AppDate, the February 2020 Alumni Newsletter
Thursday, February 13, 2020

Chancellor Sheri Everts’ message to alumni

It’s always a pleasure to share our good news — your university continues to earn top accolades from independent sources. I'm excited, also, to share updates on construction and campus initiatives around inclusive excellence and climate action. I hope you will be inspired to visit your alma mater and see, firsthand, the changes taking shape on campus.

• The Reich College of Education was recognized for the fourth consecutive year as the national leader for the number of alumni who are National Board Certified Teachers, with 2,057 alumni having earned the national credential to date.
• The Appalachian Police Department received recognition from the National Campus Safety Summit for being one of the top 25 university departments in the country ”making a difference in student safety.”
• In January, alongside Chief Diversity Officer Willie Fleming, I awarded the inaugural Chancellor's Awards for Inclusive Excellence to a faculty member, a community leader and an instructional program for students with disabilities. These commendations shine a light on those whose work demonstrates their intentional and ongoing commitment to creating a stronger community for all.
• Leaders in the Office of Sustainability are working diligently on the university’s new Climate Action Plan — slated to be completed by Earth Day, April 22. Last month, we held a listening session to hear the campus community’s thoughts and suggestions about our collective responsibility to mitigate our carbon footprint and work toward carbon neutrality.

I invite you to visit the Appalachian’s Future website and Appalachian Today to learn more about campus improvements, new and events, and I hope you will continue to tell us about your own personal and professional successes so that we may share them with the broader Appalachian community.