Building Community

» The Little Govs Child Learning Center (CLC) provides high quality childcare for children 2 to 5 years of age with full-time and part-time care available to children of APSU students, staff, faculty, alumni and community. The center is licensed by the Tennessee Department of Human Services (DHS) and has earned the highest rating with three stars. The CLC has also earned the Gold Sneaker Award, a recognition for promoting health and wellness among young children. The Gold Sneaker initiative enhances the center’s policies related to physical activity, healthy eating and maintaining a tobacco-free environment.

» The Latino Community Resource Center (LCRC) hosted the first bilingual FAFSA Night event in partnership with the Office of Student Financial Aid, the Office of Admissions, the Vice Provost for Enrollment and Student Achievement, and members of the Latino Advisory Board. The event provided free one-on-one assistance in English and Spanish to students and their families to complete the FAFSA.

» The name of the Center for Service-Learning and Community Engagement was changed to reflect an evolving identity which includes sustainability and is now Community Engagement and Sustainability (CES). The office had already been working with the Sustainability Office and now includes the football game recycling program, Living Green living and learning community, educational programs, physical plant sustainable improvement projects and sustainability fee funded projects.

» Counseling Services collaborated with the School of Nursing to provide office space for two APRN staffers to serve students and community members once a week in the Ard building.

» The Latino Community Resource Center partnered with Dining Services on a Latinx-inspired day at the Caf that featured Latinx dishes, information on the month and highlighted the center.

» Over 400 enjoyed the Homecoming bonfire and court announcement, and over 450 attended the Homecoming Smash! Bang! Lip Sync competition sponsored by Student Life and Engagement.

» Housing, Residence Life and Dining Services had 14 volunteer meal runners assist in the delivery of 328 meals for students in the halls affected by COVID-19 in Spring 2022.

» Student Conduct and Case Management assumed the impactful Clothesline Project following the untimely death of Dr. Jill Eichhorn. The Clothesline Project is intended to increase awareness of the impact of violence and abuse, honor survivors’ strength and give survivors an avenue to break the silence that often surrounds such violence. The fall event was dedicated to Dr. Eichhorn, a longtime professor at APSU, with donations benefiting the Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee. The Adult, Nontraditional and Transfer Student Center and CARE collaborated on the program.

» The Adult, Nontraditional and Transfer Student Center (A.N.T.S.) collaborated with Office of Admissions transfer tours and led a presentation over A.N.T.S. and Student Affairs. A stop in the center was added for guests to meet transfer student leaders. As a result, more transfer students are now utilizing the center. The center also collaborated with the Office of Admissions on planning and implementing transfer orientation.

» Community Engagement hosted a Wilderness Wednesday event at the Outdoor Education Center for elementary home school students with 115 people in attendance. The center was established in the fall of 2021 with a $21,500 grant from the Bureau of Land Management and includes native plant landscaping, hardscape elements, bat houses, a water feature and educational materials. Over 8,000 plants and trees were purchased and planted during the Fall 2021 semester by staff and students with extra help with hardscaping from the APSU football team.

» The Eta Xi Chapter of Sigma Chi Fraternity celebrated its new chapter house dedication in Fall 2022. The house is the first newly constructed, purpose-built fraternity house at APSU and was completely financed by fundraising, private donors and in-kind donations over a 25-year period.

» The National Society of Leadership and Success (NSLS) members hosted the Adopt a Senior event where 37 local senior citizens were adopted for the holidays. NSLS is advised through Student Life and Engagement.

» The Latino Community Resource Center launched the Community Ambassadors initiative, which identified and partnered with six community members who are working to build stronger networks between Austin Peay’s Latino community and the Clarksville community.

» Student Affairs Programs hosted the Student Affairs Holiday reception in December with more than 300 in attendance. Division staff volunteered to assist with serving and greeting students. The event is to celebrate the end of fall semester, graduation and the upcoming holiday.

» In fall 2022, 106 student volunteers completed 204 hours of volunteer service with the food pantry, and over 1,160 student volunteer hours were completed at Community Engagement and Sustainability.

“I have had an extremely positive experience working at the Community Engagement and Sustainability Office. It gave me an opportunity to gain work experience in a field related to my major, agriculture and sustainable development, while giving me the opportunity to meet other students on campus in other programs. I also find it very fulfilling to help with the food pantry and help provide resources to other students on campus. Another takeaway was all the connections and friendships I’ve made. I am a transfer student and I live off campus, so it was hard for me to meet other students. It’s broken me out of my shell, and really improved my confidence.”