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.

The Austin Peay State University Board of Trustees has announced its 2026 award recipients, recognizing Billy Atkins, Dr. Michelle D. Smith, and Dr. Jeannie Beauchamp for their contributions to the university and community.

The Austin Peay State University Board of Trustees has approved the naming of the Richard E. and Bristol S. Gannaway Engineering Technology and Innovation Laboratory and a classroom dedicated in memory of Judy Lynn Oetter. Both spaces recognize memorial scholarship endowments that provide ongoing support to Austin Peay students.

The Austin Peay State University College of STEM has announced its departmental award winners for the 2025-26 academic year, recognizing outstanding students across agriculture, allied health sciences, biology, chemistry, computer science, earth and environmental sciences, engineering technology, mathematics, and physics.

The Office of Public Relations and Marketing has received 20 awards from the Tennessee College Public Relations Association's 2026 State Conference, the highest total among the 20 competing institutions.

The Austin Peay State University Board of Trustees will host its quarterly meetings on Friday, June 5, at the O'Malley Family Welcome Center. Committee sessions will start at 8:15 a.m., followed by a full board meeting at approximately 9:45 a.m.

Hannah Eden, senior director of marketing at Austin Peay State University, has been named president of the Tennessee College Public Relations Association, which supports communications, marketing, enrollment, public relations, and creative professionals across higher education in the state.

Earth and environmental sciences majors Tanner Sigears and Jenna Dillehay are spending the summer with the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, applying their College of STEM studies to internships in radiological health and state park interpretation.

The Turner Foundation, Inc. has awarded a $50,000 grant to the Austin Peay State University Foundation to support the Southeastern Grasslands Institute's research, conservation, education, and restoration work, with a focus on expanding grassland restoration in northwest Georgia and the southern Appalachians.

APSU has launched Transfer Enrollment Services and Advisement, a formalized office that centralizes transfer enrollment and advising functions to provide dedicated, personalized guidance for transfer students from application through their first semester.

TCAT Dickson and APSU recently signed an LPN-to-BSN articulation agreement. Practical nursing graduates can now seamlessly transition to APSU's Bachelor of Science in Nursing program, receiving an unprecedented 27 credit hours of prior learning credit, strengthening the Tennessee healthcare workforce.

Austin Peay State University (APSU) proposes a limited 3.23% increase in undergraduate tuition and mandatory fees, below state recommendations. The increase addresses rising costs and supports services amid enrollment growth. APSU is mitigating the financial impact through new and increased scholarships. Public comments are open until June 3, 2026.