Austin Peay State University raised more than $23 million during the 2026 fiscal year -- its second-highest fundraising total in 99 years and a 47% year-over-year increase -- through 7,240 gifts from 2,861 donors as the university approaches its centennial.

The Full Spectrum Learning program is launching two Mobile Sensory Carts this fall, bringing noise-reducing headphones, fidget tools, and other sensory supports to classrooms and events across campus for students with autism, ADHD, anxiety, and anyone needing extra sensory support.

Austin Peay State University's free in-house commencement photography is expected to reach a combined $425,000 in student savings after the Aug. 7 ceremony, giving thousands of graduates professional photos of their milestone at no cost.

As thousands of new Governors arrive on campus this fall, Dr. Dava Wilson and Dr. Anna Leimberg hope their unconventional journeys remind students that no path is predetermined and that success isn't about where you begin, but where you're willing to go.

APSU's Summer 2026 commencement ceremony is at 10 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 7, in the Dunn Center, and will recognize graduates from across the university's academic colleges.

APSU's Master of Speech-Language Pathology program has earned initial accreditation from the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology, expanding the pipeline of clinicians as Tennessee faces a projected 37.6% increase in demand for speech-language pathologists by 2032.

Dr. Debra Rose Wilson, professor and Lenora C. Reuther Chair of Excellence in Austin Peay State University's School of Nursing, has been selected for induction as a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing, one of the profession's most prestigious distinctions.

With fewer entry-level jobs available, Austin Peay State University's College of Business has responded by increasing experiential learning participation by 37%--connecting students with real organizations, AI-focused coursework, and global immersion experiences to build the skills employers value most.

The Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences has acquired a new scanning electron microscope, giving students publication-quality imaging and chemical analysis capabilities -- including the chance to study meteorites -- previously accessible only at major research institutions.

Austin Peay State University's Peer Leader Program has earned renewal of its International Peer Educator Training Program Certification from the College Reading & Learning Association at the maximum level through 2030, reflecting the program's support for thousands of new students each year.

Fourteen rising juniors and seniors at Austin Peay State University are gaining real-world experience with local employers through the second annual Summer Internship Program, conducted by the Career Success Center in partnership with Workforce Essentials.

Jody Alberd, a Navy veteran and assistant professor in the Department of Engineering Technology, has earned his first National Science Foundation grant as principal investigator to study how student veterans develop their engineering identity during senior capstone design projects.

Dr. John McConnell, dean of the Eriksson College of Education, has been named an Impact Academy fellow through the national nonprofit Deans for Impact, joining a cohort of 24 leaders committed to strengthening educator preparation across the country.

Austin Peay State University hosted some of Tennessee's brightest high school students this summer for the Governor's School for Computational Physics, a four-week residential program now in its 18th year that immerses rising seniors in physics, mathematics, and computational problem-solving.

Austin Peay State University librarian and assistant professor Scott Shumate has been selected for Clarivate's Academic AI Working Group, an international panel of 15 experts advising the company on artificial intelligence tools that supplement teaching and learning in higher education.

Math education major and Navy veteran Andrew Daniels recently traveled to Poland and Germany through a Gilman Scholarship to explore his family's World War II history, becoming the first student in APSU's Grow Your Own Teacher Residency to study abroad.

The Austin Peay State University Foundation has received a gift from Dr. Ernest and Joan De Wald to establish the Drs. D.W. & Ben Howard Pre-Vet Endowment, a renewable scholarship supporting APSU students pursuing pre-veterinary studies.

Dr. Barbara Tucker, Austin Peay State University's director of technical services, created The Adventures of Bibi and Beaux based on her experiences to help children process their own cancer journeys.

The Southeastern Grasslands Institute at Austin Peay State University has joined nine other conservation organizations to co-lead the U.S. Grasslands Campaign, a national effort by America's Grasslands Coalition to raise public awareness and support for one of the country's most threatened ecosystems.

The Austin Peay State University Foundation has named its board members for the 2026-27 fiscal year. The group of business and community leaders provides governance and philanthropic support for scholarships and academic programs.

Margaret Douglas, the inaugural director of the Student Success Center in Austin Peay State University's College of Business, is retiring this month, leaving behind a professional advising model she built that has become central to the college's career readiness efforts.

The Department of Sociology and Community Development has partnered with the Department of Art + Design to create a limited-edition letterpress print celebrating civic responsibility, distributing 200 copies to community partners to commemorate the nation's 250th anniversary.

Isaiah Polk, a 24-year-old juvenile probation officer with Montgomery County Juvenile Court, has been named chair of the Coalition for Juvenile Justice's Emerging Leaders Committee and appointed to the national organization's executive board.

Austin Peay State University leaders Dr. Lindsey Gilmore and Dr. Kathrine Bailey have been selected for the AASCU 2026 Emerging Leaders Program. They join a national cohort of 45 rising professionals focused on advancing higher education leadership and institutional impact.

Dr. Caitlin M. Shaw has co-authored a national study of 411 American adults, finding that most people view hazing as a public health issue -- not just a campus disciplinary matter.