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.

Austin Peay State University radiologic technology major Ivan Lopez spent the 2025-26 academic year studying at Kyungpook National University in Daegu, South Korea, on a Gilman Scholarship, traveling across seven Asian countries and mentoring Korean students who are considering their own study abroad experiences.

The Austin Peay State University Foundation has received a $50,000 contribution from Google to support its Collaborative STEM Education Initiative, delivering hands-on workshops in coding robotics, virtual reality, 3D printing, and artificial intelligence to K-12 students across five rural Middle Tennessee counties.

The Department of Health and Human Performance will host its inaugural Health and Performance Summit on Saturday, Oct. 17, in the Health Professions Building, bringing together nationally recognized leaders in strength and conditioning, sports science, healthcare, and tactical performance.

Austin Peay State University School of Nursing faculty members Dr. Debra Rose Wilson and Dr. Leslie Binford have published an article in the American Nurse Journal examining how the gut microbiome may influence depression, reinforcing the importance of viewing patients holistically.

The college has announced its 2025-26 Student Leadership Award and Distinguished Alumni Award recipients, recognizing six outstanding students and six alumni whose achievements span the visual arts, communication, history, literature, music, and theatre.

The partnership establishes a framework for joint conferences, scholarly co-publication, faculty exchanges, and expanded study abroad programming for APSU students in Serbia.

Shirley Conner, assistant director of Austin Peay State University's Veterans Upward Bound program, has guided hundreds of military-affiliated students into higher education through federally funded support services including admissions assistance, financial aid guidance, and career counseling.