN, Okla. -- The University of Oklahoma football program leads the Big 12 Conference in Academic Performance Rate for a third consecutive year. The Sooners scored a rate of 962, which is 19 points higher than the league average.

That rate is the highest posted by OU in any of its league-leading years.

"I am very proud of the academic performance of our student athletes," said OU President David L. Boren. "With a record number of student athletes obtaining degrees this year and a great grade point average above 3.0 for student athletes as a whole, it's not surprising that OU would be number one in the conference in APR"

Dr. Gerald Gurney, senior associate athletics director for academics, said the achievement has grown out of an environment.

"The goal of working diligently towards a degree is something that has taken hold with our student-athletes and it is part of the culture within our department," said Gurney. "Initiatives like our degree completion program and a measured approach to degree progress have been important.

"Our coaches recognize the significance of degree completion and we have a dedicated staff in our academic support unit, but obviously, the success ultimately rests with student-athletes who apply themselves towards the ultimate purpose of attending college."

Joe Castiglione, vice president for intercollegiate athletic program and athletics director, said, "The fact that we have led the conference in three consecutive years is impressive; it reflects a trend that brings great pride to our university. Like everything in athletics, a league-leading APR rate is the result of great teamwork. It confirms our stated goal of not only inspiring champions today but preparing leaders for tomorrow."

The Academic Progress Rate (also known as APR) is a metric established by the NCAA to measure athletic teams in moving student-athletes towards graduation.

The APR is calculated by allocating points for eligibility and retention -- the two factors that research identifies as the best indicators of graduation. Each player on a given roster earns a maximum of two points per term, one for being academically eligible and one for staying with the institution.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

Related News

Related Videos

Sponsors