Austin Peay

Austin Peay State University,

Austin Peay State University
Motto	Find Your Place in The World
Established	1927
Type	State funded
Endowment	$8.0 million
President	Timothy Hall
Staff	453
Undergraduates	8,650
Postgraduates	542
Location	Clarksville, Tennessee, USA
Campus	Urban, 160 acres (0.8 km²)
Colors	Red and White
Mascot	Governors
Website	www.apsu.edu

Austin Peay State University ˈɔːstɨn ˈpiː/) is an accredited public university located in Clarksville, Tennessee, and operated by the Tennessee Board of Regents.

History

Clarksville Masonic Lodge No. 89 sponsored the Montgomery County Male Academy. In 1845, the Masonic College was founded, and in 1848, the Montgomery County Male Academy merged with the Masonic College, taking the name of Montgomery Masonic College and Male Academy. This institution continued through 1855 when it was given to the Presbyterian Synod of Nashville to be operated by them as a male college and academy. The Presbyterians changed the name of the college to Stewart College, and later the name was changed again to Southwestern Presbyterian University. In 1925 Southwestern moved to Memphis, TN and in 1945 that institution became "Southwestern at Memphis" for many years until it ultimately renamed Rhodes College in 1984. This was the forerunner of Austin Peay Normal School and located where Austin Peay State University now exists. Arguably, the site on which the current university is situated has held some type of an institution of higher learning longer than any in Tennessee west of Knoxville.

The University began as Austin Peay Normal School when it was created as a two-year junior college and teacher-training institution by Act of the General Assembly of 1927 and named in honor of Governor Austin Peay, who was serving his third term of office when the school was established. Limited in purposes and resources initially, the school gradually grew in stature over the years to take its place among the colleges and universities under the control of the State Board of Education.

Harned Hall was the first new building during the Normal School era, 1931–present.In 1939, the State Board of Education authorized the school to inaugurate a curriculum leading to the Bachelor of Science degree. The degree was first conferred on the graduating class at the 1942 Spring Convocation. By Act of the Tennessee Legislature of February 4, 1943, the name of the school was changed to Austin Peay State College. In 1951, the State Board authorized the College to confer the Bachelor of Arts degree and, in 1952, to offer graduate study leading to the degree of Master of Arts in Education. At the November 1966 meeting, the State Board of Education conferred university status on the College, effective September 1, 1967. In February 1967, the State Board of Education authorized the University to confer the Master of Arts and the Master of Science degrees. In 1968, associate degrees were approved. The State Board of Education relinquished its governance of higher education institutions to the Tennessee State Board of Regents in 1972.

A 1971 student prank turned the Browning clock into Mickey Mouse. In 1974, the Tennessee State Board of Regents authorized the Bachelor of Fine Arts and the Education Specialist Degrees. In 1979, the Bachelor of Business Administration degree was approved as a replacement for traditional B.A. and B.S. degrees in various fields of business. In 1979, the Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree was approved. In 1983, the Tennessee State Board of Regents approved the Master of Music degree, and Master Arts in Education. In 2001, the Tennessee State Board of Regents authorized the Bachelor of Professional Studies.

Tornado damage

In the early morning hours of January 22, 1999, an F-4 tornado struck downtown Clarksville and the APSU campus. The Clement, Harned, Harvill and Archwood Buildings were severely damaged, while many others suffered broken windows and roof damage. Fortunately, no one was killed in this tornado. Some 130 shattered trees littered the campus and added to the gloomy sight of shattered buildings. The University quickly initiated "Operation Restoration," with a commitment to have classes reopen within one week. Many heavily damaged buildings were re-opened within one year.In 2010, enrollment reached 10,188.

Athletics

Main article: Austin Peay Governors men's basketball

The school's athletic teams, most of which compete in the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC), are known as the "Governors" in honor of the school's namesake. The school's popular cheer is, "Let's go, Peay!"

The football team had participated in the Pioneer Football League, but on April 8, 2005 announced that it was leaving the Pioneer League at the conclusion of the 2005 season and that the football program would rejoin the Ohio Valley Conference in 2007.

The basketball Govs and Lady Govs have a long tradition of excellence in the OVC. Coach Dave Loos has led Austin Peay to three NCAA tournament berths, on the way to becoming one of the most respected coaches in the conference, as well as its winningest coach. Notable players such as Trenton Hassell and Bubba Wells continue to emerge from the program. In 1987, Austin Peay stunned Illinois in the first round 68-67, becoming just the third 14th-seeded team to knock off a No. 3 seed.

In July-August 2006, the Tennessee Titans had their first training camp on the campus.

Buildings on campus

Educational or Administration

Trahern Building

Browning Building

Claxton Building

Clement Building

Dunn Center

Ellington Building

Felix G. Woodward Library

Foy Fitness and Recreational Center

Harned Hall

Hemlock Semiconductor Building

Kimbrough Building

Marks Building

McCord Building

McReynolds Building

Memorial Health Building ("The Red Barn")

Music/Mass Communication Building

Pace Alumni Center at Emerald Hills

Sundquist Science Center

Trahern Building

Joe C. Morgan University Center

Residence halls

Sevier Hall (Female)

Beatrice Hand Village (Co-ed)

Cross Hall

Emerald Hills (Family Housing)

Blount Hall (Co-ed, Honors housing)

Harvill Hall (Co-ed, Honors housing)

Killebrew Hall

Marion Street Apartments (Faculty/staff housing)

Meacham Apartments (Co-ed)

Miller Hall

Rawlins Hall

Two Rivers Apartments (Co-ed, Honors housing)

Departments

Accounting,African American Studies,Agriculture,Art,Astronomy,Biology,Chemistry,

Communication,Computer Science,Economics & General Business,Education,

Engineering Technology,Finance Management & Marketing.Geosciences.

Health & Human Performance.History.Languages & Literature.

Leadership,Mathematics,Military Science,Music,Nursing,

Philosophy,Physics,Political Science,Psychology,

Public Management and Criminal Justice,

Social Work,Sociology,

Theatre & Dance,

Women's Studies,

Notable alumni

Steve Adams, former Tennessee State Treasurer

David Bibb, Deputy Administrator, U.S. General Services Administration

Riley Darnell, former Tennessee State Senator and current Tennessee Secretary of State

A.J. Ellis, catcher MLB Los Angeles Dodgers

Jeff Gooch, former NFL player, Tampa Bay Buccaneers '96-'01,'04-'05 Detroit Lions '02-'03

Trenton Hassell, NBA basketball player, New Jersey Nets

Tommy Head, former member, Tennessee House of Representatives and brother of basketball coach Pat Summitt

Percy Howard, former wide receiver for the NFL Dallas Cowboys

Douglas S. Jackson, Tennessee State Senator, D-Dickson

Otis Key, player and coach with the Harlem Globetrotters

Shawn Kelley, baseball player with the Seattle Mariners

Steven Lassan, Senior College Fantasy Football Editor (Athlon Sports)

John Morgan, Former Comptroller of the Treasury for the State of Tennessee, Deputy Governor for the State of Tennessee

Mary C. Noble, Justice, Kentucky Supreme Court

Chonda Pierce, Christian comedian and performer

Joe Pitts, Member, Tennessee House of Representatives, D-Clarksville

Josh Rouse, Noted Singer-Songwriter

George Sherrill, relief pitcher, MLB Baltimore Orioles, Los Angeles Dodgers

Jeff Stec, entrepreneur who formed Peak Fitness

Jamie Walker, relief pitcher, MLB Kansas City Royals, Detroit Tigers, Baltimore Orioles

Paula Wall, critically acclaimed  author, "The Rock Orchard," "The Wilde Women."

Bubba Wells, former basketball player, NBA Dallas Mavericks

James "Fly" Williams, legendary 1970s basketball player; later in the original American Basketball Association

Howie Wright, former basketball player, NBA New York Knicks

Jack Zduriencik, General Manager of the Seattle Mariners MLB team

Bonnie Sloan, first deaf player in the NFL.

D. Phil Roe, United States Representative from the 1st District of Tennessee

Elias Ek, entrepreneur who formed Enspyre, Co-Chair European Chamber Commerce SME Centre

Thomas Maceo Langston, Major (Retired), United States Army, Bronze Star and Purple Heart recipient, Austin Peay: Kappa Sigma Fraternity brother, Governors Defensive Back (2002–2003)

Lewie Lastik, member of the TC Williams Titans, "Remember the Titans" fame.

Bob Harper, personal trainer who gained fame on The Biggest Loser.

Presidents of Austin Peay

John S. Ziegler, 1929–1930

Philander Claxton, 1930–1946

Halbert Harvill, 1946–1962

Earl E. Sexton (acting), September-December 1962

Joe Morgan, 1963–1976

Robert O. Riggs, 1976–1987

Oscar Page, 1988–1994

Richard G. Rhoda (Interim), July-October 1994

Sal D. Rinella,1994–2000

Sherry L. Hoppe (Interim), 2000–2001

Sherry L. Hoppe, 2001–2007

Timothy L. Hall, 2007–present

(source:wikipedia)