Dear Faculty, Staff and Students,

Budget news from Raleigh is once again, excellent for App State, and we extend our sincere thanks to our legislators for securing important appropriations specifically for our Boone and Hickory campuses, as well as key compensation increases for university employees.

Thanks also, to the UNC System Board of Governors, UNC System leadership and App State’s Board of Trustees, who have supported the funding priorities my leadership team and I have put forth to ensure we can continue to expand access to an exceptional App State education for the people of our region.

The new biennial budget continues a record of historically significant support for our university and demonstrates the confidence in the work we are doing.

Please keep reading for key highlights.

Compensation:

• A 7% across-the-board salary increase, which will be broken down into a 4% increase for this fiscal year, and a 3% increase in the 2024-25 fiscal year. The 4% increase for the current fiscal year will be retroactive to July 1, 2023.
  
  
• A minimum 10% increase in starting salaries for new nursing faculty.
  
  
• Salary increases for law enforcement officers in the 2023-24 fiscal year that will range from 5.5% to 11% depending on agency, rank, and current pay scale.
  
  
• Retired state employees will not receive raises, but they will receive a 4% cost-of-living non-recurring supplement in the 2023-24 fiscal year.

The UNC System will provide guidance and authorization soon regarding salary increases. Once we have that information, we will begin work to include the current year’s raise and retroactive pay into paychecks. The System Office will also provide additional guidance for merit-based salary increases and bonuses. I will provide an update on the guidance and timing as soon as we have more information from the System.

Capital Repairs and Renovation/Initiative Support:

The budget allocates more than $74 million in funding for App State's Capital/Repairs and Renovation/Initiative support. 

• An additional $41 million for Hickory campus renovations:
• $ 4.1 million in the 2024-25 fiscal year;
• $12.3 million in the 2025-26 fiscal year;
• $14.35 million in the 2026-27 fiscal year; and
• $10.25 million in the 2027-28 fiscal year.

• $18 million for Walker Hall interior renovations:
• $1.8 million in the 2024-25 fiscal year;
• $6.3 million in the 2025-26 fiscal year; and
• $9.9 million in the 2026-27 fiscal year
  
  
• An additional $15 million for renovations to Peacock Hall.
  
  
• Additional, non-recurring funds to support inflationary increases for renovations of Wey and Duncan Halls.

Additional Support:

• $7.81 million in campus operating and startup funds for App State’s Hickory Campus, over two years. This funding will support costs associated with building operation and academic instruction.
  
  
• $600,000 for the App State Energy Center, ($400,000 in the current fiscal year, and $200,000 in 2024-25.)
  
  
• $225,000 in non-recurring funds for equipment for the Beaver College of Health Sciences.

These budget allocations continue the longstanding support for higher education by the State of North Carolina, and represent the confidence in App State in particular. On behalf of the university, I extend my heartfelt gratitude to our elected officials, our Board of Governors and UNC System leadership for their continued support of and advocacy for App State, and I encourage you to extend your personal thanks as well. I also thank you for your hard work and dedication to our students, which is being rewarded by the people of North Carolina.