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Board approves tuition increase, tenure recommendations, presidential pay changes and multiple namings
Summary
The Austin Peay State University Board of Trustees on April 11 approved a package of measures including up to a 5% tuition and mandatory fee increase for 2025–26, tenure approvals, nonmandatory fees and presidential compensation changes.
The Austin Peay State University Board of Trustees on April 11 approved several formal actions including a tuition increase cap, tenure appointments, nonmandatory fees, presidential compensation changes, facility namings, a student trustee appointment and the 2026 meeting calendar.
Why it matters: The tuition and fee vote affects incoming and returning students and will fund portions of operating and personnel costs. The board’s salary and incentive actions establish compensation for the university’s president for fiscal year 2025–26. The namings recognize donors and will be reflected in campus facilities and signage.
Key board actions and outcomes
- Tuition and mandatory fees (2025–26): By direction of the Business and Finance Committee, the board moved to approve up to a 5% increase in tuition and mandatory fees for the 2025–26 academic year. The motion carried on a roll call; all trustees present voted in favor.
- Nonmandatory fees (2025–26): The board approved the committee-recommended nonmandatory fees for 2025–26. The motion carried on a roll call; all trustees present voted in favor.
- Tenure appointments: The board approved the list of faculty recommended for tenure by the Academic Affairs Committee. The motion originated from the committee; trustees voted to approve the recommendation. (The meeting packet contained the list of named faculty; the transcript record presented the committee motion and the board’s affirmative vote.)
- Presidential incentive (FY 2024–25): By direction of the Executive Committee the board voted to award President Michael Licari an 88.5% incentive payment in the amount of $34,000 for fiscal year 2024–25. The motion carried.
- Presidential base salary (FY 2025–26): The board set President Licari’s base salary at $415,500 for fiscal year 2025–26, by motion of the Executive Committee. The motion carried.
- Facility and space namings: The board approved a package of naming requests that include the Turner Events Center (Jack and Margie Turner), the Fisher Roberts Lobby at Forterra Stadium, the Wendy Araya family clinical simulation lab, the Curtis G. Johnson Atrium, the Bill Wyden Enrichment Center and naming recognition for the Clarksville Montgomery County Community Health Foundation for areas of the new Health Professions Building. The naming committee recommended each naming under university policy; trustees approved the group motion.
- Student trustee appointment: The board appointed Gracie Suggs to serve as student trustee beginning May 10, 2025, through the 2025–26 academic year. The motion came from the Student Affairs Committee and was approved by the board.
- Calendar of meetings for 2026: The board approved four regular meeting dates for 2026 (April 10, June 5, Sept. 11 and Dec. 4), noting the Focus Act requirement that the board hold at least four regular meetings per year.
Other committee reports and informational items presented included audit committee materials (revised audit charter, internal audit policy revisions and the FY25 revised audit plan), the university’s designation as Tennessee’s Vets Bravo campus, updates on enrollment and retention and a facilities update after recent local flooding.
The board did not receive public comment at this meeting. All actions described above were recorded on the meeting agenda and reflected in the meeting minutes as motions carried by the board.
