The Dallas Baptist University athletic department received the Presidents' Award for Academic Excellence from the NCAA on Wednesday.  The distinguished award, which is in its eighth year, is presented to Division II member schools earning an Academic Success Rate of 90 percent or higher.  DBU is one of just 27 schools from across the nation to receive the President's Award for Academic Excellence.

"This great recognition is a true testament to our wonderful student-athletes, coaches, and the campus-wide commitment to academic excellence," DBU Director of Athletics Connor Smith said. "We have outstanding professors, advisors, and academic staff who play a significant role in the educational experience of our student-athletes as they pursue a degree from Dallas Baptist University."

The Academic Success Rate is the percentage of student-athletes who graduate within six years of initial collegiate enrollment and includes virtually all Division II student-athletes, including transfers and those not receiving athletic scholarships.

With today's announcement, DBU is also the lone school from the Heartland Conference and the only Division II program from the state of Texas to receive this year's award.