Appalachian State University

Office of the Chancellor

Inside Appalachian

November 2024

Message from Interim Chancellor Heather Norris
Friday, November 15, 2024
At this week’s UNC System Board of Governors meeting, the Board took several actions related to App State, including:
- Approving the university to add a Doctor of Nursing Practice to our academic programs. This program will educate family practice nurse practitioners, helping meet the need for additional health care providers, particularly in rural areas of our state. This will make the third doctoral program for our university — adding to our education and psychology doctoral programs, but more importantly, it will allow us to help meet the incredible demand for rural health care professionals in North Carolina. Through the Beaver College of Health Sciences, we already offer a number of clinical services for children and adults, and this new program will help us provide even more high-quality health care for our community at large. I congratulate the Beaver College of Health Sciences on this new program and look forward to welcoming these students to App State in fall 2026.
- Approving the university to move forward with a new, 85,000-square-foot indoor athletics practice facility. The new facility will increase the size of the current practice field to 100 yards, allowing for more frequent and comprehensive practice sessions for most of our athletic programs. The larger facility will also increase its scope, to serve more areas across campus and allow for public–private health care collaborations, including new physical therapy facilities. I want to thank our alumni — in particular 1976 alumnus and Board of Trustees Vice Chair Tommy Sofield and his family, who made a lead gift in 2023 — for providing a solid financial foundation for this project.
- Allocating funds from the General Assembly’s Hurricane Relief Fund. The Board allocated funds to App State and other UNC System institutions that have students enrolled who are from the declared disaster areas. This is additional emergency aid funding to assist students with significant ongoing needs related to Hurricane Helene, and it will provide much-needed support to students who are struggling in the aftermath of the hurricane so that they can stay on track for graduation. The system is also working on our behalf with the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority for additional funding to assist in covering the cost of recovery.
- Recognizing App State Police Sergeant Petey Hausley ’12 for valor. The 2024 UNC System Campus Law Enforcement Award winners included Sgt. Hausley, who earned an award for valor for his leadership and courage in 2023, when he thwarted a criminal who was intent on doing serious harm. With more than a decade in law enforcement, Sgt. Hausley joined App State Police in 2022 and is an incredible asset to the team. We congratulate him for this award, and thank him for his continued service to App State.
This week we held our annual Veterans Day Ceremony to honor all veterans, and particularly those at App State who have served in the Armed Forces. It was an honor to stand with veterans (honored in this beautiful tribute) who have sacrificed so much for our country and our freedoms. App State Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps Cadet Anna Hoffman, a senior management major from Statesville and a member of the North Carolina National Guard, emceed the event, and our guest speaker, U.S. Army Sgt. Maj. George Sankey, spoke about the value of our veterans to our society and the inspirations we can take from those who have served. As he spoke about resilience and managing critical situations, as well as the emotions that come with them, I was reminded of how, as a community and a campus, we chose to come together for the greater good while facing the incredible challenges of Hurricane Helene.

Also this week, members of my leadership team and I joined the Chancellor’s Scholars Friendsgiving event. It was a lovely evening celebrating friendship and fellowship, and we enjoyed the stories students shared about their academic endeavors, their activities and their plans for the short and long term.

Our student-athletes continue to see success this season. Men’s and Women’s Basketball have shown a strong start to their seasons; both Cross-Country teams won their conference championships; and Field Hockey won their regular season conference championship. Representing the App State Tennis program, digital journalism major Savannah Dada-Mascoll and exercise science major Isabella Romanichen, both juniors, have earned a spot in the NCAA Doubles Championship, which begins next week. Our Wrestling team will host nationally ranked West Virginia next Friday, and East-division champion App State Volleyball team begins Sun Belt Conference Tournament play next weekend. We’ll be cheering them on as we also cheer on the Mountaineer Football team when they take on JMU during Homecoming weekend.

Today, Vice Chancellor of External Affairs and Strategic Initiatives and Chief of Staff Hank Foreman represented the university with the members of the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce as part of their State of the Community luncheon. For 125 years, the university and community’s shared history has been one of building lasting institutions and lasting relationships, partnerships and friendships. It has been these partnerships that have helped our university and our community to grow and be successful, and it is these partnerships that will carry us forward. Our respect for our fellow community members, business and government leaders and education partners remains steadfast, and it heartens us to know that we are all in it together when a challenge is before us.

Also this morning, Acting Provost Specht addressed the Walker College of Business Advisory Council, and this afternoon, she represented university leadership at Walker College’s scholarship reception. Nearly 70% of our students rely on some form of financial assistance to fund their App State educations. In recent years, we have been able to award academic scholarships and aid to nearly 40% of our students, based on scholarly abilities, academic achievements and financial need. That is money they don’t have to pay back, and it makes a tremendous difference.

We are working to engage with students, faculty, staff and the tremendous community of Mountaineers who support our university, to hear and share their stories. So many people believe in this university and the potential it represents to innovate for the future, build meaningful relationships, open doors and expand horizons for our students, faculty and staff — and the communities we serve. On behalf of the entire App State Community, thank you to everyone who supports the success of our students as they work to achieve their dreams.

Heather Norris
Interim Chancellor
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Message from Interim Chancellor Heather Norris
Friday, November 8, 2024
The month of November is already bustling with activity, with a number of events coming up, including our rescheduled Founders Day and Homecoming events and our annual commemoration of Veterans Day.
Since 1954, Nov. 11 has been set aside nationally each year as the day to recognize veterans and their families, and on Monday, Appalachian State University will join the nation in honoring those who have served in the United States Armed Forces.

At our university, 261 student veterans, 113 active-duty service members and nearly 127 active-duty and veteran staff and faculty enrich our campus community. More than 1,000 of our students are military spouses or dependents. We work to support them every day.

For the last 15 years, we’ve been nationally recognized for the support we provide to our military-affiliated students, faculty and staff — and their families.
- The VIQTORY organization, which is dedicated to helping military personnel transition to civilian life, has, for the 15th consecutive year, placed App State among the top 15% of colleges, universities and trade schools in the country that are doing the most to embrace military students and to dedicate resources to ensure their success in the classroom and after graduation. For four years, VIQTORY has also honored App State with a top 10 Military Spouse Friendly School designation.
- For the seventh consecutive year, Military Times named App State to its “Best for Vets: Colleges” rankings list — in recognition of our services and programs specific to military students.
- U.S. News & World Report ranks App State as the No. 2 Best College for Veterans among Southern universities — a distinction we’ve held for four consecutive years.
These recognitions reaffirm our steadfast dedication across the university to support veterans, service members and their families in their academic pursuits. We are grateful for the chance to serve those who have served our country and we are honored to continue supporting you.

Last week, the UNC System announced that App State will join six other University of North Carolina System institutions as a headquarters for NCInnovation’s applied research support. NCInnovation is a nonprofit organization that provides grant funding, mentorship and partnership development to university researchers to support innovative, real-world research at North Carolina’s public universities. NCInnovation hubs assist researchers on their respective campuses and at nearby universities in connecting NCInnovation grant recipients with industry and business services to advance their research toward commercialization.

You may recall that in May I shared that Dr. Rahman Tashakkori, the Lowe’s Distinguished Professor of Computer Science in App State’s Department of Computer Science, was awarded an NCInnovation grant in excess of $640,000 to support commercializing parts of the Beemon Hive Monitoring System. Through this grant, Dr. Tashakkori and his team will continue their development of hive monitoring tools with an aim to decrease honeybee die-off and increase hive production.

At Appalachian State University, we are committed to fostering applied research that advances and drives innovation in our communities and industries. Our collaboration with NCInnovation not only enhances opportunities for our faculty, staff and students but also supports the vital mission of translating university research into solutions that benefit the people and economies of our state and region.

Support from the UNC System has also helped us successfully launch new App State Online offerings this year through our partnership with Project Kitty Hawk (PKH). With the Bachelor of Science degree programs in health care management and business administration in supply chain management underway this fall, we have also been working with PKH to add three additional programs in accounting, criminal justice, and organizational leadership and learning. I am appreciative of the UNC System’s vision and guidance, the PKH team’s support and the efforts of our faculty and staff to make our PKH partnerships successful for our students.

This week, our Career Development Center partnered with the N.C. Department of Commerce’s Career Center, NC Works, to offer a career fair for our App State Hickory students and other job seekers from the surrounding community. The event gave students the opportunity to practice their career readiness skills, research the industries in which they're interested in working, and network. I appreciate the 29 employers who participated in this event — it was a great way for us to partner with the community in the Hickory area.

I’m looking forward to joining the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce State of the Community event next week, as well as our rescheduled Founders Day bell ringing and celebration events, during which we will induct the newest members of the Bell Ringers Society. These are great opportunities to work together with our Boone community and honor our 125-year history.

The end of the semester and December Commencement are nearly upon us! Please continue to rely on your resources and support systems at the university as we look to a busy season ahead.

Heather Norris
Interim Chancellor
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Message from Interim Chancellor Heather Norris
Friday, November 1, 2024
This fall, we witnessed firsthand the impacts of many first responders and military service members who answered the call in the wake of Hurricane Helene. Tomorrow, at App State’s home football game versus Old Dominion, we will celebrate them, as well as our nation’s veterans, at our annual Heroes Day game.

The brave men and women who volunteer for active duty, reserve and the National Guard service do so knowing the sacrifices required of them and their families. They have willingly stood in harm's way for our nation’s freedoms, and thousands of service members from North Carolina and many other states responded to the needs of our area this fall.

The courage and commitment of first responders — firefighters, medics, rescue squads and law enforcement officers — was evident most recently to all of us in Western North Carolina as they rushed to our aid amid dangerous conditions, even as the status of their own homes and families was unknown. We are so grateful for their dedication and selfless service.

These rescue efforts included App State’s own Reserve Officers’ Training Corps members, many of whom were activated for the state response, and many of whom also worked on cleanup efforts on our Boone campus. They will be recognized on the field tomorrow for the many services they provide to the university and to our nation.

We are also proud to recognize two alumni at tomorrow's game: Staff Sergeant Tim McHugh and Retired Colonel Edna W. Cummings.
- Staff Sgt. McHugh, a former Airborne Infantry Squad Leader, is a 2011 graduate who was deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan and served as a paratrooper and noncommissioned officer in the U.S. Army’s 82nd Airborne Division, where he led an airborne infantry squad in combat, earning a Purple Heart and Army Commendation Medal for Valor. An attorney in Richmond, Virginia, he now actively supports veterans through his pro bono legal practice, which is focused on systemic educational benefits issues.
- Col. Cummings, who was inducted into the U.S. Army Women's Foundation Hall of Fame in 2020, is the first African American female graduate of App State’s ROTC program, graduating in 1978. Tonight, she will be recognized by our ROTC program as a distinguished alumna for her significant accomplishments and contributions and service to the university and the nation.
Just before Helene disrupted operations on our campus, six national publications, including U.S. News & World Report, The Princeton Review and Forbes magazine, published rankings that placed Appalachian State University among the best schools in the Southeast — and the nation — for the 2024–25 academic year. We earned placement on these lists for excellence in several areas, including academics, innovation, value, benefits for student veterans and programs to enhance the first-year experience.

These latest accolades reflect the commitment and dedicated efforts of our faculty and staff in fostering student success through comprehensive support, including helping students graduate on time. Our reputation for educational excellence, which has endured for 125 years, is a testament to the transformative power of an App State education — to improve the lives and communities of our state, nation, and world. You can read more about our recent accolades, including being named among the top three Southern regional universities for our excellent and innovative educational experience, in this news story.

Additionally, last week, App State Athletics was recognized with the Student-Athlete Graduation Success Rate Award by the Sun Belt Conference at its Fall Meeting. App State was one of four schools to exceed a 90% graduation success rate during the 2023–24 academic year.

Congratulations are also in order for the App State men’s and women’s cross country teams, both of which won Sun Belt championships earlier today! The men’s team clinched the title for the second consecutive year and the fourth time since joining the Sun Belt. The women are Sun Belt champions for the first time since 2018 and the third time since joining the conference. Congrats to all of the champion student-athletes, Director of Track & Field/Cross Country Damion McLean, men’s distance coach Brad Herbster and women’s distance coach Annie Richards.

We recognize all of our student-athletes, their coaches, Director of Athletics Doug Gillin and the App State Athletics staff for their hard work and dedication to student success.

I’d also like to encourage our App State Community to come out next Friday, Nov. 8, for a free concert by Black Violin at the Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts. This event offers a meaningful opportunity to celebrate our unity and the strength of our Western North Carolina communities.

Our resilience as a university community — coming together from near and far — continues to inspire me. Thank you.

Heather Norris
Interim Chancellor
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October 2024

Message from Interim Chancellor Heather Norris
Friday, October 25, 2024
Today, Appalachian State University lifted remaining nonemergency limited condition operations and returned to normal operations. Our return to classes on Oct. 16 has been instrumental in restoring a sense of routine for students, faculty and staff. The beautiful weather the High Country has experienced recently is aiding in recovery efforts for many of our neighbors, and yet, we all understand that there is still more to be done, and for many, the months ahead — especially as the days grow colder — will hold significant, continued challenges.

Prior to the storm, tomorrow’s Mountaineers vs. Georgia State football game would have been our Homecoming game. We are looking forward to celebrating Homecoming next month, and tomorrow we will focus on Home Giving.
- We are encouraging those visiting the area for the football game to support local businesses, and two local nonprofit organizations in particular that are working to support the continued recovery of the High Country.
- At tomorrow’s Home Giving game, there will be opportunities to donate to:
This afternoon, App State’s leadership, including members of our Board of Trustees, were joined by UNC System President Peter Hans, members of the UNC Board of Governors and community leaders to recognize and celebrate the countless workers who have been at the forefront of the Helene recovery efforts. Many of you continued to serve our campus and community through the height of the storm and recovery efforts, then returned to regular duties, while also facing your own personal hardships and journeys to recovery.
- You restored power to the university and our town, pushed water and mud out of buildings as it was rushing back in, provided critical information as events unfolded, kept our infrastructure intact, provided nearly 80,000 meals to anyone who needed them, kept our students safe and secure in their residence halls, provided space and support for an emergency Red Cross shelter, provided vital internet and phone connections, opened laundry and shower facilities to campus and community members and raised and distributed more than $3.8 million, which provided critical bridge funding to more than 5,000 students, faculty and staff.
- You also developed ways to help our students and faculty return to classrooms as quickly as possible, adjusting coursework and developing broad guidance as well as individualized plans so they could regain some sense of normalcy — and still meet the learning outcomes for their courses, keeping our students on track for graduation.
- Our partners at the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce, the Town of Boone and Watauga County have been true partners, working with us to make sure we responded together to the needs of our community. The incredible search and rescue acts you performed saved countless lives in our community, and the thousands and thousands of donated items you took in and distributed ensured people could take care of their families in times of incredible need.
Many of you did this under extreme circumstances, not seeing your families for days. Some didn’t have homes to return to.

While the university was deep in response mode, our Trustees, members of our Board of Governors and President Hans were just a few of the many who checked in with us constantly, bringing incredible support and substantial resources. President Hans and the UNC System Office brought the power of the entire UNC System to help us in our time of need:
- supporting our request to move our operational status to Condition 3, allowing us the flexibility to bring in employees and students as needed to provide critical services to our university and community;
- ensuring no employees — including hourly and student employees — would have to worry about lost wages while they were managing the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Helene;
- ensuring our students who were not in the Boone area would have access to student health and counseling services, libraries and recreation centers at our sister institutions across the state; and
- providing a lifeline to the vast resources powered by the UNC System as we needed it.
So many of our students volunteered in the community during the immediate days after the storm and have been contributing their time in countless ways since. Last Saturday, in one day, our students worked with 15 local agencies, contributing more than 500 service hours toward local recovery efforts. I’ve been inspired by our students, who began helping one another, our university and our greater community immediately during the storm and have continued to do so.

At tonight’s App State vs. Coastal Carolina volleyball game, we will premiere a thank-you video in the Holmes Center, which we’ll share in many ways in the coming days and weeks, celebrating the efforts of those who responded to the needs of our university and community. You can watch a sneak preview here.

We are Mountaineers. Together, we navigate the peaks and valleys, supporting one another all along the way. And for that, I thank you most of all.

Heather Norris
Interim Chancellor
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Message from Interim Chancellor Heather Norris
Friday, October 18, 2024
When we began this week, we took a big step forward on our long and varied road to recovery. I commend our many students, who were unsure of what it would be like to return to the classroom and to campus, and our faculty and staff, who were uncertain of what needs would arise that they would be called on to meet and who, together, bravely took that important step forward.

At the end of the week, we have a few more certainties. We know our classes are up and running with the adjustments needed for student success. We know our students, faculty and staff are finding and reestablishing their vital connections with one another. And we know we are working to take care of each and every need as it arises. We also know our K–12 public schools will resume next week. We know we will return to normal operations next Friday and will begin holding larger events again that support the well-being and livelihoods of our community. We know our community, while still suffering, has made incredible strides toward recovery.

I’ve shared a lot of operational and tactical information with you this week, but the stories of our faculty, staff and students really show who we are as a community. When Hurricane Helene hit, we knew we needed to amass the many resources we offer for our students and employees and put them in one location. With many unable to get to work, we identified the critical resources people needed and reached out to see who was available to help set up and staff a central resource hub. Since Oct. 1, staff, faculty and students have been on site to help friends, peers and colleagues.

For some, this is not the work they do every day, but they knew there was a need, so they stepped up. One staff member shared a few stories from this perspective:
- One person had lost their car, their food, and had some mild flooding in their apartment and had hand tabulated everything as close to the penny as they could. They were, in typical “mountain strong” fashion, only requesting what they absolutely needed and had tiered everything out in order of importance in case others needed more.
- Another had calculated their missed wages to the penny based off of their prior two weeks of work, since the business they work at was still closed. I was also able to connect with them about our student employment opportunities so they can get back to work this week.
- Yet another had lost their housing and had not checked the financial assistance box. They just wanted to see what off-campus housing was available and made the comment that other people “need the money more than I do.”
- Another was just trying to process everything. They didn't even know where to start or what to ask for, but were so grateful to be back on campus and said they felt so taken care of.
To those who have helped our community members in crisis in the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Helene, and those who have donated to our relief fund to make that bridge possible, I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

I also want to take this opportunity to thank my leadership team, who, like many of our staff from the very beginning of the storm, set aside their personal lives and worked together from the Emergency Operations Center to ensure timely, coordinated emergency services and communications. Some had holes in their roofs and ceilings from downed trees, as well as mudslides and floodwaters that broke through their basements; some had no communication lines back to their families; and some traveled hours to get just a few miles to campus. Thank you to these selfless, servant leaders for their commitment to our community.

Now that we have moved from immediate crisis and response to recovery mode with normal operations forthcoming, we are returning the many resources we offer for our students and employees to their original locations.
- We encourage students who need help to remember the Dean of Students Office is always a good place to begin if you need support and resources. Year-round, the Dean of Students team serves as a hub for resources and support for our students.
- For faculty and staff, we encourage reaching out to Academic Affairs and/or Human Resources.
We know our community still has a long road to recovery and there are many who will need longer term support as they work to recover from tremendous loss. Our case managers will continue to connect members of our university community to all the services available. We must not, and will not, forget what was lost, but also, that we can be uplifted by what was gained.

I can’t begin to count how many times I’ve heard members of our university and greater community, even those who have faced significant losses, describe themselves as fortunate, blessed, lucky, better off than most. I believe this exemplifies who we are as a community — compassionate, resilient and mountain strong.

I’m proud to stand with you.

Heather Norris
Interim Chancellor
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September 2024

August 2024

July 2024

Message from Interim Chancellor Heather Norris
Friday, July 26, 2024
On Wednesday, the UNC Board of Governors held its July meeting.

A few items of note from that meeting:
- The UNC System will continue to operate on the biennial budget.
  The biennial budget includes a 3% across-the-board legislative salary increase for most university employees, effective July 1. As I shared with faculty this spring, we have identified internal funds for merit-based, faculty raises, should we be granted authority to award them during the annual raise process.
- The Governors reviewed the results of the UNC System’s latest Employee Engagement Survey, administered in March and April of 2024. The Employee Engagement Survey is administered every two years and provides a point-in-time snapshot of several metrics related to job satisfaction at each UNC System institution. In my current role, I’ve been able to speak with many faculty and staff about your workplace experiences. I want you to know that I care about the members of our university community. As your leader, colleague and fellow member of this community, I embrace the opportunity to listen and support you. I will continue to work with campus partners to understand and improve workplace satisfaction.
- As nationwide trends begin to impact our state, two of our sister institutions received approval to employ program discontinuations and curtailment to address enrollment declines and budget shortfalls.
  At App State, we are maintaining strong enrollment and positive return on investment for every North Carolina student. We continue our proactive efforts to prepare for changes in enrollment demand in the future, including our partnership with Project Kitty Hawk and the introduction and expansion of programs in response to workforce demand in our state. Additionally, persistent and thorough budget review is a practice I employed as dean and provost to ensure strategic allocations and operational efficiencies, and I'm continuing this practice in my interim chancellor role. I appreciate the dedication of the many faculty and staff who are also dedicated to ensuring our long-term success.
Some highlights of the week:
- This week, App State hosted the North Carolina School of Banking at our Boone campus for its 88th annual session. The North Carolina Bankers Association has chosen our university as its new headquarters for the oldest state association banking school in the nation, in an effort to enhance collaboration between the banking industry and higher education in the state of North Carolina. More than 200 financial professionals — the school’s largest enrollment in 15 years — took part in the 2024 session. App State’s own Dr. Harry Davis, a celebrated faculty member in the Walker College of Business’ Department of Finance, Banking and Insurance, is also dean of the School of Banking. I thank him for his commitment to student success and his leadership in the field.
- Also this week, the Beaver College of Health Sciences’ Communication Disorders Clinics welcomed 10 young people, aged 12 to 16, to its Camp Jean Rankin, North Carolina’s only residential, intensive summer camp for children and teens who stutter. Among the week’s activities, campers had an opportunity to simulate coaching App State football players. This camp is an important resource for the participants and their families, as it offers tools and resources that can prevent negative impacts on the campers’ personal and academic performance and achievements, and it's just one of several important services provided by the Beaver College of Health Sciences in the Boone and Hickory areas.
- Yesterday, my leadership team and I joined the academic department chairs as they celebrated the final day of their two-week summer institute. I enjoyed hearing about their experiences at the end of this intensive leadership development opportunity and am especially gratified to see the connections they made with one another, which will be invaluable to them as they work to support the students, faculty and staff in their departments. The role of chair for an academic department is uniquely challenging, and we are incredibly fortunate to have this group of dedicated and accomplished professionals in these critical roles for our institution. Thank you to Acting Provost Neva Specht and Acting Senior Vice Provost of Faculty Policies, Development and Training Jamie Parson for leading this year’s institute.
- Tomorrow, An Appalachian Summer Festival will partner with App State Athletics to present an outdoor concert at Kidd Brewer Stadium featuring Brad Paisley. This final event of the festival’s 40th season promises to be a fun evening with great entertainment, and I can’t wait to see all the App State cowboy hats in the audience! Thank you to the staff and students, as well as the dozens of volunteers, who ensure that more than 28,000 patrons enjoy an exemplary arts experience through the festival each year. Thank you, also, to all those who support this program each and every year in its mission to elevate the arts in the High Country. I am already looking forward to next summer’s festival.
There are no lazy days of summer at Appalachian State University! As we close out July, we’re also looking forward to the start of the 2024 fall semester, which is right around the corner!

Heather Norris
Interim Chancellor
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Message from Interim Chancellor Heather Norris
Friday, July 19, 2024
Last week, we celebrated the many accomplishments of those who have helped shape the university into the institution it is today. This annual celebration is a universitywide effort, with participants from every division of App State. Thank you to the many alumni, staff, faculty and students who participated and helped make the event a perfect Appalachian State University reunion.

Some exciting news about our academic endeavors:
- On Wednesday, the University of North Carolina System announced the expansion of nursing education programs across the state. The System recognizes this critical shortage in our state and has a goal to increase its output of nursing degrees by 50% over the next 10 years.
  App State will receive nearly $2.2 million in the next two years — funded by the North Carolina General Assembly as part of last year’s state budget — to help grow the Beaver College of Health Sciences’ nursing programs. Our Bachelor of Science in Nursing program, along with our online RN to BSN program and Master of Science in Nursing program, is helping address the deficit of practicing nurses, nursing educators, and additional career growth opportunities for working registered nurses.
  
  We embrace the challenge to increase access to quality health care in the rural areas of our state, and we appreciate the support from the North Carolina legislature and the UNC System, as well as the trust placed in us by the taxpayers of the state. Our outstanding students and faculty are already improving the health of communities in our region, and we welcome this opportunity to continue our contributions to North Carolina’s workforce development and economic well-being.
- Our solar vehicle team, Team Sunergy, is in Bowling Green, Kentucky, preparing for the 2024 Electrek American Solar Challenge — where they are once again competing against some of the nation’s best engineering programs. Our team earned another podium finish — taking second place and far exceeding the performances of MIT and Georgia Tech, clocking more than 636 miles in the three-day, qualifying track competition. Tomorrow, they will join some of the world’s best solar vehicle teams in a 1,550-mile, cross-country rally race from Nashville, Tennessee, to Casper, Wyoming.
- Many of you know the team’s story about how a military veteran turned his class project into a student-led, interdisciplinary, national championship team. Since 2016, our team has secured podium finishes in every competition in which they have participated, many of which last up to two weeks. We’ll be following our 2024 team and cheering them on with great pride.
As we prepare for the fall 2024 semester, I want to be sure you are aware of some key initiatives ongoing and underway:
- For several years, the university has partnered with emergency response teams in the High Country to ensure we are trained and prepared for large events planned in the area, as well as for unexpected emergencies. This Campus Public Safety Partners group includes representatives from App State’s police, emergency management/medics, public health AmeriCorps and communications teams, as well as town and county law enforcement and emergency management representatives. Earlier this month, I attended a Campus Public Safety Partners meeting and was impressed by the level of cross-agency and cross-functional planning, as well as the sharp and collaborative focus on the safety of our university and broader community. I am so grateful to these dedicated professionals, and look forward to opportunities to build on and strengthen the established partnerships between the university and our emergency response partners in the High Country. On behalf of the entire university community, I extend my sincere gratitude to our campus and community public safety professionals for your dedication to the security of our community.
- This week began an intensive planning and professional development session for the department chairs in Academic Affairs. This 10-day summer institute, now in its fifth year, provides opportunities for department chairs to discuss topics that include student success, the state budgeting process, critical and crisis communications, building departmental capacity, goal setting and action plans, and leadership development, among many more strategic and tactical topics. I had the privilege of joining this group, along with members of the Chancellor’s Council, for a panel discussion and presentation on Monday. I really enjoyed this significant engagement with our academic department chairs and came away with a renewed appreciation for their leadership and dedication to the success of our faculty, staff, students and the institution.
- As we work toward full compliance with the UNC System’s new Equality Within the University of North Carolina policy, we will share updates on a new website, which provides background information and resources, including the guidance issued by the UNC System.
- We are also putting significant resources and attention into a universitywide Civic Literacy Initiative, with a goal of supporting our students, faculty and staff — in line with our foundational commitment to non-partisanship and institutional neutrality. The initiative includes a strong focus on helping students develop skills to effectively build constructive dialogue around difficult topics and discuss challenging societal issues. These key skills and abilities will serve our students well in their academic and professional careers, and I’d like to thank the divisions of Academic Affairs and Student Affairs for their collaboration in launching this important initiative. I look forward to sharing more information about this in the coming weeks.
For those of you who have attended any of the 2024 An Appalachian Summer Festival events, I’m sure you’ll agree it’s been a terrific 40th season so far. I look forward to hosting a reception for the festival’s patrons on Sunday and spending more time with them.

I wish a wonderful weekend to all.

Heather Norris
Interim Chancellor
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Message from Interim Chancellor Heather Norris
Friday, July 12, 2024
We are enjoying a summer full of students, families and visitors taking part in events and programming across the university — orientation, educational and athletic camps, and An Appalachian Summer Festival, just to name a few!

This weekend, we look forward to one of our biggest events of the summer: welcoming our alumni home for what promises to be a fun and memorable Alumni Weekend. This year’s celebration is made even more special because it is part of the university’s 125th anniversary year. Beginning today, we will hold several events to honor and celebrate our alumni, who helped shape what Appalachian State University is today, and who have helped lead the way for our current and future Mountaineers.
- This afternoon, more than 200 attendees will join us as we honor the donors who have invested in our students through their support of scholarships, and celebrate our student scholars, who are achieving their academic dreams with the help of their scholarships. Nearly 70% of our students receive some form of financial assistance, and each year, the university awards an average of $25 million to students based on need, academic merit and athletic achievement.
  
  Our students inspire so many people to dream big for a future that we know will be bright — because our students' capabilities, resilience and dedication to excellence are underpinned by an incredible education from Appalachian State University.
  
  As we celebrate the accomplishments of our scholarship recipients, we thank all the remarkable people who see the promise we see in our students every day — an ambitious work ethic, resilience and a desire to make their communities stronger, healthier and more fulfilling places to live and work.
- Tomorrow afternoon, we will celebrate the 50th graduation anniversary of the Class of 1974 at the Black and Gold Reunion, inducting each class member in attendance into the university’s Black and Gold Society and presenting them with a commemorative gold medallion in honor of their contributions to the university while they were students and as alumni. The roots of Mountaineers run deep and strong, and the Class of 1974 joins nearly 13,000 living alumni who have marked 50 years or more since graduation. To the Class of 1974: You have helped shape who we are and who we will become. Thank you for your commitment to your alma mater and for continuing to make all of us proud!
- Tomorrow evening, we will hold the signature event of the weekend, the Alumni Awards Gala. At this event, we celebrate exceptional Mountaineer alumni who have made a lasting impact on both society and the university through their outstanding professional, philanthropic or volunteer accomplishments. This year’s recipients are Coach Steve Wilks ’92, to be honored with the university’s Outstanding Service Award, and North Carolina Sen. Ralph Hise ’00 and App State Trustee Jeff Chesson ’77, both of whom will be honored with App State’s Distinguished Alumni Award.
  These three alumni have demonstrated exemplary commitment to the success of Appalachian State University students — past, current and future. Their dedication and generous contributions of time and resources have expanded opportunities for countless individuals, who, in turn, are continuing their legacy.
  
  During the gala, we will also recognize and confer awards to 10 alumni representing each college, as well as University Libraries:
  
  Stephen Fleming '90, who is being honored by the Beaver College of Health Sciences;
  
  Richard Thomas Guy '07, who is being honored by the College of Arts and Sciences;
  
  John Michael Rhem '13, who is being honored by the College of Fine and Applied Arts;
  
  James Gwyn Daugherty '93 and '94, who is being honored by the Hayes School of Music;
  
  Anna Ramsey Rubin '05 and Steven Rubin '04, who are being honored by the Honors College;
  
  Roger Hyatt '71 and '74, who is being honored by the Reich College of Education;
  
  MaryCraven Poteat '77, who is being honored by the University Libraries;
  
  Anthony Craig Stephenson '82, who is being honored by the Walker College of Business; and
  
  Dr. Leslie Alexander '11 and '18, who is being honored by the Williams School of Graduate Studies.
  
  It is my honor to be part of helping recognize the accomplishments of this year’s honorees. Congratulations to all!
An important update:
- In a message to campus earlier this week, I shared more information from the UNC System regarding the implementation of the new policy 300.8.5, Equality Within the University of North Carolina. To help keep our university informed of the work we are doing, we’ve also created a website, which provides background information and resources, including the guidance issued by the UNC System. As the working group has updates to share, this site will continue to be updated.
I wish everyone a wonderful weekend, especially to the more than 150,000 App State alumni across the state, nation and world.

Heather Norris
Interim Chancellor
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June 2024

May 2024

April 2024

Message from Interim Chancellor Heather Norris
Friday, April 26, 2024
Dear Members of the App State Community,

Thank you for being supportive and patient during this time of transition for the university. As I get used to the roles and responsibilities of being interim chancellor, I will continue sending weekly updates through the remainder of this semester.

It’s been a whirlwind of a week, and I’ve really enjoyed getting out and engaging with so many people. It’s been fun to attend events with so many faculty, staff and students. Today’s Faculty, Staff and Student Appreciation celebration on Sanford Mall is underway, and I hope to see many of you there!

In the last week, I have been able to:
- Hear members of the Chancellor’s Appalachian Leadership Development program present their Big Ideas — a culmination of their yearlong professional development program.
- Present to the Hickory Campus Advisory Council on the progress we’ve made with academic programs and building construction at the Hickory campus over the last year.
- Attend a dinner with App State’s Student Government Association, during which I was able to meet our new student body president, Kathryn Long, a senior communication sciences and disorders major from Seaboard, and vice president Amarah Din, a senior political science major from Cary. I look forward to working with them in their new roles.
- Celebrate the incredible winners of App State’s most distinguished awards at the annual Awards of Distinction ceremony, during which my colleagues and I had the privilege of recognizing the exceptional achievements, service and leadership of App State faculty, staff and students.
- Welcome leading employers from across the region to an Employer Summit, designed to strengthen important relationships and ensure we are working together with industry partners to prepare our students for their next steps after graduation.
- Later today, I look forward to attending a reception honoring scholarship recipients and donors in the Beaver College of Health Sciences and a Faculty Club reception, as well as the College of Fine and Applied Arts Apparel Design Management showcase tomorrow.
To update you on a few ongoing matters:
- The Free Expression Working Group has been meeting to discuss options related to the tunnels renovation project, and I expect a final report from them soon. I was so impressed with the thoughtful ideas and feedback we received from students who have engaged with this group, and I appreciate their time and dedication to finding a solution. I’ll share more information about this next week.
- Regular safety inspections continue in Wey Hall, and in the last two weeks, Vice Provost of Academic Program Development and Strategic Initiatives Mike McKenzie and Associate Vice Chancellor of Facilities Management Nick Katers have met with Art Department faculty to share information about the locations for classes for the remainder of the construction period. To help share the information as broadly as possible, they recorded a Campus Construction Update Podcast episode, which has been shared with Art Department students and which is available for anyone who is interested in learning more about the project.
- I attended the April Board of Governors meeting, and, like my colleagues at App State and throughout the UNC System, I’m engaged in numerous discussions about the proposed repeal and supersede to Section 300.8.5 of the UNC Policy Manual, on which the Board will vote during its May meeting. While there are a lot of unknowns, and we cannot answer questions about specific implementation details at this time, I can assure you our university’s commitment to supporting all of our students is unwavering, and we remain dedicated to providing a compassionate, high-quality college experience that is focused on student success.
Mountaineer students are one week away from beginning final exams. For graduating seniors walking in our Spring Commencement on May 10 and 11, they have just two more weeks of school left.

Next week, Board of Trustees Chair Mark Ricks and I will host a pizza party to help celebrate the end of the semester and offer a study/work break before the final crunch sets in. Look for an invitation to come soon!

Heather Norris
Interim Chancellor
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Message from Interim Chancellor Heather Hulburt Norris
Monday, April 22, 2024

Dear Students, Faculty, Staff, Alumni and Friends,

I’d like to take a moment to introduce myself to those of you who don’t yet know me.

For more than 20 years, I’ve dedicated my career to Appalachian State University. I came here because I was impressed by Appalachian’s stated mission of educational access, and when I visited, I saw it to be true. Over my time here, the faculty and staff dedication to student success, which has characterized the institution for 125 years, continues to be strong to this day.

I joined the faculty of the Walker College of Business in 2003, and my home department remains the Department of Finance, Banking and Insurance. I served the college as assistant, associate and senior associate dean, as well as acting and interim dean and then dean, before becoming App State’s provost. I served as interim provost during some of the most challenging times in university history, as we worked to provide the best possible educational experience for our students, and keep faculty and staff employed during the COVID-19 pandemic, and in 2021, I was appointed to the role of provost and executive vice chancellor.

I am dedicated to the success of our students, faculty and staff. Together, we make our university community stronger through our shared work, our love for our university and our desire for one another to succeed personally and professionally. Our university has a history of resiliency in meeting and overcoming challenges. I call on you to join me in supporting a university culture that endeavors to do this with respect and civility.

I’m honored to serve the university in this interim role, and extend my thanks to UNC System President Peter Hans for the opportunity to do so. Appalachian State University has been my home for more than 20 years. During my time here, it was my privilege to work with two great Chancellors: Chancellor Everts, who provided me the opportunity to serve as Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor, and Chancellor Peacock, who first gave me the opportunity to serve the university when he was Dean of the Walker College of Business and hired me to join the faculty. I value their many accomplishments and appreciate the opportunities each gave me to serve our university.

I look forward to working collaboratively with you, our governing boards, UNC System colleagues, and our local communities to ensure the continued success of this great institution and our region.

Sincerely,

Heather Hulburt Norris
Interim Chancellor

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Messages

App State Update: A message from Interim Chancellor Heather Norris
Friday, October 18, 2024

When we began this week, we took a big step forward on our long and varied road to recovery. I commend our many students, who were unsure of what it would be like to return to the classroom and to campus, and our faculty and staff, who were uncertain of what needs would arise that they would be called on to meet and who, together, bravely took that important step forward.

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Message from Interim Chancellor Heather Norris
Thursday, October 17, 2024

Yesterday, we welcomed our university community back to a campus that is open and ready to serve, thanks to hundreds of staff, faculty and students who have worked and volunteered hundreds of hours since Hurricane Helene hit our area.

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Message from Interim Chancellor Heather Norris
Wednesday, October 16, 2024

Interim Chancellor Heather Norris shares a message of support for students, faculty and staff as fall 2024 classes resume following Hurricane Helene.

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