Feb. 20, 2007

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The University of Maryland Athletics Department has been honored as a member of the National Consortium for Academic and Sports' Degree Completion Honor Roll for 2005-06, director of athletics Deborah A. Yow announced today.

The award honors those institutions which have strong programs to assist former student-athletes who have exhausted their eligibility to return to campus and complete their degrees.

Maryland has now received this honor for three consecutive years.

At the University of Maryland, the Academic Support for Returning Student-Athletes Program (ASRAP) was established to provide advising, career and financial support to former student-athletes returning to complete their degree. In order to qualify, returnees must participate in ASRAP outreach activities and programs such as National Student-Athlete Day and the Terp Reading Program.

As part of NCAS' national program, more than 26,400 student-athletes have returned to member schools to complete their degrees after their eligibility has expired. In exchange for tuition, returning former student-athletes conduct community service and outreach programs. To date, more than 14 million young people nationally have been served through such programs.

The award will be given as part of the NCAS annual conference in Orlando, Fla., to be held Feb. 19 through 21.