CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (CLARKSVILLENOW) – Austin Peay State University has cancelled all in-person classes for tomorrow, Oct. 23, according to an email sent out this afternoon by APSU’s Interim President Dannelle Whiteside.

The cancelled classes will need to be made up, Whiteside said, but it will be up to faculty to make plans and time to reschedule virtually. Students should reach out to their instructors to coordinate.

“We eliminated Fall Break to effectually wrap up the semester after Thanksgiving to go remote, so we thought giving everybody a day to take a little breather would be a good idea,” APSU Spokesman Bill Persinger said.

Tomorrow will also be a Health and Wellness day for faculty and staff, and the APSU offices will be administratively closed. All faculty and staff can participate in this day, unless there are individual university obligations that cannot be rescheduled. In that case, faculty may take a day to themselves, with his or her supervisor’s approval, within the next two weeks.

Here is the email that was sent out to all students, faculty, and staff:

Dear Austin Peay Community,

We are 9 weeks into a semester that has seemingly lasted 9 years. Under normal circumstances, we would have already had a break, but we had to cancel that break to try and contain COVID-19. I know we are all worn out.

With that in mind, tomorrow, October 23, APSU will not be holding any scheduled classes. Similar to unexpected closures (such as inclement weather days), faculty will need to make up the instructional time with students via online/remote learning for any classes that were originally scheduled to meet on this day. Students should contact their instructor to find out more information.

In an effort to show our appreciation for faculty and staff and all the work you have done so far this semester, tomorrow will also be a Health and Wellness day in which APSU offices will be administratively closed. All faculty and staff can participate in this day, unless there are individual university obligations that cannot be rescheduled.

If an employee has a conflict tomorrow, such as previously scheduled travel or personal leave or university obligations that cannot be rescheduled, he or she may take a day, with his or her supervisor’s approval, within the next two weeks.

If you have questions or concerns, please contact the Office of Human Resources at humanresources@apsu.edu.

Sincerely,

Dannelle Whiteside

Interim President

“While this isn’t really related to COVID-19, the virus has exacerbated the need for a break. Every year we do these Wellness Days,” Persinger continued.