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Austin Peay State University College of Graduate Studies sees record enrollment for fall

Austin Peay State University

Austin Peay State University - APSUClarksville, TN – Thomas Thornton knew he was pushing it. Classes were set to begin the next week at Austin Peay State University, so if he wanted to enroll in graduate school, he needed to do it that afternoon.

“I just knew I was being a slacker and hadn’t signed up yet,” Thornton, a Clarksville High School science teacher, said.

 Austin Peay graduate students stand during commencement after receiving their graduate hoods. (Kim Balevre, APSU)
Austin Peay graduate students stand during commencement after receiving their graduate hoods. (Kim Balevre, APSU)

At 1:09pm on Sunday, August 19th, 2018 he enrolled in the Master of Arts in Education program at Austin Peay, not realizing he’d helped the University reach an important milestone. The moment he submitted his information, Thornton became the 1,000th student enrolled in APSU’s College of Graduate Studies for the fall semester.

“This was the first time our graduate program has hit 1,000 students in the institution’s history,” Dr. Chad Brooks, associate provost for research and dean of the College of Graduate Studies, said. “This represents a milestone in Austin Peay’s ability to provide access to our community for an affordable and relevant education that empowers these people for high-end jobs in the future.”

Thornton graduated from Austin Peay in 2016 with a degree in chemistry, and he decided to earn a graduate degree from his alma mater to advance his career and expand his earning potential.

“I did it for the bonus,” he said. “And (Austin Peay) has been easy to work with.”

Thorton takes online classes in curriculum and instruction, and he plans to eventually enroll in the University’s new doctoral degree program in educational leadership. That program is the result of the College of Graduate Studies’ recent efforts to offer more degrees that support community workforce needs.

“In alignment with Governor Haslam’s Drive to 55 initiative, Austin Peay’s strategic plan places enrollment as a primary goal,” Brooks said. “To this end, the College of Graduate Studies has developed numerous additional graduate programs to meet a market need for the community that Austin Peay serves.”

For information on APSU’s graduate programs, contact the College of Graduate Studies at gradstudies@apsu.edu or 931.221.7414.

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