Honors Commons officially opens
Earlier this summer, when workers attached the words 鈥淗onors Commons鈥 to a red brick building in the heart of the Austin Peay State University campus, a major milestone was reached. For the first time in APSU history, the University had a designated space for high achieving students.
Earlier this summer, when workers attached the words 鈥淗onors Commons鈥 to a red brick building in the heart of the Austin Peay State University campus, a major milestone was reached. For the first time in APSU history, the University had a designated space for high achieving students.
This fall, those students will meet, study, socialize and attend classes inside the newly renovated Honors Commons. The 8,000-square-foot building, which officially opened during a ceremony on Sept. 2, houses both the University鈥檚 Honors Program and the President鈥檚 Emerging Leaders Program.
鈥淚t gives the honors students a place to gather and be a true community,鈥 Dr. Linda Barnes, director of the APSU Honors Program, said. 鈥淭he honors students may not have other things in common except the fact that they鈥檙e all good students. That鈥檚 a pretty strong bond and this will give them a place to not only gather socially, but to practice presentations, work in a computer lab, attend meetings and study.鈥
The space also includes classrooms dedicated for honors classes, a quiet study area and a music practice room. Students in the Honors Program were invited to help design the building鈥檚 interior, and they recommended couches and other comfortable furniture be included, allowing students to relax and lounge between classes.
The Honors Program at APSU allows motivated students to pursue their education in a more challenging, interdisciplinary environment. About 250 students are currently enrolled in the program.
鈥淲e鈥檙e certainly growing,鈥 Barnes said. 鈥淭he students currently in the program have more offerings of courses. We have more departments involved than ever before, more opportunities for upper-level honor students. And we are making efforts to develop honors as a living/learning community.鈥
For more information on the program, contact Barnes at 931-221-7119 or honors@apsu.edu. -- Charles Booth