2019-20 Student Handbook & Calendar
Academic Services
The Academic Services section includes the following:
Academic Affairs, Browning 109, 931-221-7676
The Office of Academic Affairs, led by the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, is committed to student, faculty and staff advancement. The office oversees the University’s colleges and academic programs, including College of Arts and Letters, College of Behavioral and Health Sciences, College of Business, Martha Dickerson Eriksson College of Education, College of Graduate Studies, College of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), Austin Peay Center at Fort Campbell, Felix G. Woodward Library, Enrollment Management and Academic Support, Office of International Student Services, Extended and Distance Education, President’s Emerging Leaders Program, Honors Program, Student Success, Research and Sponsored Programs, Keys/Learning Opportunity Center and Study Abroad and International Exchange.
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Academic Alert, McReynolds 113, 931-221-6555
Academic Alert is a web-based, early-alert system used to notify students on how to address problems they may be having in class. Alerts are submitted by faculty members who are concerned that a student is in academic jeopardy due to issues such as poor class attendance, tardiness, lack of participation, incomplete assignments and/or poor performance on quizzes and tests. Alerted students are notified through APSU email and asked to contact the Office of Academic Alert to discuss the alert; students may also receive a phone call, a letter or additional emails from the Academic Alert staff. Recommendations to support and enhance the opportunity for academic success of alerted students may include tutoring, improving study skills and/or personal counseling.
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Academic Honesty
Austin Peay State University strives to promote values and attitudes that are reflective of solid academic character and integrity. All students are expected to complete their own work, conduct research and author assignments independently of others (unless specifically authorized to work together by your respective faculty). Academic integrity is the cornerstone of any student’s educational experience. When students participate in behavior that is considered academic misconduct, the scholarly value of their education is diminished.
Academic misconduct is defined as the following:
- Plagiarism. The adoption or reproduction of ideas, words, statements, images or works of another person as one’s own without proper attribution.
- Cheating. Using or attempting to use unauthorized materials, information or aids in any academic exercise or test/examination. The term academic exercise includes all forms of work submitted for credit or hours.
- Fabrication. Unauthorized falsification or invention of any information or citation in an academic exercise.
- Facilitation or Collusion. Assisting or attempting to assist another to violate a provision of the institution’s Student Code of Conduct regarding academic misconduct.
Students should be aware that a violation of the University’s Academic Misconduct Policy can result in disciplinary action which could include failure for an assignment, failure for an entire course, probation, suspension or expulsion from the University. If students are not certain whether a practice would be considered academic misconduct, they should always consult their instructor.
For additional information, see Student Academic Misconduct Policy: 3:005.
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Academic Support Center/Tutoring, Marks 124, 931-221-6550
The Academic Support Center focuses on helping students succeed. The center offers the following free support to APSU students: peer tutoring on most core courses (undergraduate), writing assistance for any paper, in any class, using any writing style, technology assistance with the software most frequently used on campus, Academic Alert to coordinate intervention for students who may need assistance, and workshops on select topics. Additionally, test-preparation workshops are offered to help students considering the GRE, TEAS or other standardized tests.
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Appealing University Decisions
Any student may appeal the assessment, application, calculation, collection or interpretation of any University fee, charge, deposit or refund. Please refer to the appeals section of this book for processes on filing an appeal.
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Bookstore, Catherine Evans Harvill Building, 931-221-7655
The APSU Barnes & Noble Bookstore provides course materials students require and many other items to support students’ academic career, including study guides, notebooks, backpacks, electronics, spirit items, apparel and much more. The bookstore is also the source for textbooks: rent or buy new, used or digital. Price match new, used and rental texts through Amazon, bn.com and local competitors.
Contact the bookstore located in the Catherine Evans Harvill Building for the Clarksville Campus or SSG Glenn H. English Jr. Army Education Center at the Fort Campbell Center for price match terms. Textbook rentals can save a student up to 80%. Students can use their financial aid credit weeks prior to the start of classes on everything in the store. Connect with the bookstore through the My College Bookstore App or visit www.apsu.bncollege.com.
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Cancellation and Withdrawal from Class/Housing, 931-221-7121
Not attending class does not remove the student from the class, relieve students from their financial obligations or entitle them to a refund. Students who withdraw before the first day of class will not incur tuition liability. Students receiving financial aid should meet with the financial aid counselor prior to withdrawal. Students will be responsible for charges in accordance with the refund schedule on the academic calendar.
Students who confirmed their registration must withdraw officially from the University if they decide not to attend APSU. Official withdrawals must be completed online in AP OneStop. For questions regarding withdrawals, please contact the Office of the Registrar at 931-221-7121.
Withdrawal from the University may require repayment of financial aid, loss of lottery scholarship eligibility and loss of VA benefits. Official withdrawals are completed online in OneStop. Active-duty soldiers using GoArmyEd must withdraw from classes through the GoArmyEd portal.
Resident students must completely vacate their assigned housing before a withdrawal form is signed at the Housing Office.
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Class Attendance
Students are expected to attend class regularly, to participate in class and to be prepared with assignments. The University requires all faculty to report students who have never attended or who stopped attending class. The impact of class attendance on the final grade is at the discretion of the teaching faculty, and faculty will inform class members of their attendance policies through a course syllabus distributed at the beginning of the semester or term. Irregular attendance may result in a referral to the Office of Academic Alert.
Students who miss an exam due to extenuating circumstances must request approval from the faculty member. Unless the student is officially representing the University off-campus, the discretion of the faculty member determines the action regarding missed exams or work. To view policy 2:041 University Excused Absences for Students, visit www.apsu.edu/policy.
Class absenteeism that results in the grade of “FA” (failure: stopped attending) or “FN” (failure: never attended) may affect the student’s enrollment status, financial aid repayment and/or veteran’s benefits.
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Class Load
The basic unit of all college work is the “semester credit hour.” For undergraduate students, 12 semester hours for fall or spring semester is a full-time load in determining such things as veteran status, financial aid and insurance eligibility.
However, the usual load for a full-time undergraduate student is at least 15 semester hours in order to graduate in four years. Because the summer term is approximately one-third the length of the semester, the workload for one course is three times as heavy. APSU recommends undergraduate students register for no more than six semester hours in each summer term. During summer, graduate students who enroll for three hours during the semester are considered full time.
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Computers and Printing
For a listing of computer labs and their hours of operation, visit www.apsu.edu/csci/opportunities_resources/computer-laboratories. More than 100 computers are available for use in the Woodward Library. The Pharos Print Center in the Woodward Library enables students to send print jobs quickly and securely from any computer or mobile device to any library printer. Students have two hours to retrieve the print job once it has been submitted. To release the print job on the print station, students will need their Govs ID. Students have limited, preloaded funds for printing on their Govs ID each semester. For information refer to the Pharos Printing Guide in the Library.
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Dean’s List
At the end of each specific semester or term, a list of honor students, known as the Dean’s List, is published. To qualify for this distinction, the student must earn at least 12 credits (university-level courses only) and meet the 3.5 GPA for the semester or term.
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Distance Education (Online Classes, Technology, Learning), McReynolds 216, 931-221-6625
Distance Education supports online technology, learning and teaching at APSU. This includes direct support to students as well as initiatives with faculty to improve course quality and design. The department supports face-to-face enhanced and hybrid courses as well. Our staff manages and provides resources and training on several technologies used while learning at APSU. The most common are the D2L online classroom, Tutor.com online tutoring, LinkedIn Learning videos, Zoom video conferencing, Examity online proctoring, Turnitin plagiarism prevention and writing support, and SmarterMeasure Learning Readiness Indicator. Students may encounter one or more of these technologies in any course.
Turnitin information for students: Turnitin provides instructors with the tools to prevent plagiarism, engage students in the writing process, and provide personalized feedback. Individual instructors determine whether Turnitin is used in their courses and for which assignments. When used, Turnitin is integrated into the D2L online classroom and processes assignments that are submitted through the Dropbox. All required papers may be subject to submission for textual similarity review to Turnitin for the detection of plagiarism. All submitted papers will be included as source documents in the Turnitin.com reference database solely for the purpose of detecting plagiarism of such papers. Use of the Turnitin.com service is subject to the Usage Policy posted on the Turnitin.com site. If you have general questions about Turnitin, please contact Distance Education at online@apsu.edu. If you have questions about the use of Turnitin within a course, please contact the instructor.
Important reminders: Online courses are not available in the D2L online classroom until the first day of classes as posted on the academic calendar. Log in to your online courses the first day and check back in daily. Online courses are not self-paced; courses begin and end on specific dates and class work has assigned deadlines. Refer to the course syllabus for more information about the course format and deadlines. Stay up-to-date on assignments. It is easy to forget an online course since you will not meet in person. Reach out to faculty or use academic support resources as much as needed to stay successful in your courses.
Staff can assist with any of the technologies listed above or with general questions about online learning. Our help desk, Distance Education Support, can be reached Monday trough Friday, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. at online@apsu.edu, 931-221-6625, or in McReynolds 216. Our Distance Education website, www.apsu.edu/online, has a wealth of information including an introduction to online courses guide, technology training resources, information about our laptop loan program, FAQ, helpful tips and a sources of assistance directory.
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Graduate School/College of Graduate Studies, McReynolds 119, 931-221-7662
Austin Peay State University offers numerous graduate degrees that afford greater career opportunities and global reach. Across the country, graduate degrees are increasingly becoming commonplace expectations for highly sought-after careers. APSU’s graduate programs will empower students with knowledge and skills for an aggressive and entrepreneurial mindset for ever-changing industries.
Advantages to consider: Many online programs can be completed in one year; no specific undergraduate degree requirement for some graduate programs; no GRE or GMAT requirements for selected programs; some programs offer eight-week sessions; small class sizes allow for personalized learning; quality faculty members are committed to ensuring student success and graduate students enjoy collaborative relationships among peers while pursuing educational and professional goals. Graduate programs of study include Executive Certificate, Master of Arts, Master of Science, Professional Science Masters, Certificate and Doctoral degrees.
Financial opportunities are available to reduce the cost of investing in your education, including the Diversity Fellowship Grant and Graduate Assistantships. In addition to participating in valuable teaching, research and work opportunities, graduate assistants receive tuition assistance and stipends. For more information on graduate programs and financial assistance, visit www.apsu.edu/grad-studies.
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Graduation, Registrar’s Office, Ellington 316, 931-221-7150
Students who will complete all degree requirements must apply for graduation by the application deadline date for the semester in which they intend to graduate as indicated in the academic calendar. Students must meet specific requirements before they are approved to graduate. Visit www.apsu.edu/commencement for detailed information about graduation.
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Honors Program, Honors Commons, Room 142, 931-221-7403
The Honors Program is designed to challenge students and provide opportunities for creative exploration and intellectual development. The program requires motivated students to fulfill a minimum of 25 hours of honors designated courses, as well as a senior thesis. There is also a non-thesis option that requires 30 Honors credit hours. Students in the Honors Program must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.25.
Students in Honors-approved courses have close interaction with their instructors and fellow students. Some departments at Austin Peay have identified specific courses and activities required of Honors Program students in their last two years of study. Honors Program students also have access to the Honors Commons. This space includes computers, a printer, study areas, a classroom, an Honors Library and areas for students to meet and socialize. For more information, visit www.apsu.edu/honors or contact Tim Winters at honors@apsu.edu.
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Library, Information and Checkout Desk: 931-221-7346
The Woodward Library provides services and support for all your information needs. Students can log in to the library from any location with internet access. Students have access to 108 computers in the Library Information Commons and 35 computers in the Library Instruction Room when it is not in use for instruction.
The library has 24 laptops and MacBooks for use in the building. Other services available are free book checkout, reserves, group study rooms and study space for approximately 400 people, interlibrary loan, document delivery, self-service photocopiers, microfilm/ fiche copiers and specialty collections, such as the Dorothy Dix Collection and Clarksville photographs. The library also offers a lactation room for mothers and houses the Writing Center, Printing Services and Starbucks.
Librarians can help you find, evaluate and use information necessary for completing papers and research assignments. Research assistance is available in person (appointments recommended), via online chat and email and on the phone. Student instruction is a major focus of the library’s services that include LILT (an online, self-paced information literacy tutorial), library instruction classes and one-on-one instruction. The library provides access to a wealth of print and electronic information via the library website at library.apsu.edu.
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OneStop, onestop.apsu.edu
Students may register, pay fees, add or drop classes, obtain grades, check APSU email, request student transcripts and obtain information on admissions, financial aid, veteran services, housing, testing, opportunities, important dates, official communication and more by accessing OneStop. To log in, go to onestop.apsu.edu and enter your APSU username and APSU password. Students may access Self Service through OneStop by clicking on the “Web Self Service” tab.
If you have trouble logging in, contact the GOVSTECH Help Desk at govstech@apsu.edu or call 931-221-4357 (HELP). Please check OneStop regularly for important Austin Peay announcements and information.
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Registrar’s Office, Ellington 316, 931-221-7150
The Office of the Registrar maintains student academic records — courses registered for, attempted and completed, grades, transcripts, course substitutions, change of majors, residency status (in-state, out-of-state) and coordinates the registration process. The office provides registration assistance, verification of enrollment, address and official name changes, and questions related to graduation and course transfer equivalency. Most registration information, including grades, is available in Self Service through OneStop.
The Office of the Registrar is also responsible for the following:
- FERPA release form allows students to authorize the release of confidential academic, financial aid, discipline and student account information otherwise protected by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) to designated persons. These designated persons will have access to the student’s grades and progress reports, certain disciplinary records and other information related to academic progress, financial aid and student financial accounts. Students may go to www.apsu.edu/registrar/forms and click on “FERPA: Student Release of Confidential Information Form.”
- Official withdrawal is ONLY completed if the student is dropping all classes for the semester. The withdrawal process is completed in OneStop by clicking the ‘Withdraw from APSU’ link.
- Enrollment verification for insurance, scholarship, tax or personal purposes, students request an enrollment verification in OneStop.
- Privacy hold/release forms are completed if the student would like a privacy hold on their account. With this hold, the University cannot release any student information or registration status to anyone. The form is at www.apsu.edu/registrar/forms and click on “Privacy Hold/Release Form.”
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Registration and Advisement
Students are assigned a faculty or professional adviser at the time of initial enrollment. Students can see their academic adviser’s name in OneStop on the academic advising page. The adviser helps students clarify personal goals, career options, courses of study, program requirements and educational needs. While the adviser assists the student to identify and assess the alternatives and the consequences of academic decisions, academic choices rest with the students. Each department and college has policies specific to advisement. Students who have declared a major will be advised through their academic department. Students who have not declared a major will be assisted in choosing an academic focus and appropriate core courses by student success coordinators in Miller Hall, Room 201.
Currently enrolled students may use this checklist as a brief summary of registration requirements. During or before the designated preregistration period:
- Students will receive priority registration information by APSU email. The student should then schedule an appointment with their academic adviser.
- Once a student has been advised, they will be able to register through AP OneStop.
- Prior to preregistration, students should check AP OneStop (onestop.apsu.edu) for any registration holds. All registration holds must be removed prior to preregistration. There are several types of holds that can prevent a student from preregistering.
- Some of these holds include, but are not limited to:
| Type of Hold | Office to Contact |
|---|---|
| Financial Aid debt | Office of Student Financial Aid and Scholarships |
| Balance due to the University | Student Account Services |
| Graduate maximum hours | Student’s Graduate College Coordinator |
| Health Services fees due | Student Account Services |
| Library fines/overdue books | Library |
| Traffic fines | Student Account Services |
- Students should access OneStop (onestop.apsu.edu) to register in accordance with their first registration dates as indicated in the priority preregistration email.
- After preregistration, students may make adjustments to their schedules through AP OneStop. Any adjustment made to a schedule after the date fee statements are printed will not appear on the statement, but for verification, students may check their current schedules in AP OneStop.
- After registering, students must meet the fee payment deadlines and confirm their classes or classes will be dropped.
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Study Abroad and International Exchange, International White House, 325 Drane St., 931-221-6851
The Office of Study Abroad and International Exchange prepares APSU students to be knowledgeable about the world, experienced with intercultural communication and equipped with skills necessary to succeed in an international society. The office also serves incoming international students and scholars.
Studying abroad is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to explore the world and gain resume-building experience while earning college credits. These experiences allow students to acquire knowledge of the world and to grow both academically and personally. Programs range from one to five weeks, include 10-30 students, and are led by APSU faculty members. Students can usually earn between three to six APSU credit-hours in these programs. Some of the Faculty-Led programs offer service-learning opportunities. These programs usually take place during Winter Break, Spring Break, or summer.
APSU students can also benefit from international programs by participating in the Bridge Program. The Bridge Program is a peer-mentor group that consists of both international and domestic students enrolled at APSU. It is designed to help international students explore American culture and history while teaching First Friends (domestic students) about the culture and history of their countries.
Find out more about our programs, scholarships and the experiences of student participants by visiting www.apsu.edu/study-abroad-exchange or by emailing internationaled@apsu.edu.
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Testing Services, Ellington 207, 931-221-6269
The Academic Testing Center offers a variety of tests, which includes Accuplacer, ACT Residual, CLEP, TEAS, MAT and various certification/licensure exams. The center is also a fully funded DSST test center, offering DSST exams for free for eligible active-duty military members. Information regarding other tests not offered at APSU such as Praxis, GRE and TEAS is available at the testing center. For more information or to schedule a testing session, visit www.apsu.edu/testing.
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Transcripts, Ellington 316, 931-221-7150
Transcript requests may be made online through AP OneStop (onestop.apsu.edu), by mail or in person to the Office of the Registrar. For more information, visit www.apsu.edu/registrar.
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TRiO Student Support Services, Ellington 337, 931-221-6142
TRiO Student Support Services is a federally funded program established to provide eligible low-income, first-generation and/or disabled college students with individual academic services and a supportive environment. In order to participate in TRiO Student Support Services, one or more of the following must be met based on the legislative requirements of the U.S. Department of Education: family income meets published federal guidelines (low-income, Pell Grant eligible), neither parent earned a four-year college degree (first generation), referred by the Office of Disability Services (disabled) or the student must demonstrate an academic need for services and must have the potential to benefit from the services.
Application forms are available in the Ellington Building, Room 337, or visit www.apsu.edu/sss to download an application. All services of TRiO Student Support Services are free to eligible participants.
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Tutoring, 931-221-6550
The Academic Support Center provides FREE tutoring to currently enrolled APSU students. Visit www.apsu.edu/asc to schedule a time with a tutor. Students should call 931-221-6550 to determine availability of tutors for specific subjects. ASC has partnered with Distance Education to offer free online tutoring to all undergraduate students. Military members and their dependents may also receive free online assistance 24/7 from tutor.com in addition to the support they receive from APSU. Online tutoring is available 24/7 for all students. Visit www.apsu.edu/onlinetutoring for more information.
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