The Fairleigh Dickinson University and Saint Francis (PA) University athletic departments share the 2009-10 Northeast Conference (NEC) Institutional Academic Award.  With their student-athletes accounting for identical 3.239 combined grade-point averages, the Knights and Red Flash are both honored for their academic success in the 2009-10 academic year.

"We're very excited," said Fairleigh Dickinson Athletic Director David Langford. "We are always very proud of our student-athletes and coaches for understanding that our No. 1 goal is academic success.  Being tied with Saint Francis for highest GPA in the NEC makes this a banner year in that regard.  It reinforces our values and we are very proud."

The award is presented annually to the NEC member who attains the highest overall institutional grade-point average amongst student-athletes competing in sports sponsored by the NCAA Division I conference.  The NEC currently sponsors a total of 22 sports: baseball, men's and women's basketball, women's bowling, men's and women's cross country, football, field hockey, men's and women's golf, women's lacrosse, men's and women's indoor and outdoor track and field, men's and women's soccer, softball, women's swimming, men's and women's tennis and women's volleyball.

 Fairleigh Dickinson improved its combined grade-point average by 0.2 to stake co-ownership of the 2009-10 Award.  The Knights saw 15 of their 18 teams account for at least a 3.0 GPA.

After winning its first Institutional Academic Award by virtue of a 3.234 GPA last year, Saint Francis used a slight boost to earn the honor once again.  Sixteen of the 20 athletic teams at Saint Francis attained a GPA in excess of 3.0. 

Overall, the NEC's 4,300+ student-athletes averaged a 3.135 GPA for the 2009-10 year, an increase from 3.120 in 2008-09.  Ten of the NEC's 12 core member institutions finished the year with at least a 3.0 GPA.

School                       NEC Sports       Overall GPA

Bryant                          20               3.022     

Central Connecticut State       18               2.985

Fairleigh Dickinson             18               3.239

Long Island                     18               3.211

Monmouth                        19               3.170

Mount St. Mary's                18               3.006

Quinnipiac                      15               3.187

Robert Morris                   19               3.221

Sacred Heart                    22               3.183

St. Francis (NY)                16               2.968

Saint Francis (PA)              20               3.239

Wagner                          19               3.187

About the Northeast Conference

Now wrapping up its 29th season, the Northeast Conference is an NCAA Division I collegiate athletic association consisting of 11 institutions of higher learning located throughout five states.  Media coverage of the NEC extends to four of the largest markets in the United States - New York (#1), Pittsburgh (#22), Baltimore (#24), and Hartford/New Haven (#28).  Founded in 1981 as the basketball-only ECAC Metro Conference, the NEC has grown to sponsor 22 championship sports for men and women and now enjoys automatic or play-in access to 13 different NCAA Championships.  NEC member institutions include Central Connecticut State, Fairleigh Dickinson, Long Island, Monmouth, Mount St. Mary's, Quinnipiac, Robert Morris, Sacred Heart, St. Francis (NY), Saint Francis (PA) and Wagner.  Bryant will become the NEC's 12th member upon completion of the NCAA Division I reclassification process in 2012.  For more information on the NEC, visit www.northeastconference.org.