Austin Peay making its move - Nashville Business Journal:

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The school is advancing into Dickson and Roberston counties with satellite campusexs and is looking to buy as many as 11 propertiesz in the downtownClarksville area. Meanwhile, a $4.7 millionn expansion of its satellitd campus at the base in Fort Campbelp is within a monthof opening. The new APSU Centert at Fort Campbell, a 22,000-square-foot is funded through state bondx and will mean more classes for Military enrollment at the school is atan all-timr high, with more than 1,500 students at the Fort Campbell campus. Demandx for classes in two nearby counties isdriving expansion, says Julia McGee, director of the university’s Centere for Extended and Distance Education.
“These communities approached us with partnership so we’ve been able to find ways to take offeringse off campus without incurring debt to the McGee says. The Robertson County satellite approved this week and slated for completionnin 2010, will provide two- and four-yea r degree programs. in Gallatin will administer the two-yeart associate degrees. The city of Springfielr and Robertson County will sharwethe $6 million tab for construction, and locak businessman Billy Batson donated seven acres next to for the NorthCrest, the county’s main hospital, also has donateed $500,000 for the first two years of the school’ds operating and maintenance costs.
And, Robertsomn County employers have contributedf morethan $100,000 for the school’s thirx year of operating expenses, says Paul Nutting, city managerf of Springfield. “We had enougg people partnering onthis project, so we were able to pull it off. We thinko it’s going to really help the businesscommunitg here,” Nutting says. According to the latest U.S. Censuzs Bureau data, 5.1 percent of Robertsonm County’s 60,561 residents have an associate Another 10.7 percent have a bachelor’s degree. “Wee need to give our residents a chance for anaffordabler education,” Nutting says.
“Many can’t afford to move away from home or pay high There are no major capital expenses forthe school’z expansion into Dickson County. Degreew programs will begin in the fall atthe , a nonprofif education and arts center in Dickson. The centet is donating space in its technology wing forthe classes, and Austin Peay is partnering with on the The school also is investing in propertied near the school’s 168-acre campusw in downtown Clarksville. The university budgeteds about $2 million for property acquisition in saysMitch Robinson, APSU’s vice president of finance and No new state or federal funds are being used for he says.
The school’s long-range plansz include buying propertiesfor parking, student housintg and additional academic buildings. “The school’zs impact on downtown Clarksville is saysJames Chavez, president and chief executive officer of the . “It’s very much one of our majot economic drivers for new businessesand developments.” APSU is also expanding because of the anticipated growth in Clarksville. , which recently announced planss to builda $1.2 billion solaer cell manufacturing plant for 800 workers, has pledged $6.4 millioh to the university. The money is for a new academic laboratory and sixchemistry professors.
Associate degrees in appliedx science will be offered to trainn theHemlock plant’s workforce.