Austin Peay State University

Austin Peay State University (APSU) (/piː/) is a public university in Clarksville, Tennessee, United States. Standing on a site occupied by a succession of educational institutions since 1845, the precursor of the university was established in 1927 and named for then-sitting Governor Austin Peay, who is further honored with "Governors", the name of the university's athletic teams. Affiliated with the Tennessee Board of Regents, it is now governed by the Austin Peay State University Board of Trustees as of May 2017^[update]. The university is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) and, in 2012, was the fastest-growing university in Tennessee.^[6] In 2019, Austin Peay officially hit 11,000 students enrolled.

The Browning Building at Austin Peay State University

Austin Peay State University

Former name	Austin Peay Normal School (1927–1943) Austin Peay State College (1943–1967)
Type	Public university
Established	1927; 98 years ago (1927)
Academic affiliations	Space-grant
Endowment	$45.3 million[1]
President	Michael J. Licari[2]
Academic staff	550[3]
Administrative staff	629[4]
Undergraduates	8,120
Postgraduates	1,206
Location	Clarksville , Tennessee , United States
Campus	Urban, 182 acres (0.74 km2)
Colors	Red and white[5]
Sporting affiliations	NCAA Division I – ASUN UAC
Mascot	Governors
Website	www.apsu.edu

History

Austin Peay Normal School, the precursor of the university, was established in 1927 and named for then-sitting Tennessee Governor Austin Peay. In 1943, its name was changed to Austin Peay State College. It became Austin Peay State University in 1967.

Presidents

• Philander Claxton, 1930–1946
• Halbert Harvill, 1946–1962
• Joe Morgan, 1963–1976
• Sherry Hoppe, 2001–2007
• Tim Hall, 2008–2013
• Alisa White, 2014–2020^[7]
• Michael Licari, 2021–Present

Academics

Undergraduate demographics as of Fall 2023^[8]

Race and ethnicity	Total
White	52%
Black	22%
Hispanic	11%
Two or more races	6%
Unknown	5%
Asian	2%
International student	1%
Economic diversity
Low-income[a]	52%
Affluent[b]	48%

Austin Peay is organized into six colleges, two schools, and 28 departments.^{[citation needed]}

Campus

The university's campus in Clarksville, Tennessee, is a site occupied by a succession of educational institutions since 1845. The urban setting includes 182 acres (74 ha). Built before Austin Peay Normal School, the Castle Building was an impressive three-story brick structure that featured fretted battlements, towers, casement windows set in paneled wood.^[9]

Athletics

Main article: Austin Peay Governors

The university's colors are red and white. Its athletics teams are called the Governors, in honor of Governor Austin Peay.^{[citation needed]} The university is a member of the ASUN Conference and competes at the NCAA Division 1.^{[citation needed]}

Notable alumni

Main article: List of Austin Peay State University alumni

Notes

1. The percentage of students who received an income-based federal Pell grant intended for low-income students.
2. The percentage of students who are a part of the American middle class at the bare minimum.