April 10, 2014
LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) - UNLV announced Thursday that its final appeal to a NCAA subcommittee was denied and the University's football program will not be eligible to play in the 2014 postseason as part of sanctions resulting from not reaching the minimum NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) score.
Beginning this year, the NCAA requires all of its members' athletics programs average a 930 APR score (out of 1,000) over the last four years (2010-13) and UNLV football's average was 925. The NCAA will announce the APR scores for all members in June.
"We as a University accept the subcommittee's decision and are using this as an opportunity to improve," UNLV President Donald Snyder said. "I am confident in the plan that our athletics director and head coach have enacted to address the issue."
The sanctions will be: -No postseason competition (including the 2014 Mountain West Championship game) -Replacing four hours of weekly practice time with four additional hours of academic activities -Five days of football-related activities per week instead of six
"I am disappointed for the vast majority of our football players who understand the importance of academics and who embrace and meet their responsibilities," Director of Athletics Tina Kunzer-Murphy said. "In fact, 96 percent of the football players on our current roster have never cost UNLV an APR point - so clearly, the overwhelming majority of our student-athletes understand that their first priority must be academics."
"I am also extremely encouraged and optimistic due to the response I have seen since I started here from our student-athletes, our coaches, our athletic department personnel and our University leadership. In particular, I want to thank our President, Don Snyder, and our Provost, John White, for all of their support in addressing this problem. Everyone associated with UNLV Football recognizes what the expectations are in terms of academic performance and everyone involved has shown a genuine commitment to getting these numbers where they need to be. We are taking a number of significant steps to improve the level of academic support."
UNLV's APR Improvement Plan includes:
-The appointment of an APR Committee, chaired by Faculty Athletic Representative Brackley Frayer, that will monitor issues that may affect APR scores; to recommend strategies, policies and procedures to better monitor, manage and improve APR scores for all of UNLV's programs; and to ensure APR strategies for improvement are reviewed and implemented
-The addition of two new positions that have direct contact with student-athletes - an academic support counselor and a learning specialist
-The purchase of academic software and 18 laptop computers
-Reallocation and remodeling of study-hall space near the football offices
-Remodeling of additional study hall space
-Retaining the services of Forward Progress Athletics Consulting, a nationally recognized company specializing in APR improvement
"Improving our academic scores is something we always have and will continue to emphasize," Head Coach Bobby Hauck said. "We are going to continue to work at it and we will continue to work hard to graduate our players."
