Policies & Procedures
Policies, procedures and guidelines are established at different administrative levels to address a number of areas. Click on the links below to see specific policies and/or procedures.
The student handbook is made available through Student Affairs.
APSU email is the official means of communication at APSU. Correspondence between the university and students will be sent to the students' APSU email account (email ends with @my.apsu.edu); other email accounts will not be utilized. Students are encouraged to check their APSU email account on a regular basis.
Part 2 of the Code of Student Conduct states that "institutional disciplinary measures shall be imposed for conduct which adversely affects the University’s pursuit of its educational objectives, which violates or shows a disregard for the rights of other members of the academic community or which endangers property or persons on University, or University-controlled property." Misconduct subject to disciplinary sanction can include but are not limited to hazing, discrimination, disorderly conduct, misuse/damage to property, theft, and academic misconduct (plagiarism, cheating, fabrication or collusion).
Part 3 of the Code of Student Conduct states that "Academic dishonesty may be defined as any act of dishonesty in academic work. This includes, but is not limited to, plagiarism, the changing or falsifying of any academic documents or materials, cheating, and giving or receiving of unauthorized aid in tests, examinations, or other assigned work. Students guilty of academic misconduct, either directly or indirectly through participation or assistance, are immediately responsible to the instructor of the class. Penalties for academic misconduct will vary with the seriousness of the offense and may include, but are not limited to, a grade of "F" on the work in question, a grade of "F" in the course, reprimand, probation, suspension, and expulsion."
Any student that desires to resolve a grievance should review the information under the Procedures for Appeals and Complaints section of the Code of Student Conduct. If a resolution cannot be found, the student may file a complaint with one or more of the following:
- Tennessee Higher Education Commission (THEC)
- Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
- A student residing outside of Tennessee may also contact the agency designated for handling complaints in his or her home state. Additional information is available on the State Higher Education Executive Officers Association website.
In order to offer distance education courses and programs in states other than Tennessee, all public institutions including Austin Peay State University must first comply with a state’s requirements to be authorized in that state legally. Authorizations vary from state to state.
APSU is a member of the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA). As such, online students outside of the state of Tennessee are able to take distance education courses and programs through APSU as long as they are a resident in a SARA state.
APSU Distance Education takes student privacy seriously by following federal, state, local, and institutional (Tennessee Board of Regents and Austin Peay State University) laws, regulations, policies, and guidelines. Specifically, members of the team are routinely updated and trained on any new privacy laws and policies, and part of an on-boarding process for new employees in the unit includes an orientation on student privacy. The university bulletins, student handbook, and official policies of the Tennessee Board of Regents and Austin Peay State University serve as guiding documents on privacy issues for the team and should be consulted by students as a guide to their rights and responsibilities. Information is available under the APSU Student Rights section of the Code of Student Conduct. Anyone with concerns about student privacy may directly contact the office of Student Affairs at (931) 221-7341.