Dear Faculty Colleagues,

It’s a little hard to believe we’ve already reached the last day of classes for the academic year, isn't it!?  With the weather turning and campus feeling a bit lighter, it’s a good moment to take stock of what this year has held. I’ve been thinking a lot about how much you’ve all carried and accomplished - often in ways that don’t get nearly enough recognition. I’m genuinely grateful to be part of this community and to work alongside you. Thank you for everything you’ve done for our students and for each other this year - it truly matters.

First-Year Faculty Cohort
On April 20, we were delighted to welcome Kyle Christmas, Executive Director of Accreditation and External Compliance, and Jessica D’Alimonte, Executive Assistant in the Office of the Provost — our campus experts on all things Watermark and dossier preparation. Thanks to their guidance, our FYF cohort is well prepared for workflows to open on May 8 and is in a strong position as they begin assembling materials for their first dossier action in September 2026.

On April 27, we joyfully celebrated the close of AY 2025–2026 with a mentor/mentee gathering! Faculty with assigned mentors (tenure-track and non-tenure-track) came together for an afternoon of connection and celebration. CAFE was pleased to provide catering, including fruit and vegetable platters, dessert bars, and refreshments. Alongside time for conversation and fellowship, participants shared favorite mentor/mentee moments from the year, exchanged effective practices, and reflected on how they utilized their CAFE mentor/mentee funds. It was a special afternoon, and it has been a privilege to watch this cohort grow, connect, and thrive throughout the year.

Upcoming Events
Here’s a quick look at upcoming opportunities for and by faculty:

• Study on the Hill - April 30
• Office of Legal Affairs Webinar - April 30
• Sculpture Installation - May 5
• Concourse Demo Session for Faculty - May 6 (In-Person)
• Concourse Demo Session for Faculty - May 11 (Virtual - Teams)

Todd Whitaker book - free!
CAFE is happy to offer free copies of Todd Whitaker's text, What Great Teachers Do Differently, to the first 25 faculty members who fill out the Microsoft Form linked below!  Get yours before you leave for the summer!

August 2026 Calendar
Our August 2026 faculty calendar is shaping up nicely!  I will have the August calendar to all faculty on or before commencement day - May 8th.  Lots to look forward to and share soon!  

CAFE Calendar 
I'll continue to update our CAFE Calendar as events and sessions become finalized - including the August 2026 calendar events.  Be sure to bookmark it and add any events directly to your Outlook calendar. 

As always, I welcome your ideas on how CAFE can better serve you.  Please don't hesitate to reach out at williamsjj@apsu.edu or 931-221-7648.

Wishing you all the best as you head into final exams and the final push of grading - I hope everything goes smoothly as you wrap up the semester. There’s something especially meaningful about this time of year, particularly the joy of commencement and the chance to see our students cross the stage and celebrate all they’ve accomplished. As the pace shifts, I hope you’re able to make good progress on summer projects and also carve out time for rest, travel, and whatever brings you a bit of joy in the months ahead.  In the words of Elle Woods, "We did it!"

Yours always,
Jeff 

A place develoted to celebrating the achievements of our APSU faculty colleagues!

Kim performs at MidSouth Flute Festival

Earlier in April, Dr. Beomjae Kim, Assistant Professor of Flute, attended the MidSouth Flute Festival at the University of Alabama. He presented a short recital titled "Indomitable Heroines: Voices of Women Composers: and had the opportunity to perform as guest soloist in Valerie Coleman’s "Elegy" with the Festival Choir. 

Truhon awarded 2026 Reviewer of the Year

Our emeritus faculty continue to bring prestige to the university. The journal Military Psychology has recognized Dr. Stephen Truhon, emeritus professor in the Department of Psychological Science and Counseling, as one of its 2026 Reviewers of the Year, an honor awarded annually to scholars who provide exceptional critical evaluation of submitted research. Truhon was recognized alongside reviewers from institutions including Walter Reed Army Institute of Research and the Air Force Research Laboratory.

Volker & Tilooby publish in Journal of Information Systems Education

Drs. John Xavier Volker, Professor of Management & Marketing, and Al Tilooby, Assistant Professor of Management & Marketing (2026) recently published their article "Generative AI-Augmented Human Judgment: A Task-Technology Fit Perspective" in the Journal of Information Systems Education: Vol. 37 : Iss. 1 , 151-166.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.62273/STSP3767

This study examines how generative artificial intelligence can augment human judgment in assurance of learning assessments within business education, using the task-technology fit framework as a guiding lens. 

The Journal of Information Systems Education (JISE) is a peer reviewed journal published quarterly that focuses on IS education, pedagogy, and curriculum including (but not limited to) model curriculum, course projects/cases, course materials, curriculum design & implementation, outcomes assessment, distance education challenges, capstone learning projects, technology selection & impact, and industry relations.

Bailey and Bruster present at NSSA Conference in Las Vegas 

Drs. Daniel Bailey, Assistant Professor, and Benita Bruster, Professor, presented "From Cognitive, Self-Regulation, and Reflective Strategies to Future Intention: The Central Role of Academic Confidence" at the NSSA Conference in Las Vegas last month (pictured below).

This presentation examined a study that explored relationships among cognitive strategy use, self-regulation, academic confidence, and students’ intention to continue using reading strategies in a first-year developmental literacy course, as well as links to writing performance. Grounded in social cognitive theory, the study considers whether academic confidence serves as a key mechanism supporting sustained engagement. Survey data were collected from 308 first-year undergraduates, with writing samples analyzed for a subsample. Data were examined using descriptive statistics, correlations, and multiple regression. Results showed strong positive relationships among strategy use, self-regulation, academic confidence, and future intention. Academic confidence emerged as the strongest predictor of continued strategy use, even when controlling for other variables. 

At the same conference, Amanda Bradley, Sloane Helmintoller, Bethany Patterson, and Amber Kiser joined Dr. Benita Bruster for a poster presentation about APSU's Reading 1010 course.  Drs. Charmaine Lowe and Bing Xiao also attended.  

Ambaye serves as Guest Editor

Dr. Getachew Ambaye, Assistant Professor of Engineering Technology, is currently serving as Guest Editor for a special issue in Electronics (MDPI) titled “New Trends in Soft Robotics and Mechatronics.” 

This Special Issue highlights recent theoretical, experimental and application-oriented developments in soft robotics and integrated mechatronic systems. Contributions that integrate materials science, electronics, control engineering and machine learning to advance the modeling, design, fabrication, sensing and actuation of soft robotic platforms are particularly encouraged.

Shumate chosen for international committee, Academic AI Working Group 

Scott Shumate, Assistant Professor and Lead Librarian of Digital Services, has been selected by Clarivate, the parent company of ProQuest, Ex Libris, Web of Science, and others, to be a part of the newly established, Academic AI Working Group.

In their words, this group will “bring together library and academic professionals from institutions around the world, providing hands on guidance that shapes the next generation of Academic AI tools and capabilities.” It is an international group of 15 experts in the field from a variety of backgrounds and professional responsibilities. Scott was invited to be one of the members of the committee and will serve in that capacity for at least the next 2 years.

The G.R.A.C.E. group is for faculty and staff members who are grieving the loss of a loved one. The group stands for “Grief, Restoration, and Caring Employees,” and will meet twice a month this semester to connect and support one another during the difficult days they may experience at APSU while grieving. The G.R.A.C.E. group provides a safe place to explore and express feelings related to losing a loved one and how to thrive in a world without that special person.

For more information, please contact LaNeeça Williams at 931-221-7690 or by email at Williamslr@apsu.edu. 

Upcoming G.R.A.C.E. Meetings

April 29, 2026, 3 – 4 p.m., MUC 305 (light refreshments)

May 20, 2026, 11 a.m. – noon, MUC 305 (a light lunch will be served)

May 26, 2026, 3 – 4 p.m., MUC 305 (light refreshments)

The Career Success Center is working to collect career outcomes through the First Destination Survey before commencement and appreciates your help in encouraging graduating seniors to participate. The survey takes about 5 minutes, and students who complete it by April 30 will be entered into a drawing for one of four $100 Amazon gift cards. Students can access the survey using the link provided and their APSU email address—please announce this in class or pin it in your D2L course shell.

If students experience any issues, they may contact CSC@apsu.edu with their full name and major for assistance.

Students, faculty, and staff invited!

Stop by the Pace Alumni Center at Emerald Hill (751 N. Second St.) on Thursday, April 30, for this year's Study on the Hill, and enjoy free giveaways while supplies last:

9 a.m – 4 p.m.
•    Ice Cream (AEP)
•    Chips, Granola Bars, and Other Snacks (Sodexo)
•    T-shirts (Office of the Registrar)
•    Free Movie Tickets (Phoenix Theatres)
•    The Press Day Passes (The Press)
•    Coke Products (Coca-Cola)
•    Monster Products (Monster Energy)
•    Event Exclusive High-speed Internet (CDE Lightband)
•    Hockey Goalie Simulator (Ford Ice Center)
•    Bookstore Discount (APSU Bookstore)

9 a.m. – noon
•    Krispy Kreme Doughnuts (Alpha Lambda Delta)

Noon – 2 p.m.
•    Dutch Bros Rebel Drinks (Dutch Bros)
•    Whataburger Burgers and Chicken Sandwiches (AEP)
•    Johnny and June’s Italian Ice Truck (SOC & NSLS)

2 p.m. – 4 p.m.
•    Kadi’s Taco Truck (SOC & NSLS)

Dear APSU faculty, 

The Office of Legal Affairs invites you to a webinar on policy changes to tenure at 3 p.m. CDT on Thursday, April 30. You can register in advance with your APSU login credentials, and you'll receive a confirmation email with details about joining the meeting.

More Information

Please see the attachments below if you'd like to learn more about the tenure policy changes before the webinar:

Asking Questions

During the webinar, you can use Zoom's Q&A function to submit questions about the policy. The regular chat will be available to discuss technical issues with the host.

If you'd prefer to raise a question privately, please contact the Office of Legal Affairs to schedule a follow-up with Vice President Dannelle Whiteside or Associate General Counsel Corey Harkey.

You can also visit Zoom's support page if you want to know more about joining or participating in webinars. 

Two artists were selected through a Tennessee Arts Commission grant to install their work on campus: Brett Douglas Hunter (Nashville) and Howard Russo (Illinois). The grant supports a two-year loan of their sculptures to the university.

Come out and support!  Thank you, Assistant Professor of Sculpture, Luke Warren, for your diligent work on making this happen!

After attending, faculty will be able to:

In preparation for our August Annual Meeting, the first 25 faculty to fill out the form below will receive a FREE copy of Todd Whitaker's book, What Great Teachers Do Differently.

APSU Health and Counseling community partner HopeNation Campus to bring free virtual clinical, person-centered care that supports your well-being, growth, and long-term success.

Email for more information: info@hopenationcounseling.com
Click link below to join walk-in hours Mondays & Wednesdays 12-4 pm CST

Full Spectrum Learning (FSL) at Austin Peay State University is seeking opportunities to connect with faculty and students through brief classroom visits or informational sessions. FSL is a degree-seeking support program for students on the autism spectrum, offering academic, social, executive functioning, and career transition support.

These visits help raise awareness of available resources and ensure students who may benefit know how to access support. Faculty and staff are invited to suggest courses or class times for an FSL visit. Scheduling is flexible, and questions or requests for more information are welcome.

For more information or to invite FSL, please contact Tom Spence.

Explore these short tutorial videos designed to help faculty and staff become familiar with the core features of the AP Navigate platform. Each video provides clear, step‑by‑step guidance on essential tools such as viewing student profiles, submitting alerts and referrals, documenting meetings, and managing availability. These resources are here to support your work and help you use Navigate confidently to promote student success.

Woodward Library is excited to announce that a new data management plan tool (DMPTool) is now available to the university community!

DMPTool is an online platform that helps researchers create, review, manage, and share data management plans (DMPs), a key requirement for many grant proposals, including those from NSF, NIH, DOE, and other major funders.

DMPTool provides funder-specific templates and step-by-step guidance for writing DMPs that align with funder requirements. Instead of starting from scratch, faculty, staff, and students can use customized templates, built-in guidance, and best practices to quickly produce high-quality, funder-compliant DMPs.

Distance Education has updated its website with a Digital Accessibility Basics page that includes accessibility video recordings. It offers more resources and guidance than ever before! 

Direct links:

Digital Accessibility Basics

Accessibility Training videos 

Health and Counseling is available to provide presentations on various topics for your class. Presentations cover a range of topics, including stress management, physical and mental well-being, and bystander training.  

To request a presentation, please complete the form at https://www.apsu.edu/wellness/. 

For questions or concerns, please contact Dr. Quianda Harris at harrisq@apsu.edu or Jill de Graauw at degraauwj@apsu.edu. 

100 years in the making.

Monday, April 26, 2027, at the Evans Harvill Quad.

Trust us, you'll want to be there.

Congrats to our CAFE GA, Sarah Roth (Barry), on her recent wedding! She and her husband, Nolan (pictured right), were married at Assumption Catholic Church in Nashville, TN, on April 18, with many friends and family in attendance, including Dr. Williams (pictured left)!

Please keep her and her husband in your thoughts as they embark on this new adventure together!  And, don't worry, Sarah will be with us again as CAFE GA next year and complete her Masters of Vocal Performance!  Yay!

by Grant A. Mincy

published April 23, 2026

Have you bookmarked the CAFE Calendar yet?  We’re constantly adding new events!  Stay up to date with all CAFE-affiliated programming happening across campus.  Don’t forget - you can easily add any event directly to your Outlook calendar with a click! 

Do you have an event that you would like promoted in CAFE's bi-monthly newsletter?

Feel free to email us at cafe-fac@apsu.edu with the information. We will review it and inform you if the request is appropriate for the CAFE audience.