Alabama State earns academic honors from USTFCCCA

MONTGOMERY, Ala. | The U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) announced the All-Academic teams and individuals for the 2020 season, and Alabama State was among those recognized.

Alabama State had both programs recognized by the organization for their work in the classroom, with the men earning the award with an overall grade point average of 3.14 and the women with a 3.369 grade point average. Both programs finished the year with the highest GPA among any HBCU program in the nation.

“I am extremely proud of what our men and women have been able to do in the classroom academically,” Alabama State head track and field/cross country coach Ritchie Beene said. “They get a lot of credit for what they do on the track, and now they get the acknowledgement of what they do in the classroom. They are students first and athletes second, and they exemplify that on a national level.”

In order for teams to be named All-Academic, they must meet the following:

·       The cumulative GPA for all student-athletes on the institution’s NCAA Squad List for Indoor and/or Outdoor Track and Field must be a 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale, including the most recent grading period, certifiable by either NCAA Faculty Rep or NCAA Compliance Coordinator or Register’s Office. Institutions utilizing a different GPA scale must convert the GPA to a 4.0 scale using the standard conversion method [GPA/Scale x 4.0].

·       The cumulative GPA of all student-athletes on the institution’s NCAA Squad List for Indoor and/or Outdoor Track and Field must be computed by the following method:

o   Total the cumulative number of semester hours or quarter hours earned for all student-athletes on the NCAA Squad List, including the most recent grading period;

o   Total the cumulative number of quality points (GPA multiplied by the number of credit hours) earned by all student-athletes on the NCAA Squad List, including the most recent grading period;

o   Divide the cumulative number of quality points earned by the cumulative number of semester or quarter hours earned.

The program also had individuals recognized for their work in the classroom, as 452 men representing 126 institutions were named All-Academic; while 659 women from 178 institutions were named All-Academic Athletes.

On the women’s side, Alabama State had a pair of student-athletes named to All-Academic including Charminiqu Hackney (Criminal Justice) and Shamaria Lovett (Education). On the men’s side, Norris Spike (Biology) earned the honor.

In order for individuals to be named All-Academic, they must meet the following:

·       Minimum CUMULATIVE grade point average of 3.25 on a 4.0 scale, including the most recent grading period, certifiable by either NCAA Faculty Rep or NCAA Compliance Coordinator or Registrar’s Office. Institutions utilizing a different GPA scale must convert the GPA to a 4.0 scale using the standard conversion method [GPA/Scale x 4.0].

·       Must have completed at least two (2) semesters or three (3) quarters at the nominating institution.

·       Athletic criteria for the award:

o   For the indoor season: must have finished the season ranked in the top 96 in any championship individual event, or in the top 48 of any championship relay event, for the most recent indoor season, certifiable by their place on the NCAA Division I descending order lists on TFRRS for Indoor Track and Field (including performances achieved outside the qualifying window during the indoor season).