Clarksville, TN – Austin Peay State University (APSU) has been recognized as a Master’s: Larger, Research institution by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and the American Council on Education (ACE), marking a significant advancement in the university’s research profile and opportunities for its students.
As part of the Carnegie Foundation’s revamped classification system, this designation opens the door for APSU to pursue expanded research opportunities, increased external funding, and stronger partnerships with industry and government agencies.
“This achievement validates Austin Peay State University’s growing commitment to research and scholarly activity and recognizes the exceptional work of our faculty and students,” APSU President Mike Licari said. “Our new classification will allow us to create even more opportunities for our students to engage in meaningful research experiences that prepare them for successful careers.”
APSU’s current research portfolio includes projects from large-scale conservation initiatives through the Southeastern Grasslands Institute to state-funded research on the learning patterns and mental health needs of military-affiliated students.
“Many of APSU’s grant-funded projects are community-focused, often leveraging the university’s strong partnership with Fort Campbell and the U.S. Army,” said Dr. Chad Brooks, vice provost and dean of APSU’s College of Graduate Studies. “As a regional comprehensive university spanning all academic disciplines, our faculty and students are actively engaged in diverse research initiatives across multiple fields.”
This designation is also expected to help APSU attract and retain high-caliber faculty researchers to expand the university’s academic programs.
“Receiving this classification marks a significant milestone for APSU,” Brooks said. “It reflects the university’s growing research capacity, commitment to academic excellence, and continued investment in faculty-led and student-involved research. It also enhances our institutional reputation, placing APSU among a distinguished group of universities with a strong emphasis on research and innovation.”
About the Carnegie Foundation
The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching was established in 1905 and chartered in 1906 by an act of Congress as an independent policy and research center called to “do and perform all things necessary to encourage, uphold, and dignify the profession of the teacher and the cause of higher education.” Today, its mission is to catalyze transformational change in education so that every student has the opportunity to live a healthy, dignified, and fulfilling life.
About the American Council on Education
The American Council on Education (ACE) is a membership organization that serves as the major coordinating body for the nation’s colleges and universities. It represents more than 1,600 colleges and universities, related associations, and other organizations in the United States and abroad. ACE is the only major higher education association to represent all types of U.S. accredited, degree-granting colleges and universities, and its members graduate two out of every three students in all accredited, degree-granting U.S. institutions.
