Four APSU Nontraditional Students establish new Honor Society

Clarksville, TN – Recognizing that nontraditional students face challenges of juggling academics, family and work, Austin Peay State University has formed a new chapter of a national honor society that applauds high-achieving adult learners.

Alpha Sigma Lambda has granted APSU with a local chapter, Alpha Theta Psi. Four APSU students, three of whom are nontraditional, enrolled in a Public Relations Campaign class – Krizia Gonzales, Halbeen Gundky, June Knight and Holly Templeton – advocated for an honor society specifically for nontraditional students pursuing undergraduate studies.

Nontraditional undergraduates are identified as students 25 years of age or older, according to the Office of Institutional Research and Effectiveness at APSU.

Since 2001, APSU has observed a 41 percent increase in the number of nontraditional undergraduate students, according to University enrollment data. In Fall 2010, a total of 3,914 nontraditional students enrolled at APSU, 6.6 percent more than in Fall 2009.

According to its website, Alpha Sigma Lambda is the oldest and largest honor society for full- and part-time students. The main goal of the organization is “to recognize the special achievements of adults who accomplish academic excellence while facing competing interests of home and work.”

The Alpha Theta Psi chapter is the first honor society at APSU for adult learners. Membership is by invitation only. To be eligible, students must be in the top 20 percent of all students with at least 30 credit-hours at APSU and have a minimum cumulative grade-point average of 3.2.

Notice of eligibility will be sent by e-mail in February. Students interested in joining must submit an application, and invitations will be issued in March.

The official induction ceremony is planned for April 16th.

Chapter president is June Knight. Kay Haralson, specialist in the Office of Enrollment Management and Academic Support, is the adviser. For more information, e-mail jknight13@my.apsu.edu.