Three years after the University of Hawaii football, men’s basketball and baseball teams were hit with scholarship reductions for poor academic progress, all have demonstrated significant improvement, NCAA scores show.

Though still below the latest four-year overall Division I Academic Progress Rate average of 970, football (959), men’s basketball (957) and baseball (950) have improved by 38, 87 and 49 points, respectively, in three years, according to figures released Tuesday. Both football and baseball hit their highest marks in eight years. No longer are they subject to sanctions.

The APR measures academic achievement against a series of benchmarks and can cost lagging teams scholarships, practice time or postseason appearances. Scores reflect through the 2009-10 academic year.

"I give a lot of credit to our coaches who have, across the board, changed the culture significantly getting the student-athletes to be committed to academics and graduation," said Jim Donovan, UH athletic director. "Coach (Bob) Nash (basketball), Greg McMackin (football) and Mike Trapasso (baseball) have made big strides and I expect Gib (Arnold) to continue on where Bob left off."

Overall, seven of UH’s 18 teams topped the 970 mark, including women’s cross country, which had a perfect score (1,000) and received a public recognition award.

The only at-risk program is men’s volleyball, which had a 923, two points below the danger line. As a result, UH must propose a plan to improve results or face scholarship sanctions if scores don’t rise. Any loss of aid would be particularly severe in men’s volleyball, where teams are allowed a maximum of 4.5 scholarships per year.

Men’s volleyball coach Charlie Wade’s first season at UH produced a single-season 950.

One Western Athletic Conference team, Idaho football, lost a scholarship. The Vandals had a 923 APR.