Title III Grant

Austin Peay State University (APSU) has been awarded a 5-year Title III Grant from the U.S. Department of Education from October 1, 2020, to September 30, 2025.

Title III, Part A - Strengthening Institutional Programs (SIP) Grants provide funding to eligible institutions of higher education to help them:

• Become more self-sufficient
• Expand capacity to serve low-income students
• Improve academic quality
• Strengthen institutional management
• Enhance fiscal stability

At the completion of the grant cycle, APSU will evaluate and potentially institutionalize programs that successfully increased student success.

Program Goals

1. Strengthen Student Retention

The grant focuses on several key initiatives:

• Purpose First Onboarding: Extended orientation programming for career exploration and guided major selection early in students' academic careers
• Specialized Course Development:
  • General education core course on ethnographies of work
  • Career readiness content embedded in high-enrolled first-year courses
• Student Support Services:
  • Success Coaching model for first and second-year students
  • College-focused Career Coaching
  • Student employment as high-impact experiential learning
  • Enhanced capacity for internships and undergraduate research

2. Faculty and Staff Development

Professional development is central to the grant's success and includes:

• Programs integrating career readiness and labor market analysis into curriculum
• Training on administration and interpretation of career assessment tools
• Development of skills for accessing and leveraging economic modeling data
• Various formats including on-campus workshops, off-campus seminars, and a Summer Academy

Key Initiatives

Purpose First Scholars

A program designed to facilitate career exploration and career readiness for students beginning their college careers.

Labor Market Data Tools

Implementation of Lightcast economic modeling tools to:

• Connect students, education, and work
• Identify labor market trends
• Support program evaluation
• Assist students in career exploration
• Track alumni career pathways

Location

The Title III Coaching and Student Success Initiatives office is located in University Partnerships & Success Initiatives.