The University of Hawaii earned its highest all-sport multi-year rating for athletes in the 13-year history of the NCAA’s Academic Progress Rate, according to figures announced this week.
UH’s sports averaged a four-year rate of 980, four points higher than the previous high set last year.
UH’s score was three points below what the NCAA said was the Division I national average, which was a two-point jump from 2017.
The APR is a key metric of academic performance, reflecting progress and retention. Under-performing sports can face sanctions, including loss of scholarships or a ban on postseason competition for 2018-‘19 if they finish under 930. None of UH’s sports finished below 947 and three — women’s golf, soccer and women’s tennis — posted perfect scores of 1,000.
The 930 figure is calculated to reflect, on average, a 50 percent graduation rate, the NCAA says.
Eleven of 18 UH teams (the NCAA counts indoor and outdoor track as one score and does not count women’s and coed sailing at all) showed multi-year scores of 980 or better.
Eight teams — baseball, women’s basketball, women’s golf, softball, soccer, women’s tennis, track and field and water polo — had scores higher than the national average for their sports.
Five UH teams — women’s basketball, women’s golf, softball, women’s tennis and water polo — reached 13-year highs for their programs.
Football (964) ranked fifth among its peers in the 12-member Mountain West Conference, while baseball (982) and women’s basketball (991) ranked second among the nine Big West Conference members and men’s basketball (947) was sixth.
The men’s basketball score was 10 points higher than the previous year.