Austin Peay will return to pre-COVID class formats this summer, plans to be face-to-face this fall
(Posted March 15, 2021)
Austin Peay State University officials have announced that the University will return to pre-pandemic class formats this summer. University officials also fully intend for Austin Peay to return to predominantly face-to-face classes this fall.
Pre-registration for summer and fall classes opens on March 22, and students can expect the traditional class offerings that the University used before the COVID-19 pandemic forced Austin Peay and other universities online last spring. Open registration starts on March 27.
“Things are already beginning to come back,” said Dr. Maria Cronley, APSU’s provost and senior vice president for academic affairs. “We will be offering summer classes that mirror our summer offerings prior to COVID. We have set our fall class schedules, which also reflect pre-COVID class offerings with mostly face-to-face classes.”
With all sports playing this spring, the University is already showing signs of getting back to normal. Students have made clear that they want traditional college experiences and face-to-face learning.
“We have proven we can hold these events in a safe manner for our campus and local community,” said APSU President Michael Licari. “There are mountains of data that show students do much better if they have engaging campus activities in class and on campus.
“Having just arrived, I’ve been impressed at the University’s COVID efforts,” he added. “The campus community has done a fantastic job working toward restoring those aspects to campus, and I look forward to a traditional campus experience for our students this fall.”
University offers on-campus testing, tracing, vaccination
All decisions about the fall semester depend on the state and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, but Austin Peay proved last fall that it can effectively host classes on campus.
University officials launched aggressive test and trace tactics and encouraged everyone to complete daily health screenings and scan building QR codes to enhance contact tracing. The University also used mask requirements and physical distancing in classrooms to help fight virus spread.
The University’s COVID-19 emergency command team also continues to meet every day.
These strategies allowed Austin Peay to offer face-to-face, hybrid and remote classes through the fall and spring semesters.
“Austin Peay drastically outperformed every other public higher education institution in Tennessee” in keeping positive case counts low, said Lynn Fisher, the University’s emergency management director. “Our highest single day case count between Aug. 24 and Dec. 1 was 43, which is amazing because we had several thousand people on campus every day.”
This spring, the University has opened an in-house, state-of-the-art testing lab. The University also recently opened an on-campus vaccination site. Both are free and open to the community.
“Typically our lab covers about 20 percent of the tests completed in Montgomery County every day,” Fisher said. “We are the first higher education institution in the state approved to work directly with a (local) health department to support the public efforts.”
Easier than ever to apply
University officials are waiving standardized test requirements – the ACT, SAT and GRE – for any student applying for undergraduate or graduate admission for the summer and fall 2021 terms. The University adopted this test-optional admission policy last year because of the many challenges potential students faced during the pandemic.
Also, University admissions representatives will hold enrollment events at Wendy’s restaurant locations across Middle Tennessee. Potential students can enroll on the spot. Here are the dates and locations (all events are 3:30-6 p.m.):
- March 23 at 2603 West End Ave., Nashville.
- March 25 at 3131 Dickerson Road, Nashville.
- April 8 at 7104 Charlotte Pike, Nashville.
- April 13 at 551 Donelson Pike, Nashville.
- April 15 at 802 Vantage Way Court, Nashville.
- April 20 at 4843 Nolensville Pike, Nashville.
- April 22 at 168 E. Main St., Hendersonville.
- April 27 at 1315 Memorial Blvd., Murfreesboro.
How to apply, register
To register for classes, visit www.apsu.edu/registrar/.
To apply for admission at Austin Peay, visit http://www.apsu.edu/admissions/.
The University also offers several scholarships to incoming students. Visit http://www.apsu.edu/scholarships/.
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