Gophers best in the Big Ten at hitting the books in latest report

The University of Minnesota has the highest percentage of teams among major public universities to receive national academic honors released this week.

Fourteen Gophers sports received Academic Progress Rates Public Recognition Awards, giving Minnesota the fourth-highest percentage of teams honored behind Stanford (17 programs), Notre Dame (16) and Duke (15). Northwestern was second in the Big Ten with 12. This is the third consecutive year Minnesota topped the list for public schools.

"Our student-athletes, coaches and staff strive for academic excellence and this recent APR announcement is a testament to their efforts," interim athletic director Beth Goetz said in a university statement. "Having 14 of our programs recognized by the NCAA exemplifies the hard work that goes on in the classroom at the University of Minnesota. Our academic staff and student-athletes are truly committed and the results continue to show it."

Baseball, football, men's cross-country, men's golf, men's gymnastics, men's hockey, men's tennis, softball, women's cross-country, women's golf, women's gymnastics, women's swimming and diving, women's track and volleyball all scored in the top 10 percent in their respective sports. Since the APR awards began in 2004-05, this year marks the first time football, men's golf and men's hockey landed in the top 10 percent.

The APR provides a real-time look at a team's academic success each semester by tracking 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 most recent APR scores are based on a multiyear rate that averages scores from the 2011-12, 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2014-015 academic years.

Multiyear APRs for all Division I teams, including the teams receiving public recognition, will be announced April 20.

Staff reports