ST. LOUIS – The NCAA honored six Saint Louis University athletic programs today as part of the 2013 Academic Performance Program public recognition awards. The six programs are the most recognized in a single year at SLU since the APR public recognition awards were initiated in 2004-05.

The Billiken sports recognized are men's cross country, women's cross country, men's indoor track and field, men's outdoor track and field, women's outdoor track and field and women's tennis.

“As we just wrapped up one of the most successful seasons in school history, this recognition by the NCAA of our APR success proves we are also focusing on our primary goal of educating our student-athletes,” SLU director of athletics Chris May said. “I could not be more appreciative of our coaches, athletic support staff, faculty and advisors who work tirelessly to help educate our student-athletes.”

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. 

The Billikens have had a total of 36 programs recognized since 2004-05. The six honored this year are the most in school history, the previous best being five programs honored in a four-year span from 2005-08.