INDIANAPOLIS (5/10/2017) -- The University of Detroit Mercy Department of Athletics prides itself on the academic achievements of the Titan student-athletes, and it was emphasized again by the latest NCAA Division I Academic Progress Rate (APR) report, released this afternoon.

"The most recent APR data once again demonstrates the commitment Detroit Mercy athletics has to the academic success of our student-athletes," said Assistant Athletic Director for NCAA Compliance Steve Corder '98. "Our top goal is to create and foster an environment for our student-athletes to not only succeed in the classroom, but excel on a national level, and this latest data is reflective of the hard work put in by our student-athletes, our coaches and our support staff."

All 19 Titan teams posted multi-year scores above the 930 NCAA qualifying mark for the sixth straight year, with one program at a perfect 1,000, four above 990 and seven above 980 in the latest 2015-16 data.

The men's fencing team earned the excellent 1,000 score and was one of just 22 programs in the state of Michigan to receive a Public Recognition Award last week. 

The other Titan programs above 980 were women's soccer (993), women's golf (992), men's golf (991), women's lacrosse (991), men's cross country (989), women's fencing (989), women's cross country (987), men's soccer (986), men's tennis (984), women's track and field (984) and men's track and field (980). 

Women's fencing ranked 12th overall in Division I, while men's soccer was the second highest in the Horizon League and women's soccer and men's track and field ranked third in the conference. 
 
For the head coaches APR report, Detroit Mercy had five coaches with a perfect 1,000 score in seven different programs in Todd Dressell (men's and women's fencing), Guy Murray '89 (women's cross country and track and field), Nicholas Deren '99 (men's soccer), Aaron Paajanen (men's tennis) and Terri Anthony-Ryan (women's golf). 

Coach Ryan registered 1,000 for the ninth time in her career, while Dressell saw both of his teams earn scores of 1,000 for the seventh time. Murray has overseen the women's cross country program post a perfect 1,000 six times and track and field in three years. Both coach Deren and Paajanen received their first career 1,000 score. 

According to the NCAA, Division I student-athletes improved academically for the 13th consecutive year, earning another all-time high four-year Academic Progress Rate. The new report is based on data supplied for the 2012-13, 2013-14, 2014-15 and 2015-16 academic years.

The 2015-16 overall four-year rate is 981, up two points from the four-year rate announced last year. Three-point improvements in baseball and football four-year rates contributed to that increase. Baseball teams earned a 973 four-year rate (up from 970), and football teams earned a 962 (up from 959). In addition, men's basketball teams earned a 966 four-year rate (up from 964), and women's basketball teams earned a 980 (up from 978).

The Academic Progress Rate is a real-time measure of eligibility and retention of student-athletes competing on every Division I sports team. The goal of the NCAA's academic performance program is improvement, not punishment. Not only does the program ensure accountability for student-athletes, teams and institutions, but it also provides fairness by considering individual circumstances per team and school.