NEW ORLEANS – The Sun Belt Conference doubled the number of teams that received NCAA Public Recognition Awards from a year ago as 14 teams were among the honorees in Wednesday’s release.
 
The Public Recognition Awards are for teams posting scores in the top 10 percent of their sport.  Last year the Sun Belt had seven honored, compared to this year’s 14.
 
Appalachian State University - Women's Golf
Appalachian State University - Women's Soccer
Arkansas State University - Men's Cross Country
Arkansas State University - Women's Golf
Arkansas State University - Women's Cross Country
Arkansas State University - Women's Tennis
Georgia State University - Men's Golf
Georgia State University - Softball
Georgia State University - Women's Cross Country
University of Louisiana at Lafayette - Men's Cross Country
University of Texas at Arlington - Women's Tennis
Texas State University - Women's Tennis
Texas State University   Women's Golf
Troy University - Women's Golf
 
Each year, the NCAA honors selected Division I sports teams by publicly recognizing their latest multiyear NCAA Division I Academic Progress Rate (APR).  This announcement is part of the overall Division I academic reform effort and is intended to highlight teams that demonstrate a commitment to academic progress and retention of student-athletes by achieving the top APRs within their respective sports.  Specifically, these teams posted multiyear APRs in the top 10 percent of all squads in each sport. 
 
The APR provides a real-time look at a team's academic success each semester by tracking the academic progress of each student-athlete on scholarship.  The APR accounts for eligibility, retention and graduation and provides a measure of each team's academic performance. 
 
Multiyear APRs for all Division I sports teams, including the teams receiving public recognition, will be announced May 27.