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About
the College of Education
APSU has a rich history as an educational institution.
In fact, an educational institution has existed on
College Street in Clarksville since 1806, when a private
academy was established. The community has supported a
college or university on the present campus since 1848.
Named after Governor Austin Peay, a Clarksville native
who served as Tennessee’s chief executive between 1923
and 1927,
the state chartered Austin Peay as a normal
school in 1929. From this date forward, the preparation
of quality teachers for Tennessee schools has been a
visible priority on the campus. Philander Claxton, in
whose honor the present education building is named,
served as Austin Peay Normal School’s president from
1930 – 1946. Claxton, who served as U.S. Commissioner of
Education under Woodrow Wilson (1911-1921), was an able
advocate for quality teacher preparation and quality
public schools in the state. Toward the end of Claxton’s
tenure as president the institution became Austin Peay
State College, a four year institution with a more
comprehensive higher education mission. Still, the
1952-53 Bulletin noted that “…the chief purpose of APSC
is the education of teachers for the schools of the
state.” APSU’s long-term commitment to teacher
preparation is evidenced by APSU’s continuous national
accreditation by the National Council for the
Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) since 1952.
University status was
conferred on the institution in 1967. Austin Peay’s
posture as a regional institution has grown steadily
since university status was awarded. In recent years,
expansion of professional programs has complemented
teacher education and liberal arts strengths in the
institutional curriculum.
For more
information about programs and policies, read the APSU
College of Education's
Conceptual Framework.
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