May 2022

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  Update from Appalachian State University

  Friday, May 13, 2022

  This week, App State’s transition into summer has begun. While campus feels quieter with many of our faculty and students on a break from classes, there is much taking place.

  Staff are busily preparing for new student orientation sessions, which begin next week and will continue throughout the summer, and we will see the return of some students and faculty for Summer Sessions, which begin May 23.

  Earlier this week, staff enjoyed conversation and camaraderie at our May Staff Connect event. Similar to the Faculty Club, these events are held regularly throughout the year and bring together staff from across campus. In a relaxed, professional environment, members of our staff use these events to network, meet others, learn of professional opportunities, share expertise and exchange ideas. They are also a great way for new staff members to get to know others outside of their departments. Staff Connect invitations are emailed directly to all SHRA, EHRA and non-student, temporary staff members, and I encourage you to come to one in the future, especially if you have not yet attended.

  We also held a reception this week to recognize the contributions of our University Planning and Priorities Council in building the strategic plan that will guide App State through the next five years. This council consists of nearly 60 individuals representing every department and division on campus, as well as leaders from Faculty Senate, Staff Senate, Student Government and Alumni Council. Since the Fall 2021 semester, this group has been actively seeking input from the areas they represent, as well as holding open listening sessions for the entire campus to provide input. They have incorporated all of this feedback into the development of the plan, and the process is nearly complete. The final version of the strategic plan will be presented to the Board of Trustees for approval at their June meeting. I extend my sincere appreciation to the members of UPPC for their work, to Provost Norris and Vice Chancellor Foreman for their guidance and leadership, to Dr. Lee Ball for chairing the committee, to Dr. Mike McKenzie and Heather Langdon for their strategic planning leadership and to Adryona Nelson for providing logistical coordination and support. Additionally, thank you to everyone who has participated in the development of this plan — it has been a comprehensive, transparent and collective effort that has allowed everyone who wants a voice in the process to have one.

  I would also like to highlight the Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) Steering Committee and extend my appreciation to Dr. Carolyn Edy for serving as App State’s Faculty Director for the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. As Provost Norris announced earlier this week, App State is preparing to initiate a new, five-year Quality Enhancement Plan to take effect by Fall 2024, as part of our accreditation process, and has selected the topic “Climate Literacy and Response-Ability: Cultivating Resilient and Just Communities” as the first step. On behalf of the entire campus, thank you to everyone who submitted proposals, and to those who worked to review them, provide input and ultimately make a recommendation to my leadership team and me. We appreciate your valuable contributions to our university’s accreditation process. I look forward to campus engagement in the process continuing in the Fall 2022 semester.

  We also continue making exciting progress toward opening our App State Hickory Campus for students in Fall 2023. Yesterday, I joined a meeting with Hickory City Council members, providing updates on App State’s academic successes and planning for the Hickory Campus. I have established a Hickory Campus Advisory Council of campus and community leaders to help evaluate the needs of the community and greater area. Their experience and expertise will assist in making App State Hickory a true collaboration supporting the Greater Hickory metro area.

  Finally, a reminder that App State’s Student Health Service is open and continues to provide COVID-19 vaccines and boosters upon appointment for faculty and staff as well as students. They also offer free COVID testing for students and home testing kits for purchase. Please remember, if you are feeling unwell, stay home, monitor your symptoms and get tested. More information is available on our university’s COVID website.

  Summer at App State does not mean slowing down! As we prepare for the Fall semester, we are also setting the course for the future of our university for generations to come. Thank you for your participation as we advance our founding mission of increasing access to education.

  
  Sheri Everts, Chancellor
  
  

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• 

  Update from Appalachian State University

  Friday, May 6, 2022

  This week, we celebrate the successes of the Class of 2022 as they mark the most defining moment in their academic careers. Presiding over commencement exercises is my favorite duty as Chancellor. That honor is more meaningful this year as we reflect on how important it is to gather for this significant occasion. I am always thrilled to welcome our new graduates to cross the Commencement stage, as their faculty and loved ones watch with pride.

  Graduates, more than 3,800 of you have arrived at this momentous occasion under historically challenging circumstances. You earned your degrees during a time defined by a global pandemic. Through the uncertainties and across distance, you showed incredible grace and unwavering resilience.

  You have been innovators and persevered in your studies. As graduates, you are positioned to adapt, lead and serve in a fundamentally changed world. You will make real and powerful differences in your communities and for our world.

  Thank you, graduates, for your contributions to our great academic community. You are our greatest legacy and will forever be a part of the App State Community. Today and tomorrow, as we congratulate you for your achievements, we also celebrate the contributions you have made and the possibilities of a future you will continue to make even brighter.

  To the families and friends of our graduates who have supported them, to our faculty who have led, mentored and advised them, and to our staff who have worked alongside them — thank you for your investment in our graduates. You have earned this moment as well, and we also honor you.

  Last week, Jamie Parson, App State’s Interim Chief Diversity Officer and Associate Professor in the Department of Finance, Banking, and Insurance, was honored at the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce’s sixth annual 4 Under 40 Awards Banquet for her leadership. Jamie was specifically recognized by the Chamber for her professional success in sustaining and advancing diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives on campus and in the local community. I appreciate Jamie’s steady leadership over the past year, and thank the Chamber for recognizing her at this signature event.

  As a reminder, beginning Monday, May 9, the university’s COVID dashboard will change to reflect overall metrics and end-of-year statistics, and weekly campus data updates will cease for the summer. Additionally, I will share my updates a bit less frequently during the summer months, but I will continue to ensure you are kept up to date on important matters affecting our campus community.

  The COVID vaccine remains our most powerful tool to minimize the impact of COVID on our campus and greater community. Indeed, our campus vaccination rate has allowed us to emerge from the pandemic, return to in-person classes and events, and hold commencement ceremonies in person — without seating limits — today and tomorrow.

  Please stay up to date on your vaccines over the summer months. We will continue offering vaccines and boosters to members of the university and broader community, and $50 Amazon gift cards to students, faculty and staff who get the vaccine or booster on campus.

  As our campus transitions to the summer season, we celebrate our many achievements that are made even more significant by the challenges we have overcome together.

  
  Sheri Everts, Chancellor

  Learn more

April 2022

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  Update from Appalachian State University

  Friday, April 29, 2022

  This week, as we wrapped up the final classes and began the exam period, the springtime weather contributed to the end-of-year excitement and energy on campus. This academic year began with much uncertainty, and as it concludes, we are beginning to feel a sense of normalcy returning to our campus and our daily lives. This week:

  • I shared an end-of-year report with Faculty Senate during their final meeting of the academic year. You can read my comments here.

  • I hosted the Appalachian Student Ambassadors for a reception, during which they had an opportunity to get to know the members of my Chancellor’s Cabinet and ask them questions about their jobs and what makes their roles challenging and rewarding.

  • App State’s Math and Science Education Center hosted its popular STEAM Expo in person again. This is the largest, single outreach event at App State, reaching more than 1,500 middle and high school students with science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics activities and demonstrations. It was wonderful to host these students on our campus again after two years.

  • I visited the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Summit, hosted by the Office of Diversity. Departments and units from across campus came together to share the DEI efforts they have in progress as well as their plans for building on and continuing this important work into the future. The event was well attended by students, faculty and staff, and it was wonderful to have so many people gathered together to discuss their shared goals as well as their specific plans for cultivating a climate that welcomes diversity of thought, belief and community on our campus.

  • I joined the members of Team Sunergy, who brought home the 2021 American Solar Challenge trophy, for a celebration and presentation of their championship rings. Team Sunergy is hard at work preparing for the 2022 Formula Sun Grand Prix and American Solar Challenge. These events take place in July at the Heartland Motorsports Park in Topeka, Kansas, and include a 1,975-mile road rally race along the Oregon Trail.

  Today is the 835th day the university has been tracking, planning for and responding to COVID. While we will reduce the frequency of university operations updates and Chancellor updates throughout the summer months, we will remain vigilant, and we will continue to emphasize the importance of a fully vaccinated university community.

  • The last walk-in testing clinic for the semester will be held next Thursday, May 5. Our local public health agency continues to offer free testing each weekday and Student Health Service will also offer free testing for students during the summer sessions.
    
    
  • Beginning Monday, May 9, our COVID dashboard will change to provide significant, overall metrics and key end-of-year statistics.
    
    
  • Throughout the summer, we will continue offering vaccines and boosters for the university and broader community, as well as $50 Amazon gift cards for students and employees who get vaccinated or boosted on campus.

  After two years of modified, rescheduled, online and socially distanced graduation events, Spring Commencement will take place next week with no guest limits or other restrictions. Additionally, I’m pleased that the official App State regalia is now made of fabric produced from 100% post-consumer recycled plastic bottles, and our ceremonies next week will divert nearly 100,000 plastic bottles from the landfill. The commencement planning team is ensuring that official regalia is available for every graduate, regardless of their ability to pay.

  I wish the very best to each of our students as they complete final exams, congratulations to all of the soon-to-be graduates who have overcome unprecedented challenges to reach this important milestone, and heartfelt thanks to the faculty and staff who have remained steadfast in providing a solid foundation for our students during extraordinarily uncertain times. You have accomplished so much under tremendous challenges and against many odds, and I know together we will finish this semester strong.

  
  Sheri Everts, Chancellor

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• 

  Update from Appalachian State University

  Friday, April 22, 2022

  In celebration of Earth Day, this morning the mini-Mountaineers at the App State Academy at Middle Fork planted seeds of App State’s official flower, the Black-eyed Susan. This afternoon, the Office of Sustainability is hosting a festival on Sanford Mall with games, crafts and educational displays open to all members of the campus and greater community.

  On this day and every day, App State’s Sustainability Ambassadors serve as peer educators to the campus community, hosting workshops, planning and participating in special events like today’s Earth Day celebration, and assisting with zero waste efforts for events across campus. These student leaders are making positive differences on our campus and beyond, and we appreciate their engagement.

  Visiting the Middle Fork Academy today is Emma Hatfield-Sidden, the newly appointed principal of the App State Academy at Elkin, App State’s newest laboratory school, which will open this fall. She is a two-time App State graduate, and she has already shared that her vision for the Elkin Academy will be to increase access for students while also serving as a resource to families. App State is the only UNC System institution that will operate two laboratory schools. We have seen strong and steady support from the General Assembly and Board of Governors for the App State Academy at Middle Fork lab school, and we appreciate the trust the board has placed in us to replicate this model in other North Carolina school districts. In Walkertown, the Middle Fork Academy is changing the trajectory of the lives of young children, and that reach will be extended when we open the App State Academy in Elkin this fall.

  App State has again received the Military Friendly® School designation from VIQTORY, recognizing our efforts to help military-affiliated students thrive on campus and in the surrounding community. Our continued recognition as a Military Friendly School is a significant point of pride that affirms our commitment to ensuring App State military-affiliated students are positioned for success, during their educational journeys and beyond. This academic year, 384 military-affiliated students — including 289 student veterans and 95 active-duty military members — are enrolled at App State. We are honored to serve our campus community of active-duty service members and their families, as well as student, faculty and staff veterans.

  We are keeping a watchful eye on the university’s COVID data. We remain vigilant and will continue to emphasize the importance of a fully vaccinated university community. Our campus and greater community also benefit from:

  • more than 23,000 meals we have provided to campus and community members in isolation and quarantine;
  • nearly 95,000 COVID tests we have administered at no cost to faculty, staff and students;
  • more than 7,300 vaccines we have administered to campus and community members; and
  • university vaccination rates of 90% for employees and 82% for students.

  While it’s too soon to know what the fall semester will hold for us, we will remain engaged with local public health and we will continue to benefit from the insights of UNC Health epidemiologists, who are advising the UNC System as a whole.

  As students, faculty and staff are preparing for the last day of classes, final exams and commencement, I thank each of you for your dedication to keeping our campus safe and congratulate you on an academic year full of successes.

  
  Sheri Everts, Chancellor

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• 

  Update from Appalachian State University

  Friday, April 8, 2022

  This year’s iBackAPP event was a tremendous success! We raised nearly $1.3 million for 185 programs, breaking all-time university records for this event. More than 2,700 Mountaineers — 81% from North Carolina and 19% from 34 other states and Washington, D.C. — contributed financially and shared their reasons for giving back. Thank you so much to everyone who wore their black and gold, shared their stories and helped us surpass our previous successes from the nine years we have been holding this event. Your investments of time, talent and resources are already making real and powerful differences at App State, and the impact will carry forward into communities across the state, nation and world.

  Yesterday, as we celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Walker College of Business, we saw evidence of how long-standing and far-reaching this kind of support can be — when current and former faculty, staff, students and university leadership gathered to celebrate five decades of life-changing teaching, mentorship, research and service. And, while we celebrated the Walker College of Business yesterday, each of us has dozens of stories to tell about each college and program, and the countless faculty, staff and students who have touched lives and changed them for the better. These single stories are powerful. Collectively, they demonstrate the incredible power that higher education has to change lives.

  On Tuesday, we held a Community Leaders Breakfast and legislators tour at our Hickory campus. Over the course of the day, more than 100 people, including representatives from the General Assembly and local government, as well as education, business and civic leaders, joined us to continue conversations about what the Hickory area needs from its state university. We will create a Hickory Task Force, which will include those who volunteered at our event on Tuesday, to help continue these discussions and to guide the direction, as we look toward welcoming the first class of students to the Hickory campus in fall 2023.

  App State has more than 139,000 living alumni, 73% of whom live and work in North Carolina, contributing to our state’s growing economy and quality of life. In the Boone area, our students, faculty and staff contribute to the community each day, enriching the educational offerings for K-12 students, contributing to the local economy, and giving back through service and service-learning experiences. We are developing opportunities to extend similar endeavors throughout the Hickory area as well. In Walkertown, our laboratory school is changing the trajectory of the lives of young children, and that reach will be extended when we open the App State Academy in Elkin this fall.

  App State was founded to increase access to education for those in the “lost provinces” of North Carolina. Today, we are the premier public undergraduate institution in the Southeast, a thriving university that remains true to our mission of serving the rural areas in North Carolina. Each generation of students, faculty and staff contributes to the extraordinary power of nearly 125 years of individual actions, and the results are profound.

  
  Sheri Everts, Chancellor

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• 

  Update from Appalachian State University

  Friday, April 1, 2022

  On Tuesday evening, App State’s baseball team was victorious over UNC-Asheville at the LP Frans Stadium, home of the Hickory Crawdads. More than 1,200 people, many of whom were students, faculty, staff, alumni and other App fans, enjoyed the game on a beautiful early spring evening. Yosef threw the first pitch, App State’s a cappella group Ear Candy sang the national anthem, and fans wore customized “Hickory 23” t-shirts, denoting when we will begin holding classes in Hickory. We were welcomed by City of Hickory Mayor Hank Guess, as well as other city leaders, who wore their black and gold and cheered on the Mountaineers. View a photo album on my Facebook page.

  On Wednesday, I met with members of the Faculty Senate Chancellor's Advisory Committee to discuss future plans for App State’s Hickory campus. We discussed the ongoing process to determine what programs and offerings will be located at the Hickory campus. Deans are engaging department chairs and faculty while my leadership team and I are engaging with community leaders to determine ways we can meet the needs of those who live and work in Hickory and the surrounding area.

  Also on Wednesday, I spoke with Charlie Ciaramita's marketing class. The students asked insightful, engaging questions — it was a terrific conversation and I enjoyed the opportunity to get back in the classroom.

  Next week, we will host a community leaders breakfast in Hickory. We had a terrific event with High Country community leaders last month, which we held in the Grandview Room at the North End Zone building. We were able to showcase the beautiful space, while engaging in conversations with representatives from North Carolina’s federal delegation, members of the N.C. General Assembly and local government officials, as well as leaders in education, business and community development. The Hickory event will be held in our new building, and we will follow it with a tour of the building for legislators. We have been warmly welcomed by the Hickory community, and look forward to discussing opportunities for the future of the App State campus in Hickory with the area’s community leaders.

  Monday’s COVID data dashboard update will show that student vaccination rates have increased to 82% and the CDC has downgraded Watauga County’s COVID-19 Community Level to “Low.”  Thank you for your continued dedication to keeping our community protected against the most severe impacts of COVID. I am proud of our high vaccination rates, particularly the student rate. Your diligence continues to make a difference.

  Vaccines continue to be the most important and effective tool we have to mitigate serious risk. Student Health Service offers vaccines and boosters, and I am providing $50 Amazon gift cards to students and employees who get their vaccine or booster on campus. I got my second booster on campus today, and I appreciate our professional Student Health team who make this an easy and efficient experience for faculty, staff, students and community members.

  Two key signs of spring on campus are App State’s Diversity Celebration and iBackApp events, both of which take place next week:

  • The 21st Diversity Celebration at App State will take place April 5-7. This will be the 21st year App State has brought together App State students, faculty, staff, K-12 schools and local community members for a celebration of cultures through art and entertainment. More than 25 events will take place over three days, celebrating diverse perspectives, cultures and values. You can view the full schedule here.

  • App State’s ninth annual iBackAPP giving celebration, during which Mountaineers everywhere come together to support and celebrate App State, is scheduled for April 6-7. Over the course of the two days, Mountaineers will make monetary gifts, show their pride by wearing black and gold, and share their spirit with #iBackApp messages on social media. I invite you to join in any way you choose.

  I hope you will take advantage of these two spring traditions, and as the weather becomes milder, enjoy all our beautiful mountain location has to offer.

  
  Sheri Everts, Chancellor

  Learn more

March 2022

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  Update from Appalachian State University

  Friday, March 25, 2022

  It has been a week of celebrating successes and milestones at App State. Yesterday and today, the Board of Trustees met on campus for their quarterly meeting, approving actions supporting the development of the Middle Fork Greenway, a lease of space for the Elkin Elementary lab school and the transfer of property to facilitate a needed bridge improvement on Hunting Hills Lane. Students from App State’s Men’s Basketball Team, Wrestling Team and Solar Vehicle Team showcased their successes for the board, and I shared a progress update, which included an overview of the incredible work of our faculty, staff and students, strategic planning and campus construction updates, and a review of some key COVID metrics. You may read my remarks on my website.

  This afternoon, we broke ground on the first academic building of our Innovation District — a long-held goal made possible with a state budget allocation of $54 million in the current fiscal year. Faculty, staff and students gathered to celebrate this momentous occasion, and we were joined by several members of the General Assembly who made it possible for us to break ground on the long-envisioned project, Governor Philip Byers, representing the UNC Board of Governors, our Board of Trustees, Mayor Tim Futrelle and Chair of the Watauga County Board of Commissioners John Welch, and members of the Boone Town Council and Watauga County Commissioners.

  App State’s future Innovation District is an ambitious enterprise that will have a lasting and powerful impact on the region, broadening economic development opportunities for rural areas in Northwestern North Carolina. The Innovation District will bring together expertise across disciplines and facilitate collaborations on campus and with the communities across the region.

  This exciting, long-term project has been included in the university’s master planning since 2016, a year after the Board of Governors designated this property with millennial campus status, providing greater flexibility for planning and utilization of the property. Numerous faculty and staff have worked to develop a vision for it, with input from students and alumni.

  The first academic building will be the Conservatory for Biodiversity Education and Research. This facility will serve as a vital link between the campus and the regional community through education, research and outreach.

  It is important to note, this is the first building — and the first academic building — of the District. You can see some of the development concepts on the university’s Innovation District webpage. The multi-phased development concepts we are reviewing are forward-thinking and comprehensive. Going beyond what is our standard — to build LEED-certified buildings — we are reviewing concepts for a Zero-Carbon District. This means the buildings in the Innovation District will be highly energy efficient, and powered by carbon-free, renewable energy sources. This will not only lower the environmental impact of the buildings, but also help make them more financially viable.

  We also asked the design firms submitting proposals to include faculty and staff housing into the Innovation District Master Plan, as one way to help address housing shortages that affect our ability to recruit and retain talented faculty and staff.

  Other academic facilities that are also in discussion include:

  • Spaces for research, teaching and demonstration;
  • Workspace for multidisciplinary projects;
  • Renewable energy labs;
  • Conference rooms; and
  • Expanded exhibition and studio spaces.

  App State is the premier public undergraduate institution in the Southeast, founded to increase access to education for those in the “lost provinces” of North Carolina, and we remain true to our mission as a rural-serving institution.

  We look forward to continuing the work we have begun with the support of the General Assembly, the Board of Governors, our Trustees and local government leaders, as well as with leaders from education, business and community development, to ensure this Innovation District extends the university’s mission of teaching, research and service to the region and the state.

  App State has unprecedented support, and stellar students, faculty and staff, and our potential is limitless!

  
  Sheri Everts, Chancellor

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• 

  Update from Appalachian State University

  Friday, March 18, 2022

  Students and faculty returned from Spring Break to an even more beautified campus, thanks to our Facilities Operations teams  — in particular, Landscape Services. This team has helped our campus earn and maintain the "Tree Campus USA" and "Bee Campus USA" status, and we appreciate their work and their commitment to sustainable practices, including turf management, arboriculture and the use of native plants and pollinator gardens, which contribute to the beauty and resilience of our campus landscape.

  On Thursday, students, faculty, staff, business leaders and community members came together for the Walker College of Business’ 63rd Boyles Distinguished Lecture. The featured keynote speaker was Pamela Mars Wright, who shared insights about successful business strategies and lessons she has learned from being in a multi-generational family business. Pam is former chair and director of the Mars Inc. board of directors, which governs the $40 billion business owned by the Mars family. She was also a director on the Board of Banfield, a network of veterinary hospitals that are part of Mars’ Petcare. 

  Pam spent yesterday morning with the Women of Walker, a group of female student leaders in the Walker College of Business, engaging in conversation and sharing her breadth of knowledge in navigating many aspects of the business world. During the day’s events, Woman of Walker and senior marketing major Isabella Riley also had the opportunity to address university and community leaders. Isabella described the many ways in which her Appalachian Experience has set her up for success, and — as we hear from so many of our students — how our dedicated faculty and staff have gone above and beyond to help her along the way.

  As Pam became more engaged with App State through her husband, alumnus and Trustee Mark Ricks, she worked with the university to develop an innovative partnership between Banfield and App State. Last year, I announced a multimillion-dollar sponsored contract with Banfield to support the development of a four-year, App State Online degree program for licensed veterinary technicians, which will combine Bachelor of Science credentials with veterinary technician licensure. It is the first of its kind and will help meet shortages for skilled veterinary professionals in the rural areas of our region and beyond. We are thrilled to welcome the program’s first class this fall! App State has benefited greatly from the generosity of both Pam and Mark, and we are so fortunate to have had Pam on campus yesterday, sharing her time and expertise with our students. 

  Earlier this week, I shared a message with you about ways to participate in the UNC System’s ongoing strategic planning process. The System will host a virtual town hall on Tuesday at 11 a.m., to allow for public comment. Please join us to learn more and/or share your ideas and input.

  The current UNC System Strategic Plan established the measurement of key success metrics, including faculty and staff engagement. As a part of this plan, each institution in the UNC System participates in a Systemwide Employee Engagement Survey three times over a five-year period. Surveys were implemented in 2018 and 2020, and faculty and staff will receive the third survey later this month, in order to gather input from faculty and staff about workplace engagement. The Office of Human Resources will share additional information soon.

  Yesterday, each of you received an invitation to attend the groundbreaking for the first building of the Innovation District — the Conservatory for Biodiversity Education and Research — which will serve as a vital link between the campus and the regional community through education, research and outreach. This is a long-held goal made possible with a biennial budget allocation of $54 million in non-recurring funds in the current fiscal year to begin work on App State’s Innovation District project. I hope you will be able to join us at 1 p.m. next Friday, March 25, at the top of Bodenheimer Drive. You can learn more about the Innovation District on this dedicated webpage.

  Yesterday’s COVID update from Governor Cooper and NC Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kody Kinsley shared the next phase of the state’s pandemic response, which focuses on moving from crisis response to disease management, utilizing important tools, including the widely available COVID vaccines, treatment options, testing and personal protective equipment. We remain attentive to our campus data, as well as state and national trends and public health guidance. Last week, as expected, the CDC downgraded Watauga County’s COVID-19 Community Level to “Medium.” Associated guidance from the federal, state and local levels is now fully aligned: People may choose to mask at any time, and those with symptoms, a positive test or exposure to someone with COVID-19 should wear a face covering. Face coverings are still required on public transportation and in health care settings, so please remember to keep one with you to use as needed. Vaccines continue to be the most important and effective tool we have to mitigate serious risk, and we continue to offer vaccines, testing and face coverings free of charge to students, faculty and staff.

  Congratulations are in order for App State musicology professor Dr. Reeves Shulstad, one of 17 outstanding University of North Carolina System faculty members to receive the 2022 Awards for Excellence in Teaching from the UNC System Board of Governors. Established by the board in 1993 to highlight the importance of teaching, the award recognizes the extraordinary contributions of faculty members Systemwide. Please look for media coverage of this award in the coming days.

  The second half of the spring semester is underway, as the accomplishments of our students, faculty and staff continue to support our reputation as the premier public undergraduate institution in the Southeast.

  
  Sheri Everts, Chancellor

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• 

  Update from Appalachian State University

  Friday, March 4, 2022

  On Wednesday, students enjoyed warmer weather, outdoor activities and s’mores around the campfire on Sanford Mall as they took a break from studying for midterms. We welcome these signs of early spring as students and faculty head into Spring Break.

  After being snowed out in January, more than 50 App State faculty, staff and students completed 162 volunteer hours during App State’s 23rd annual MLK Day of Service on Saturday. We appreciate the collaboration with local nonprofits F.A.R.M Cafe, the Hunger and Health Coalition, the Volunteers-In-Parks program for Blue Ridge Parkway and Helping Hands Woodlot Ministry, who provided a wonderful service and learning experience for our students. You can read more about this year’s event and view a photo gallery in this news story. Thank you to the Office of Community-Engaged Leadership and Intercultural Student Affairs for ensuring App State was still able to hold this event, as well as ensuring we were able to hold our 37th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commemoration, which featured keynote speaker Bakari Sellers.

  I am so pleased to announce that we will break ground on Phase I of the Innovation District this month! Please mark your calendars for March 25. The Innovation District will be located at the site of the former Broyhill Inn and Conference Center on Bodenheimer Drive and the edge of the neighboring Nature Preserve. The first building in this long-envisioned project will be the Conservatory for Biodiversity Education and Research, which will serve as a vital link between the campus and the regional community through education, research and outreach. This exciting, long-term project has been included in the university’s master planning since 2016 — it will bring together expertise across disciplines and facilitate collaborations on campus and with the communities across the region. Numerous faculty and staff have worked to develop a vision for it, with input from students and alumni. We are currently reviewing multi-phased development concepts for a Zero-Carbon District, meaning the buildings in the Innovation District will be highly energy efficient and powered by carbon-free, renewable energy sources. This will not only lower the environmental impact of the buildings but also help make them more financially viable. We also asked the design firms submitting proposals to include faculty and staff housing into the Innovation District Master Plan, as one way to help address housing shortages that affect our ability to recruit and retain talented faculty and staff.

  As UNC System leadership prepares to update and refresh the current System strategic plan, they are seeking input from each campus. You will soon receive a survey that provides an opportunity for you to review the current plan and provide feedback. Additionally, students, faculty and staff will be invited to participate in a virtual, campuswide Town Hall event on March 22. We will share additional details after Spring Break.

  Powered by your contributions, App State’s strategic planning process also continues. As Provost Norris shared in her remarks to faculty and staff at the annual Spring Faculty and Staff Meeting and as Chief Sustainability Officer Lee Ball shared in his recent progress report to campus, the University Planning and Priorities Council, a group of nearly 60, representing faculty and staff from every college and division, and including the heads of Faculty Senate, Staff Senate and Student Government, have been developing the plan that will guide us through the next five years. Listening sessions open to the entire campus were held last November, followed by meetings with constituent groups that included Faculty Senate, Staff Senate, the Student Government Association and Alumni Council. Feedback from these listening sessions is being incorporated into the draft of the plan now. It will again be shared with campus for feedback and the final version will be presented to the Board of Trustees for approval in June. You can view the draft in development here. I’d like to thank Lee for his leadership as the chair of the committee, and I extend my appreciation to everyone who has been working on this plan. I encourage you to continue participating as the plan is finalized in the coming months.

  If you haven’t yet seen it on the App State homepage, I hope you will read this story, which highlights seven alumni who are members of App State’s National Pan-Hellenic Council fraternities and sororities — historically Black Greek-letter organizations that are foundational to App State’s history. Many were notable student leaders, and as alumni they continue to open doors and create possibilities for the generations who follow them. We are proud to celebrate their contributions to App State, their communities and beyond.

  When classes resume on March 14, Spring Commencement will be less than two months away. If you haven’t already, please mark your calendars for Spring Commencement on May 6-7. Graduates will receive specific information from the Commencement planning team after Spring Break.

  Finally, a reminder that beginning Monday, March 7, face coverings and COVID testing will be optional for all App State students and employees. We are certainly encouraged by the decline in new cases and positive tests, as well as our strong vaccination rates. As we have since fall of 2020, we will continue to utilize wastewater surveillance testing to detect the presence and extent of COVID in residence halls, and implement testing and containment measures. We also continue to emphasize the importance of the vaccination for the health of our overall community. I thank each of you for your care for our campus community and continued respect for one another. 

  Whether you are taking a break from classes or remaining on campus next week, I hope everyone can find some time to recharge. The final weeks of the academic year hold much to come, and I look forward to celebrating our successes together.

  
  Sheri Everts, Chancellor

  Learn more

February 2022

• Update from Appalachian State University

  Friday, February 25, 2022

  As I announced last week, my COVID Council and I have been reviewing the recommendations, guidance and information from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, and we have been in regular consultation with local public health officials and the UNC System. We have also considered statewide, local and campus COVID metrics, which show that the case counts and severity of cases continue to decrease. There are currently fewer than 20 active cases among App State students, faculty and staff.

  After considering campus and local data and seeking guidance from state and local public health experts — and in accordance with recent decisions and guidance from the UNC System and town government officials, as well as local public schools, the following changes in the university’s COVID safety protocols will be in place beginning at 12:01 a.m. on Monday, March 7:

  1. Face coverings will no longer be required for faculty, staff, students and visitors to App State’s campus.

  • If you are unvaccinated or if you are at higher risk for serious illness from COVID-19, you are encouraged to wear a face covering at your discretion and/or upon the advice of your medical provider. Face coverings offer an important extra layer of protection when worn properly.

  • Federal and state guidelines still require face coverings on public transportation and in health care settings. This means you will still be required to wear face coverings while riding AppalCART transit and when visiting Student Health Service.

  • While traveling to and from campus and throughout the Town of Boone and Watauga County, carry a face covering with you, so you will have one readily available as needed. The university has an ample supply and a variety of types of face coverings. Students and employees may pick up face coverings at the Plemmons Student Union Information Desk.

  2. Testing for students and employees who are unvaccinated will no longer be required.

  • Free, walk-in COVID testing remains available three days a week on campus for any student or employee who wants or needs a COVID test, and of course our Student Health Service provides testing and health care as needed for our students.

  3. Contact tracing efforts will focus only on areas of identified need.

  • App State’s COVID response team will continue to work with individuals who have tested positive for COVID to provide them with isolation instructions, guidance and support.

  • In accordance with current public health guidance, however, individual case investigations for close contacts of identified positive cases will no longer take place, neither by the university nor by local public health.

  All other COVID protocols remain in place, including required reporting of off-campus positive test results, and continuing to provide isolation instructions, guidance and support to individuals who have tested positive for COVID.

  Please remember, if you are feeling ill, stay home, monitor your symptoms and contact your health care provider if you become concerned about your symptoms.

  It is important to reiterate what we are hearing universally from public health experts worldwide: The COVID vaccine is our most important tool for preventing severe illness and death from COVID. Our high vaccination rates of 81% in students and 90% in employees have been the key reason we have avoided high instances of severe illness on our campus, and our vaccine rates help lessen the severity of the illness in our surrounding community as well. The ready availability of the vaccine, and our high campus vaccination rates, are allowing us to ease restrictions. Please be sure to get your booster when you are eligible.

  • We will continue to offer all three vaccines and boosters in Student Health Service, and we continue providing $50 Amazon gift cards to students, faculty and staff who get vaccines and/or boosters on campus.

  As our COVID response and management evolve, we remain focused on making data-driven decisions and utilizing the expertise available to us on our campus. Since fall of 2020, App State has utilized wastewater testing to capture data on the presence and extent of COVID on our campus. This tool allows us to detect asymptomatic cases earlier, implement testing and containment strategies, and reduce the spread of COVID.

  Over the last two years, the university has worked in many other ways to help protect the health and well-being of the university community and the greater Boone area, including by:

  • contributing nearly 20,000 meals for university and local community members who were in isolation or quarantine due to COVID;

  • conducting nearly 91,700 COVID tests for students, faculty and staff; and

  • administering nearly 7,000 vaccines to students, faculty, staff and community members.

  These are just some of the many examples of research and service by faculty, staff and students who seek to maximize the resources we have at App State for the health, well-being and long-term benefit of our community.

  While COVID has had a significant impact on our community collectively, its severity has affected each of us individually. For nearly two years, App State students, faculty and staff have shown consideration, compassion, care and kindness to one another as we have navigated the many changes in policies, procedures and public health guidance together. I want to thank you for your steadfast support of one another. As we continue to learn, adjust and respond to each new challenge, we grow stronger as a community.

  As we look to build on the many successes of this academic year, there is much promise ahead this spring and beyond.

  
  Sheri Everts, Chancellor

  Learn more
• 

  Update from Appalachian State University

  Friday, February 18, 2022

  Yesterday, Gov. Cooper and North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kody Kinsley announced that, statewide, COVID cases continue to decrease, lowering the risk of infection and improving hospital capacity. They further announced that new guidance will be in effect beginning March 7 that relaxes recommendations and requirements for face coverings, while continuing to emphasize the importance of the COVID vaccine in preventing severe illness and death from COVID. Additionally, yesterday, the state legislature passed a bill to make face coverings optional in public schools. While they didn’t specifically address higher education settings, my COVID Council and I are reviewing the recommendations, guidance and information we have now, and are in consultation with local public health officials and the UNC System. We will provide an update to campus soon regarding how new state and local guidance will affect our campus.

  Locally, we are seeing steady declines in new COVID cases, and on campus, our COVID data continue to trend in the right direction. We expect Monday's COVID data dashboard update to show a continued decrease in positivity rates of COVID tests administered on campus, and the number of new positive cases to decrease. We will continue to offer free, walk-in COVID testing on campus every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday through the remainder of the semester, including during Spring Break. All three boosters are available by appointment, and $50 Amazon gift cards are still available for students, faculty and staff who get vaccines and boosters at Student Health.

  This week, we hosted Dr. Kevin McDonald and other leaders from the University of Virginia as diversity, equity and inclusion practitioners-in-residence. They led workshops with the Chancellor’s Cabinet, department chairs and associate deans, staff from the offices of Human Resources, Admissions, Student Affairs and University Communications, as well as other university staff. More than 200 participants joined discussions covering diversity, equity and inclusion in executive leadership; engaging and communicating around student advocacy; recruitment; inclusive faculty hiring; and equity-focused leadership. Thank you to Interim Chief Diversity Officer Jamie Parson for ensuring these discussion and professional development opportunities were available for our faculty, staff and students.

  Also this week, Provost Norris and Director of Human Resources Mark Bachmeier met with members of the Faculty Senate Budget Committee. They discussed faculty compensation, including the overall process — as well as the process for this fiscal year — for annual raises and for allocating merit, labor market and internal equity salary increases for faculty and other employees who are exempt from the State Human Resources Act. We are so pleased that our recent budget — the best in university history — included across-the-board salary increases for all university employees, making it possible for us to once again address employee salaries after nearly three years without the authority or budget to do so.

  Robust support for our academic enterprise also comes in the form of private support. Last week, I shared that, so far this fiscal year, the university has raised $15.7 million in private support for academic and cultural programs. A recent gift of $2 million from the C.D. Spangler Foundation has established the first named professorship in App State’s Reich College of Education. We are so appreciative of the Spangler Foundation and Anna Spangler Nelson — the foundation’s director and a UNC System Board of Governors member — for this far-reaching investment in children and in educators. A national search will be conducted to fill App State’s position with an individual to teach in the College of Education’s teacher preparation programs, conduct research in early literacy to advance the field, and establish a strong presence for the college in the state and nation as a leader in reading instruction. 

  We are busily preparing to welcome students to our Hickory Campus with a target of fall 2023, and there is much planning work underway. I have been meeting with state and local government officials to ensure we are envisioning the best academic support to meet the needs of the region. More than 14 million people live and work within a three-hour drive of Hickory, and we have much to offer, in partnership with the City of Hickory; Catawba, Caldwell, Burke and Alexander counties; and the other education leaders in the area. Provost Norris provided additional details about the planning and preparation process in her remarks to faculty and staff at the annual Spring Faculty and Staff Meeting.

  A quick update on the candidate searches for the Vice Chancellor of Business Affairs and Chief Diversity Officer positions: These searches are progressing, and we expect to schedule on-campus candidate interviews later this spring.

  With hopeful news about the diminishing severity of COVID locally and statewide, and robust plans underway to continue advancing our mission of teaching, research and service, it is indeed an auspicious time at App State.

  
  Sheri Everts, Chancellor

  Learn more
• 

  Update from Appalachian State University

  Friday, February 11, 2022

  This week has brought exciting updates about the progress of our institution and our plans for the future.

  Earlier this week, Chief Sustainability Officer Lee Ball shared a comprehensive overview of universitywide sustainability and resilience initiatives with campus. From the academic enterprise, to daily business decisions, to the university’s strategic plan, App State is building on its accomplishments, making improvements in our current practices and working to ensure lasting and positive outcomes for our campus and region.

  Yesterday, I met with Provost Norris and representatives from the Faculty Senate Chancellor’s Advisory Committee for a discussion about the faculty research and creative activities enterprise. Each semester, I meet twice with this group. We had a great discussion, and I look forward to meeting with the committee again later this semester.

  At last week’s annual Spring Faculty and Staff Meeting, Provost Norris shared many examples of the iterative, open and transparent process for advancing the academic affairs of our institution. I join her in thanking the many faculty, staff and students from across all divisions and colleges who continue to collaborate in the planning for App State’s strategic plan, General Education program, Quality Enhancement Plan, and our growing research and creative activities enterprise. I also thank those working with Hickory area leaders to determine the best ways our Hickory campus can meet the academic needs in that region.

  This important work benefits the entire state and region, and garners trust and support. We see confirmation of this in the increasing number of admissions applications, in our above-average retention and graduation rates, in legislative support for our institution — as evidenced in the best budget in university history, in financial support from individuals, in external funding support, and in the accolades earned by our faculty, staff and students.

  • Vice Chancellor Jane Barghothi’s most recent fundraising report indicates that of the $20.8 million raised so far this fiscal year, $15.7 million is designated for academic and cultural programs, and $5.1 million is designated for athletics scholarships and support.
    
    
  • Provost Norris shared that last year’s external funding from grants and contracts totaled nearly $37 million — an institutional record.
    
    
  • For the second year in a row, App State topped U.S. News & World Report’s list for Most Innovative Schools. We earned number two slots in undergraduate teaching and best colleges for veterans, and placed third among top public schools in the South. U.S. News & World Report has also named App State to its “Best Online Bachelor’s Programs” and “Best Online Master’s in Education Programs” lists. The Princeton Review recently named the Walker College of Business in “The Best Business Schools 2022” list and ranked App State seventh on its “Best MBA for Human Resources” list.

  Statewide and locally, we are beginning to see the downward trend in COVID case counts that has been predicted. This is also true for our campus:

  • As of Monday, our five-day new positive case counts had decreased by 105 cases, or 57%, from the previous week, and we expect this trend to continue.
    
    
  • Other encouraging signs include a decrease in campus positivity rates for last week.

  Nevertheless, Watauga County remains an area of “high” transmission according to the CDC COVID data tracker, and vigilance is the key to reducing transmission. Studies continue to support the importance of the COVID vaccine in reducing the severity of the illness and reducing the likelihood of hospitalization and death from COVID. In addition to getting vaccinated, health experts recommend wearing well-fitted face coverings, staying home if you don't feel well, and frequent handwashing or sanitizing to help reduce transmission.

  • Our campus vaccination rates of 81% for students and 90% for employees are making a difference on our campus and in our community. Getting boosted ensures you have the highest level of protection. Our campus Student Health Service offers Moderna, Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson vaccines and boosters, and we continue to provide $50 Amazon gift cards to students and employees who get vaccinated or boosted on campus.
    
    
  • Each Friday, you receive “real-time” resources via emailed campus operations updates. In addition to my weekly messages, these weekly operations updates may be found on the Latest Updates page of the university’s COVID website. They provide you with quick reference guides based on the most frequently asked questions of our COVID response team, including what to do if you test positive or are exposed to someone who has tested positive for COVID.

  Please mark your calendars for App State’s 37th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commemoration, which, after a weather postponement, will take place March 1 at the Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts. Bakari Sellers, CNN political analyst, author and former Representative from South Carolina, is the featured speaker for the event. The MLK Day of Service has also been rescheduled for Saturday, Feb. 26. I know we all look forward to the opportunity to come together for these celebrations of the life and legacy of Dr. King. Thank you to the staff in Intercultural Student Affairs for your work in planning — and rescheduling — these signature events for our campus.

  Each day, App State faculty, staff and students demonstrate dedication to making real and powerful differences on our campus and in communities across the state and region. Your pride in your work and your accomplishments are both evident and inspirational.

  
  Sheri Everts, Chancellor

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• 

  Update from Appalachian State University

  Friday, February 4, 2022

  This afternoon, faculty and staff gathered for the annual Spring Faculty and Staff Meeting, hosted by Academic Affairs. While the agenda for this meeting does not typically include remarks from me, I appreciated the opportunity to share an update with faculty and staff in this important setting. We enter 2022 with many exciting accomplishments underway and much to anticipate in the coming weeks and months.

  My remarks are posted to my website. Highlights are below:

  • It’s been a little more than two months since the passing of the biennial budget bill — the best budget for App State in history. Since then, our administrative teams and their staff have been diligently working to allocate the funding designated for App State.
    
    
  • After two years without legislative salary increases or authority to provide discretionary Annual Raise Process salary increases, we have welcomed the opportunity to both apply across-the-board legislative increases and leverage authority to provide additional discretionary increases as allowable. I have been working with the Provost and the other Vice Chancellors to perform a comprehensive review of our universitywide budget. Our goal is to identify as much campus funding as possible for discretionary increases for faculty and staff, within the limitations of our authority. Since I arrived at App State, I have been committed to leveraging any authority granted to me by the legislature and the Board of Governors to increase compensation for our employees, and I remain dedicated to doing so.
    
    
  • Building and enhancing our physical infrastructure supports and empowers the incredible human potential on our campus. The places where faculty, staff and students work and learn should demonstrate that you are valued. The biennial budget allocates nearly $123 million in funding for capital repairs and renovation/initiative support. In the current year, $54 million was included to formally establish App State’s Innovation District, which will bring together expertise across disciplines and facilitate collaborations on campus and with communities across the region.
    
    
    • This semester, we will break ground on the first building in this long-envisioned project — the Conservatory for Biodiversity Education and Research, which will serve as a vital link between the campus and the regional community through education, research and outreach.
      
      
    • The Innovation Campus Working Group is exploring multiphased development concepts for a Zero-Carbon District — meaning they will be highly energy efficient, and powered by carbon-free, renewable energy sources — as well as options for faculty and staff housing, as one way to help address housing shortages that affect our ability to recruit and retain talented faculty and staff.
      
      
  • We are eagerly anticipating the completion of our Child Development Center expansion in May, which will allow licensure for nearly 125 children. Under the direction of Moriah Stegall, the Center’s director, our Child Development Center has earned the highest possible licensure rating of five stars, making it one of the most sought-after child care facilities in the community. This expansion will help meet the high demand for child care with exceptional quality care for the children of students, faculty and staff.
    
    
  • Each time I ask for more for App State, I share examples of the stellar work being accomplished by our faculty, staff and students. Two recent examples of faculty and staff accomplishments include:
    
    
    • Dr. Andrew Koricich, Associate Professor in the Higher Education program in the Reich College of Education and the Executive Director of the Alliance for Research on Regional Colleges, is among a group of five researchers who developed and recently launched a tool that uses evidence-based criteria to define what it means to be a Rural-Serving Institution. This groundbreaking work has been nationally recognized and is sure to help shine a brighter spotlight on the contributions rural-serving institutions are making in the higher education landscape.
      
      
    • App State’s Police Chief, Andy Stephenson, has been named one of six national finalists for Campus Safety Director of the Year for his outstanding leadership skills, ingenuity, selflessness and overall achievement. Chief Stephenson is among an elite group of campus safety leaders who are being recognized for excellent community relations, extensive involvement with the public, fostering high officer morale and motivation, and implementing innovative solutions in the face of complex problems.
      
      
  • App State’s advancements in education will benefit the citizens of our state and region for generations to come.
    
    
    • Last month, the Board of Governors voted to approve the creation of App State's online, four-year Bachelor of Science in veterinary technology degree. An interdisciplinary team of faculty, staff and external collaborators has worked to develop the curriculum, which is based on the American Veterinary Medical Association Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities standards. App State’s curriculum will become a model for developing veterinary professional talent and will help address the market demand for skilled veterinary professionals, especially in rural areas. We are proud to engage in this innovative partnership with Banfield Pet Hospital, which will advance the profession and elevate the role of licensed veterinary technicians, and we are excited to welcome our first class of students in fall 2022.
      
      
    • App State’s Board of Trustees recently approved the creation of a distinguished professorship in early child literacy in the Reich College of Education. This will be the first named professorship in the college and will be funded by a generous gift in the amount of $2 million from the C.D. Spangler Foundation.
      
      
    • In August, we will open our second laboratory school, in partnership with Elkin City Schools, which will serve approximately 100 students in second through fourth grades. App State will be the only UNC System institution to operate two lab school programs.
      
      
  • This semester, Interim Chief Diversity Officer Jamie Parson will provide our campus with a comprehensive set of recommendations for how App State can better serve the university’s underrepresented populations. Jamie is compiling the work of several groups who collaborated last summer to gather input and develop recommendations. I appreciate the time and consideration these individuals have dedicated to this important work, and look forward to reviewing the collective recommendations.
    
    
  • Since last fall, my leadership team and I have met regularly with university leaders representing Faculty Senate, Staff Senate, Student Government Association, Department Chairs and Deans. These university leaders represent you, and they bring questions and discussion topics from the groups they represent. Following each meeting, we share meeting notes they can distribute, share and reference as needed, and I often include topics discussed in my Friday updates to campus. The vast majority of feedback my team and I have received has been supportive, positive and appreciative. As we persist together in the face of new and lasting challenges, please know your encouragement remains greatly appreciated.
    
    
  • As dozens of individuals across campus have worked to address the many COVID-related concerns from members of our university community, the most consistent information from public health experts indicates that getting vaccinated and staying up-to-date with vaccinations is the single, most effective strategy we have to mitigate the severity of the impacts of COVID.
    
    
    • I am very proud that our university community has stepped up to this challenge. Eighty-one percent of our students and ninety percent of our employees have submitted vaccine records that have been verified by our team. Thank you for taking this important step to protect yourselves, your colleagues, your students and your loved ones.

  The faculty and staff at App State are passionate about their work and dedicated to the academic enterprise and the success of our students. When we keep these values central, there are no limits to what we can accomplish.

  I wish you all the very best for the new year, and the rest of the spring semester.

  
  Sheri Everts, Chancellor

  Learn more

January 2022

• 

  Update from Appalachian State University

  Friday, January 28, 2022

  While we are barely a month into the new year, the App State campus community already has much to celebrate.

  Congratulations are in order for the Reich College of Education — for the sixth year in a row, App State has retained the No. 1 position in the nation for the number of alumni who are National Board Certified Teachers. This accomplishment speaks to the dedication of these stellar professionals, particularly during these incredibly challenging times, and we applaud their commitment to education.

  As I shared in November 2021, we were pleased to receive welcome compensation news for faculty and staff in the biennial budget signed by Gov. Roy Cooper. The final, approved state budget included 2.5% salary increases for eligible university employees for 2021 and 2022. 

  Director of Human Resources Mark Bachmeier has confirmed the 2.5% across-the-board salary increase for the 2021–22 fiscal year has been added to each eligible employee’s base salary, effective Jan. 1, 2022. The increase is retroactive to June 30, 2021, and retroactive lump-sum payments will also be included in Jan. 31 paychecks. I offer my sincere thanks to the staff in the Human Resources, Payroll and IT departments, as well as staff in the Division of Business Affairs. In the midst of an already hectic time period in which they prepare end-of-year tax paperwork for more than 6,300 university faculty, staff and student workers, they also completed all the necessary steps to ensure our employees received these long-awaited increases.

  As we persevere during continued challenges brought on by COVID-19, we receive regular briefings from UNC School of Medicine experts, who are reporting that the Omicron curve is peaking higher than expected but that we can expect to see a downward trend in cases in early to mid-February. Now more than ever, vaccinations and boosters are making a difference in the severity of the impact on individuals and on our health care systems.

  Last week, NCDHHS reported record hospitalizations, with unvaccinated individuals composing 72% of hospitalizations and 83% of COVID-related intensive care unit admissions statewide. National, state and local health experts advise that vaccines and boosters continue to provide the strongest protection against COVID-19 serious illness, hospitalizations and deaths. 

  Within this context, we have been pleased to see a significant increase in appointments at Student Health Service for vaccinations and boosters, particularly from students, and we are especially proud of the great progress we have made with our campus vaccination rates — 80% of students and 90% of employees are fully vaccinated.

  • Student Health Service offers Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines and boosters by appointment, and we are providing $50 Amazon gift cards to faculty, staff and students who get vaccinated or boosted on campus.
    
    
  • Testing also remains a critical component of our COVID management strategy. App State has conducted more than 86,000 COVID tests for students, faculty and staff, and we continue to host free, walk-in COVID testing events three times a week for our campus community. Student Health Service also provides testing by appointment for students who have COVID symptoms. Health experts also recommend layering protections by wearing well-fitted face coverings and staying home if you don't feel well.

  While COVID remains present in our daily lives, each new accomplishment and accolade represents a step forward for our university and reminds us how fortunate we are to be part of the App State Community.

  
  Sheri Everts, Chancellor

  Learn more
• 

  Update from Appalachian State University

  Friday, January 21, 2022

  This week brought significant winter weather to our campus. Our students took full advantage of the snow — sledding, snowboarding and building snowy creations. I know our entire campus joins me in thanking the many teams who worked day and night through the snowstorm to maintain the continuity of essential dining, housing and other services, clear walkways and parking lots, and ensure we could return to in-person work and classes as quickly as possible.

  This week, we achieved two important milestones in our ongoing mission to serve the citizens of North Carolina by increasing access to education.

  • The UNC System Board of Governors voted to approve the creation of App State's online, four-year Bachelor of Science in veterinary technology degree, developed as part of a multimillion-dollar partnership with Banfield Pet Hospital. This is an important step forward and we are excited to welcome our first class of students in fall 2022! We are proud to engage in this partnership, which will address the market demand for skilled veterinary professionals, especially in rural areas. App State excels in developing visionary academic programs that address professional workforce shortages in rural communities and help advance industry standards. We appreciate the board for recognizing our success and supporting this visionary academic program, which will advance the profession and elevate the role of licensed veterinary technicians.
    
    
  • The board’s Subcommittee on Laboratory Schools approved App State's new partnership with Elkin City Schools, through which we will open our second laboratory school — making App State the only UNC System institution to operate two lab school programs. We have a strong legacy of preparing educators to lead and serve, and we remain steadfast in our commitment to recognize the promise each student possesses. The new App State Academy at Elkin will open in August. Utilizing a “school-within-a-school” model, App State educators will serve approximately 100 students in second through fourth grades. We have seen strong and steady support from the Board of Governors for the App State Academy at Middle Fork lab school, and we appreciate the trust the board has placed in us to replicate this model in other North Carolina school districts.

  On Tuesday, my COVID Council — which consists of Provost Heather Norris, Vice Chancellors Hank Foreman, J.J. Brown and Jane Barghothi, Emergency Management Director Jason Marshburn, Chief Communications Officer Megan Hayes and me — resumed our weekly meetings with university leaders representing Faculty Senate, Staff Senate, Student Government Association, Department Chairs and Deans. These university leaders bring questions and discussion topics from their constituency groups, and the meetings have also become an important opportunity to address misinformation, which is the single most difficult challenge currently facing our Emergency Management team. We are well beyond 700 days since our team began its work to respond to COVID. As we persist in the face of new and lasting challenges, your continued messages of support and gratitude hearten and sustain this team. Please know your encouragement remains greatly appreciated as we all face these challenges together.

  • National, state and local public health experts continue to emphasize that getting vaccinated and boosted remains the single most effective action each of us can take to protect our community against serious symptoms and death from COVID, and to increase immunity against current and possible future variants. NCDHHS reports that unvaccinated individuals make up the vast majority of COVID-related hospitalizations and intensive care unit admissions. I am very pleased to report that 72% of our students and 84% of our employees are fully vaccinated, outpacing the county rate of 55%.
    
    
  • Our Student Health Service provides vaccines and boosters to students, faculty and staff by appointment. This week, we began providing $50 Amazon gift cards to those who get vaccinated or boosted on campus.
    
    
  • We also continue to host free, walk-in COVID testing events three times a week for our campus community. Student Health Service also provides testing by appointment for students who have symptoms of COVID.
    
    
  • This week, we updated our campus COVID dashboard with the first data sets for the spring semester, and we will continue our schedule of updating the data each Monday. State, local and campus public health experts have advised that severity metrics, such as hospitalization rates, are the best indicators of the impact COVID is having on our campus and community. Currently, we have no faculty, staff or students hospitalized for COVID.
    
    
  • As we continue our mitigation measures, including enhanced cleaning and required face coverings indoors, we also look forward to continuing to host in-person events this semester while ensuring all necessary precautions are in place. The Office of University Events has excellent Campus Event Guidelines to take the guesswork out of hosting events as safely as possible during COVID. These in-person interactions are increasingly important to the mental and emotional well-being of our campus community members as we enter our third year of life with COVID.

  With two weeks of classes nearly complete and plenty of snow lingering on campus, I encourage all Mountaineers to take time to enjoy the winter season and our High Country home!

  
  Sheri Everts, Chancellor

  Learn more
• 

  Update from Appalachian State University

  Friday, January 14, 2022

  This week has proven to be a busy and exciting start to the semester!

  With the new year, our electric utility, New River Light and Power, has entered into a new energy supplier contract, allowing the university to immediately increase its purchased electricity from renewable sources. We are also finalizing an agreement with Blue Ridge Energy to convert additional purchased electricity, including for Levine Hall, to 100% solar. In total, these changes will increase our purchased electricity from 2% to 18.2% renewables. This is a significant step toward meeting the goals in our Climate Action Plan. As I have mentioned in previous messages, we are committed to reducing our use of fossil fuels and these are important strides forward. We will continue these efforts as we advance our work toward carbon neutrality.

  Monday brought an opportunity to celebrate campus and community leaders in diversity, equity and inclusion at the 2022 Chancellor’s Awards for Inclusive Excellence Luncheon. It was an honor to shine a light on these individuals, whose work demonstrates an active, intentional and ongoing commitment to transformative change at App State and in the surrounding community:

  • Faculty Award: Dr. Jamie Levine, associate professor in the Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences.
  • Community Award: Yolanda Adams, family resource coordinator for Watauga County Schools.
  • Undergraduate Student Award: Chandler Smith, a senior nutrition and foods major.
  • Graduate Student Award: Eris Jenkins, a graduate student majoring in student affairs administration.
  • Staff Award: Lamont Sellers, director of intercultural student affairs.
  • Department Award: University Housing, represented by Dr. Brandon Nelson, interim director of university housing.

  The event featured an awards presentation and an inspiring keynote address by entrepreneur, advocate and artist Monique Johnson. It was an uplifting beginning to a new year and a new semester. Thank you to the Office of Diversity, the Inclusive Excellence Awards Working Group, Intercultural Student Affairs and the award selection committee for their help bringing this event to fruition.

  On Tuesday, Jan. 18, App State will host its 37th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commemoration. We look forward to welcoming CNN political analyst, author and former Representative from South Carolina Bakari Sellers for a presentation in the Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts.

  The new year has brought many changes to COVID-19 guidance, much of which was addressed in messages sent to campus last week. Our COVID operations team has been in regular communication with state and local public health experts, as well as UNC System leadership, to ensure we have the latest information and data available to assess the rapidly changing situation with the Omicron variant, in particular. In addition to our partners at our local health department, I would also like to thank Dr. Alex Howard, Assistant Vice Chancellor and Director of Wellness and Prevention Services for the Division of Student Affairs, for his guidance.

  The information we have received from these local and campus public health experts indicates:

  • While the Omicron variant is very infectious, early data indicate it causes less severe disease than previous variants in vaccinated individuals who do not have underlying health conditions. That said, it should still be taken seriously.
    
    
  • Vaccines remain the best protection against serious COVID symptoms, and public health experts stress the importance of getting vaccinated, and boosted when eligible, to increase your immunity against current and possible future variants.
    
    
  • Tuesday’s data update will show an increase in case counts over the low numbers reported at the end of last semester, which was prior to the surge in Omicron variant cases. We expect to continue seeing an increase in cases; however, we also expect to continue seeing milder cases, as our vaccination rates continue to increase, and as those eligible continue getting boosted. There are no App State students, faculty or staff in the local hospital system.
    
    
  • If you are feeling unwell or if you have been exposed to someone who has tested positive for COVID, please be sure to get tested and follow CDC isolation/quarantine guidelines. App State has and will continue to provide walk-in, free COVID testing for faculty, staff and students at testing clinics three times each week, on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday afternoons. For students who have COVID symptoms, testing is also available at the university’s Student Health Service clinic. Utilizing these campus testing options helps lessen the burden on our local public health and local health care systems.
    
    
  • Well-fitted face coverings also continue to be an effective tool in lessening the spread of COVID and are currently required indoors on campus. Please be sure you are properly wearing an effective face covering over your nose and mouth. The UNC School of Medicine offers guidance in this regard, and the CDC provides these guidelines for selecting, cleaning and storing face coverings.

  As part of these conversations, we have also undertaken a review and assessment of our university COVID data dashboard, which will be updated on Tuesday, to ensure we begin our reporting for the semester with a full week of data. Our dashboard updates will reflect the advice and direction of local public health experts, as well as Dr. Howard, in consideration of the progression of the COVID situation, and the Omicron variant and its expected impact.

  With a forecast for winter weather this weekend, our response teams are preparing to keep our campus safe and maintain continuity of our critical services. Our Facilities Operations team will begin treating our parking lots this afternoon, and will be working steadily to keep our parking lots clear of snow and ice. Please assist them by relocating your vehicles to covered parking areas as requested this morning, and remember to check your email over the weekend for updates regarding campus operations.

  Thank you for your diligent adherence to campus COVID safety standards, which helps ensure continuity in our teaching, research and service. App State has a brighter, more sustainable and inclusive future ahead because of the hard work and dedication of our entire university community.

  
  Sheri Everts, Chancellor

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• 

  Update from Appalachian State University

  Friday, January 7, 2022

  As students, faculty and staff return to campus, we welcome those moving into residence halls today, and are eager for the first day of classes on Monday. 

  This week, we welcomed the first snowfalls of the new year. Winter weather is a significant part of our lives in the High Country, and I would like to thank the many teams who come together to respond and keep our campus as safe as possible when the weather brings adverse conditions. This Appalachian Today article shares an in-depth look into how we make decisions regarding inclement weather, always with the safety of our campus community top of mind.

  Now in our fifth semester of COVID, we recognize more than ever the importance of stability, especially for young people. We are keenly aware of the toll that isolation and the disruptions of the pandemic have had on the mental health of many, and on young people in particular. The COVID vaccine has made it possible to return to in-person experiences. While we expect to see case counts increase, the large majority of our university community is vaccinated, and I thank you for taking this important step in protecting our community against serious illness and death from COVID. It is important we maintain the momentum we have gained. Everyone who is eligible should get a booster or additional dose to ensure you are protecting yourself to the greatest possible extent. If you have gotten your booster or additional dose, please remember to submit documentation of this by Jan. 10.

  Earlier this week, I shared a message to campus with information about COVID protocols for the new year. If you haven’t read this message, I encourage you to do so. As a reminder, we are in regular communication with the UNC System leadership, as well as state and local public health officials, and we are closely monitoring all guidance from the CDC. We will resume updates to our COVID data dashboard on Jan. 18. We are meeting with local public health to determine metrics that will provide our campus and community with the best information as the COVID situation evolves.

  Across the world — and right here on campus — our faculty and students are making a difference for future generations. This life-changing research creates opportunities for students to have direct involvement and elevates their educational experiences.

  • Student researchers, led by Dr. Michael Reddish, are studying medications proposed to treat triple-negative breast cancers. Their work is funded by a grant from the North Carolina Biotechnology Center.
    
    
  • Through the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program, Dr. Andy Heckert’s research into Triassic period fossil collections aims to uncover information about ancient animal evolution.
    
    
  • A research team, led by Dr. Rahman Tashakkori, is making critical strides in apiary informatics — work supported by a nearly $1.1 million grant from the UNC System’s Research Opportunities Initiative.

  As we prepare to embark on another semester filled with promise, some of our students have offered their top tips for success — a wonderful reminder of the high-caliber students who call App State home.

  
  Sheri Everts, Chancellor

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• 

  Update from Appalachian State University

  Monday, January 3, 2022

  Happy New Year, Mountaineers!

  We begin 2022 with a beautiful blanket of snow on campus and the promise of many new opportunities before us.

  App State will resume classes for the Spring 2022 semester on Jan. 10. There are no current plans to move in-person classes online. 

  As we begin to resume operations for the Spring 2022 semester, we are closely watching the emergence and progression of the virus variants that cause COVID-19. The CDC indicates the Omicron variant is the most prevalent in our region, and has also determined the Omicron variant may spread more easily than Delta and other variants. State public health experts have shared that they expect cases in North Carolina to peak in mid-to-late January.

  As we prepare for an expected increase in cases of COVID-19, we are reviewing our safety and reporting protocols.

  What will continue:

  • Vaccination and booster shots are still the most important tool to reduce case surges and the CDC indicates they are expected to be effective in preventing severe illness, hospitalizations, and deaths due to infection with the Omicron variant. Everyone who is eligible should submit proof of their booster or additional dose by Jan. 10.
    
    
  • The CDC continues to recommend that everyone in Watauga County wear a face covering in indoor, public settings. App State will continue requiring face coverings in all indoor campus locations for students, faculty, staff and visitors, regardless of vaccination status as long as the CDC recommendation is in effect.
    
    
  • If you are feeling unwell and exhibiting any symptoms of COVID-19 infection, stay home and monitor your symptoms and get a COVID test. Students should communicate with their faculty and employees should communicate with their supervisors to arrange for short-term remote options. If you become concerned about your symptoms, contact your healthcare provider.
    
    
  • We will continue to assess our staffing needs. Per DHHS and UNC System guidance, we will prioritize vaccination efforts, staffing our student health service center, COVID testing and other critical student services.
    
    
  • In addition to my updates, we will also continue sending weekly operations updates to campus so you are regularly updated throughout the semester.

  What will change:

  • New guidance for Institutions of Higher Education (IHE) is expected from the CDC in the coming days. The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) will then review this guidance and issue its updated IHE guidance. We will carefully review this guidance and share links when it is released. We are also reviewing the DHHS updated guidance for K-12 schools, and are ensuring compliance in the university’s K-12 classrooms.
    
    
  • We are meeting with our local public health experts to review and assess the metrics on our university COVID data dashboard, in light of the Omicron variant and its expected impact. When we post the first updates of the Spring semester to the dashboard on Jan. 18, it is likely we will focus on different metrics to better measure the impact of new COVID variants on our campus and community.
    
    
  • The CDC has updated isolation and quarantine recommendations for the public. The university will follow these new guidelines.

  We are entering our fifth semester of managing COVID response and/or recovery efforts, which have been ongoing for 719 days. Our students, faculty and staff have proven time and again that we are a caring community that follows COVID safety protocols. Thank you for your diligence, and particularly, for getting vaccinated and boosted. Because of your adherence to the protocols and your dedication to the safety of our community, we have been able to remain primarily face-to-face, hold events, and remain focused on providing the best possible student experience.  

  I wish everyone the very best for a new semester and a new year.

  
  Sheri Everts, Chancellor

  Learn more

December 2021

• 

  Update from Appalachian State University

  Friday, December 10, 2021

  Today is our Fall 2021 Commencement! We are celebrating the successes of nearly 1,700 graduates at three ceremonies — 9 a.m., 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. — as they mark a most defining moment in their academic careers. I have said this before, and it bears repeating: Presiding over commencement exercises is my favorite duty as Chancellor. That honor is all the more meaningful this year as we reflect on how important it is to gather in person for this most special occasion, and how fortunate we are to be able to do so.

  • To our graduates: Thank you for being part of our great academic community. You will always be a part of App State — as you are our most enduring legacy. I congratulate each of you on your achievements and celebrate the hope and possibilities you take forward into our future world — a world that holds more promise because of the contributions you have made thus far, and one you will continue to make even brighter.

  • To our faculty and staff: You have made a transformational difference in the lives of our outstanding graduates. On behalf of our entire university community, I thank you for your tireless commitment.

  During our commencement ceremonies, we are pleased to present two members of the App State Community with honorary degrees. At the 1 p.m. ceremony, we will confer an honorary bachelor’s degree on Glenn W. Wilcox Sr. — a longtime advocate, donor and friend of App State who is a past chairman and former member of the university’s Board of Trustees. At the 5 p.m. ceremony, we will confer an honorary bachelor’s degree on Sarah Alice Evans Heustess, an influential App State staff member who retired in August 2020. She served the university for three decades, most recently as Director of Sales and Patron Relations for the Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts and Valborg Theatre, and she also lent her expertise to the Hayes School of Music.

  If you are unable to attend in person — or want to relive these pivotal moments — each livestreamed ceremony will be made available on our commencement website.

  On Nov. 16 I shared with campus an update on the biennial budget bill, which Gov. Cooper signed into law on Nov. 18. The budget includes much welcome news for App State, including welcome compensation news for faculty and staff.

  I am pleased to report that the one-time bonuses included in the approved budget will be paid to eligible employees in the Dec. 21, 2021 payroll. Most of App State’s permanent, full-time employees will receive a $1,000 bonus. Those who meet additional eligibility requirements will receive an additional $500.

  Thank you to the staff in the Human Resources, Payroll and IT departments, as well as the many other staff in the Division of Business Affairs, for your work in ensuring our employees will have these bonuses before the end of the year.

  The approved budget provides a 5% across-the-board salary increase to eligible employees, which will be broken down into a 2.5% increase for this fiscal year, and a 2.5% increase in the 2022–23 fiscal year. The 2.5% increase for the current fiscal year will be retroactive to July 1, 2021, and will be paid in the Jan. 31, 2022, payroll.

  I am working with Provost Heather Norris, Vice Chancellors Hank Foreman, J.J. Brown and Jane Barghothi, and Interim Chief Financial Officer Sharon Bell to review our universitywide budget with the intention of providing the largest discretionary increases — as quickly as possible — that are allowable within the granted 5% authority and possible within our budget constraints. As I have stated before, I am committed to identifying these funds and allocating them to our employees to the greatest possible extent.

  With the final days of the semester behind us and fewer people on campus, this week's COVID data represent fewer test results. We will update our dashboard again on Jan. 18, 2022, after the first week of classes for the Spring semester. Here are the latest campus COVID-19 data:

  • Our current data show the campus rates of those who are fully vaccinated are 71% for students and 84% for employees. For local and statewide context, in Watauga County, the rate of those fully vaccinated is 55%, and for North Carolina, the rate is 58%.

  • Preliminary results from the 545 COVID tests we have conducted on campus so far this week indicate a positivity rate of 1.3%. Watauga County’s latest reported positivity rate is 5.7% and North Carolina’s latest reported rate is 7.1%.

  On Saturday, Dec. 18, App State's football team will face Western Kentucky in the Boca Raton Bowl at 11 a.m. With a 10-3 Sun Belt season, we are looking forward to bringing home another bowl trophy, and beating our FBS-best 6-0 bowl game record. We expect to see many App State fans in the FAU stadium, and know that Mountaineers across the nation will be watching on ESPN.

  Our faculty, staff, students and alumni — especially today’s newly minted class of graduates — prove time and again that App State is, indeed, the premier public undergraduate institution in the Southeast. I hope our campus community enjoys a well-earned break, and I look forward to seeing everyone back on campus in the new year.

  Happy holidays, Mountaineers!

  
  Sheri Everts, Chancellor

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• 

  Update from Appalachian State University

  Friday, December 3, 2021

  With final exams underway and Fall 2021 Commencement on the horizon next Friday, I reported on App State’s major accomplishments, future plans, stellar employees and latest campus COVID-19 data to the university’s Board of Trustees earlier this morning. The committee meetings held yesterday and the full board meeting held this morning offered ample opportunities to share the important and exciting work happening at our university.

  My remarks are posted to my website. Highlights are below:

  • With 17 active cases in students and employees, we are seeing significantly lower rates of positive test results than at this time last year. The rate of students who are fully vaccinated is 70%, and for employees that rate is 83%.
  • App State received the best state budget support in recent university history, which will provide bonuses and salary increases to our employees. It will also allow us to begin construction on the Innovation District, renovate classrooms and offices, and begin the daylighting of Boone Creek, among other exciting projects.
  • Given the physical limitations in Boone, our future App State Hickory Campus will allow App State to continue the mission we have had since 1899 — to increase access to education for the citizens of North Carolina. In the coming weeks and months, we look forward to continuing conversations with the Hickory community and seeking additional input from App State’s academic leaders to determine the best options for program offerings and utilization of this much-needed space.
  • The influence of App State’s stellar faculty and staff is making real and powerful differences across our state and nation. We have partnered with Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools on a five-year, multimillion-dollar school principal pipeline initiative, faculty member Dr. Sarah Evans is leading undergraduate researchers in studying thawing permafrost in Alaska, three Mountaineers represented App State at the 26th annual United Nations Climate Change Conference last month, and our Student Support Services staff secured funding expected to reach $1.7 million to support App State’s first-generation and low-income students.
  • Our capital projects are moving forward. Our newest residence hall, New River Hall, is on schedule to be completed in July 2022. Our Career Development Center’s new location in the Student Union is supporting enhanced programming, evening hours and expanded services. Our Child Development Center expansion — which will allow for the care of an additional 55 children once complete — is making headway, with sections of the pre-fabricated building expected to arrive within a few days.
  • When New River Light and Power begins purchasing its electricity from Carolina Power Partners in January, we will increase our renewable energy purchase portfolio from just under 2% to 15%. Additionally, as I announced last month, we are working on an agreement that will convert the purchased electricity for Leon Levine Hall to 100% solar early next year.
  • Work on the university’s next strategic plan continues, and the University Planning and Priorities Council has been holding listening sessions with campus and meeting with key constituency groups to inform the initial drafts of the plan next semester.

  Our exams continue through next Wednesday and we know our Mountaineers are prepared for success — good luck! We have come through this semester with incredible accomplishments that speak directly to the hard work, dedication and resilience of the App State Community. We have had much to celebrate in 2021 — and we have much to anticipate in 2022 and beyond.

  
  Sheri Everts, Chancellor

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November 2021

• 

  Update from Appalachian State University

  Wednesday, November 24, 2021

  With the last day of classes less than a week away and Fall Commencement on the horizon, many of us will take a few days this week to reflect on what makes us thankful. Recently, many of our students shared their thoughts on what they appreciate in this heartwarming podcast, which is both funny and touching, and reminds us of the importance of recognizing the good in others.

  As the year comes to a close, we have significant achievements to celebrate. The best State budget bill in recent history, a new building for our future App State Hickory Campus, a semester in which we have successfully navigated many challenges of coming back together during a global pandemic — these are key accomplishments that are setting the stage for exciting next steps for our university. They are also the outcomes of the dedication to excellence shared by our faculty, staff and students.

  • The budget brings with it the ability to begin work on our Conservatory for Biodiversity Education and Research, which is the beginning of our long-envisioned Innovation District. It also allows us to initiate work to begin the planning for daylighting Boone Creek, a project that will transform a parking lot into a place for education and natural inspiration, while also improving the resilience of our natural ecosystems.
  • In the more immediate future, the budget also brings with it pay increases and well-deserved bonuses for our employees. Yesterday afternoon, we received guidance and instructions from the UNC System on the Annual Raise Process (ARP) for both EHRA and SHRA employees. The mandatory ARP base salary legislative increase and the legislative bonuses must be implemented no later than a January 2022 payroll, and we will share more details next week on what that timing will look like for App State employees.
  • Beginning with our academic deans and representatives from the City of Hickory and the counties of Catawba, Caldwell and Burke, we are exploring the many possibilities presented by our future App State Hickory Campus. At an event held at our new building on Friday, City of Hickory Mayor Hank Guess lauded App State’s work to “increase educational opportunities in Hickory and to equip our workforce with the skills needed to meet the demands of today’s employers.” The announcement of the campus has garnered media coverage across the state, reaching more than 12 million people in North Carolina and beyond! Conversations about the future App State Hickory campus will also include Catawba Valley Community College, Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute, and Western Piedmont Community College. These key partners in the Aspire Appalachian Co-Admission Program, which provides a seamless pathway for students enrolled at partner community colleges to complete their degrees at App State, are all within a 30 minute drive of the App State Hickory Campus.

  Even with much for our campus to celebrate, our country continues to navigate challenging and divisive situations that also impact our campus community. Interim Chief Diversity Officer Jamie Parson and I have discussed the need for our campus community to have ready access to resources that foster inclusive excellence, including spaces that support both reflection and challenging discussions. Later today, Jamie will send a message to campus with additional information about resources, as well as upcoming forums, for our students, faculty and staff.

  Earlier this week, my leadership team and I reviewed our active COVID-19 case counts with Emergency Management Director Jason Marshburn. As we compared our current data to our data from last year, we reflected on how far we have come. Thank you all for your diligence to COVID safety and your care for one another, which is helping us contain COVID on our campus and enjoy so many experiences this year that were robbed from us in 2020 by an aggressive and unfamiliar virus. In particular, thank you for getting vaccinated. This simple act of care for yourselves and others has made a difference on our campus and the surrounding community, and it will continue to do so.

  Here are the latest COVID data:

  • Our vaccination rates remain unchanged from what we reported on our dashboard on Monday, and they reflect a community dedicated to containing COVID. Our fully vaccinated student rate is 70% and our employee rate is 82%. Watauga County’s rate of those fully vaccinated is 54%, and for North Carolina the rate remains at 56%.
  • Because of the holiday week, our on-campus tests results are from a small number of COVID tests, and have not affected the 0.7% positivity rate that we reported on our campus dashboard on Monday. The county’s latest reported positivity rate is 2.9% and North Carolina’s latest reported rate is 7.5%.

  Good luck to our students and faculty as they prepare for final exams to begin next week, and to our staff who support them — I know you will all finish the semester strong! I extend my sincere appreciation to each of you for helping make our university the premier public undergraduate institution in the Southeast. I wish each of you a safe and restful holiday break.

  
  Sheri Everts, Chancellor

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• 

  Update from Appalachian State University

  Friday, November 19, 2021

  As a proud member of the UNC System, App State applauded the inauguration of President Peter Hans Tuesday. In his remarks, he said the greatest successes in higher education happen “when we build the platforms from which others can rise,” and he emphasized that the health of our country depends on “broadening our vision of who college is for, and who institutions of higher education are meant to serve.”

  This morning, App State closed the sale of the former Corning Optical Communications building on Highway 321 and nearly 16 acres of adjacent land in Hickory for a future campus. Hickory is a vibrant, growing city focused on the lifelong education of its citizens, and until today, it was the largest metropolitan area in the state without a major, public university campus.

  Our future campus in Hickory will allow us to continue to fulfill the mission we have had since 1899 — to increase access to education. We look forward to offering new educational avenues for the more than 371,000 people who live in the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton Metro Area, and to contributing to the Greater Hickory community. I am especially appreciative of the overwhelming support we have received from local leaders and government officials.

  Our deans toured the building with Provost Heather Norris and me this morning, and they have already begun discussing the possibilities for academic programs that can be offered here. As we renovate the building, we will also perform a sustainability audit to assess energy and efficiency needs, as well as opportunities to advance the university’s sustainability mission. We look forward to holding building tours, announcing the specific programs that will be offered in this building and sharing a timeline for opening the doors to the renovated space.

  Earlier this week, I shared with campus an update on the biennial budget bill and I am pleased that Gov. Cooper signed it into law yesterday. After years without funding or authorization for salary increases, this budget includes welcome raises for faculty and staff, enrollment growth funding and historic levels of funding for capital improvements, including $54 million in the current fiscal year to begin work on App State’s Innovation District project. My leadership team and I have advocated for the resources and facilities our campus deserves, and the support for App State in this budget speaks volumes about our university and the quality of the work done by our faculty, staff and students. We appreciate the advocacy and the work of our elected officials, which resulted in critical support for App State and for higher education in North Carolina.

  Amid an exciting week, we have continued our work to manage COVID-19, including encouraging vaccination and hosting testing events.

  • The rate of students who have reported being fully vaccinated has reached 70%, and the employee rate remains steady at 82%. Watauga County saw a slight increase in the rate of those fully vaccinated from last week to 54%, and for North Carolina the rate remains at 56%.
  • Preliminary results from the 965 COVID tests we have conducted on campus so far this week indicate a positivity rate of 0.6%. The positivity rates for both Watauga County and the state are on a downward trend. The county’s latest reported positivity rate is 3.3% and North Carolina’s latest reported rate is 5%.

  The future is bright for App State and for the citizens we serve in North Carolina. Each day, I am so very honored to lead this fine institution and work alongside our faculty, staff and students as we elevate the App State Experience for generations of Mountaineers to come.

  
  Sheri Everts, Chancellor

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• 

  Update from Appalachian State University

  Friday, November 12, 2021

  Yesterday our campus community gathered at our Veterans Memorial for our annual observation of Veterans Day. Our featured speaker was former student and entrepreneur Barbara Ashley, a 35-year active-duty military spouse who offered touching insights into the experiences of military families, and emphasized the importance of recognizing the commitment of our veterans and those who are currently serving in the armed forces. It was our privilege to welcome Barbara and her husband, Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Robert Ashley, recipient of App State’s Distinguished Alumni Award, back to campus. We also shared our appreciation and respect for the veterans in attendance at the event, as well as for each of the 384 student veterans and 76 employee veterans who elevate the App State Experience each day. Thank you to all U.S. military veterans and those who are actively serving our country, and thank you to the military families who support these heroes.

  This week, my leadership team and I concluded a series of meetings we have held each week with leadership representatives from Faculty Senate, Staff Senate, the Council of Chairs, Deans and the Student Government Association to discuss COVID-19 operations. We discussed what we might expect to see in the spring semester, including continuing our efforts to increase vaccination rates, required testing for those who aren’t fully vaccinated and enhanced cleaning and sanitization measures. We will share university guidelines and expectations for the spring 2022 semester soon.

  We remain collectively focused on using our mitigation tools to decrease the spread and the impact of COVID-19 on our campus — the most important being the vaccine.

  • Our current data show the campus rates of those who are fully vaccinated continue to outpace county and state rates: 69% of students and 81% of employees have provided documentation of their fully vaccinated status. For local and statewide context, in Watauga County, the rate of those fully vaccinated is 53%, and for North Carolina, the rate is 56%.
  • Preliminary results from the 1,247 COVID tests we have conducted on campus so far this week indicate a positivity rate of 0.6%. Watauga County’s latest reported positivity rate is 2.8% and North Carolina’s latest reported rate is 5%.

  As world health experts examine how to manage COVID as an endemic virus, these metrics remain important in university decision-making. We will continue our regular consultation with public health experts to ensure we are referencing the most relevant data.

  The 26th annual United Nations Climate Change Conference ends today, and Drs. Lee Ball, Dave McEvoy and Martin Mezner, who have been in attendance, are looking forward to bringing back to our campus the information they have learned about ways we can continue to mitigate our university’s impact on climate change.

  For many years, the university has been working to renegotiate energy contracts as part of our overall commitment to reduce our use of fossil fuels. In early October, I was pleased to report the university is increasing our renewable energy purchase portfolio, and these efforts continue. We are working on an agreement that will convert the power for Leon Levine Hall — our campus’s largest building — to 100% solar beginning in early 2022.

  Spirits were high at our Staff Connect event on Thursday afternoon, highlighting the collaborative spirit and camaraderie that is carrying us into the final weeks of the semester. We look forward to further recognizing veterans, as well as military personnel, first responders and health care workers at Kidd Brewer Stadium during Heroes Day at the App State conference football game against South Alabama on Saturday. As our team likes me to say, Roll ’Neers!

  Each and every day, it is great to be a Mountaineer.

  
  Sheri Everts, Chancellor

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• 

  Update from Appalachian State University

  Friday, November 5, 2021

  Yesterday, the first snow of the season dusted our campus landscape. While short-lived, it energized campus with enthusiasm for future snowstorms — and reminded us the end of the semester is quickly approaching. A regional reporter used one of our webcams to showcase the beautiful sight to a broad audience — garnering nearly 5,000 views within two hours. Particularly during the changing of seasons, the beauty of our campus reminds us how fortunate we are to learn and work in this special place.

  In Glasgow, Scotland, App State leaders are attending the 26th annual United Nations Climate Change Conference. This global collaboration of world leaders and influential business, academic and civic change agents is described by the United Nations as the biggest and most important climate-related conference in the world. Chief Sustainability Officer Lee Ball, Dr. Dave McEvoy, chair of the Department of Economics, and Dr. Martin Meznar, associate dean for global and civic engagement in the Walker College of Business, are representing our university at this event for the first time. They are pursuing opportunities to include our students in future conferences and are exploring ways App State can further employ this significant global platform to address the threats of climate change and build resilience — on our campus and beyond.

  Earlier this week, App State was awarded the 2020–21 Institutional Graduation Rate Award for having the highest overall graduation rate in the Sun Belt Conference. This award recognizes the academic success of not only our student-athletes but of all of our students, and it speaks directly to the culture of academic excellence at App State. We are so very proud to lead the conference with our graduation rate for all students. Congratulations are in order for our outstanding students, faculty and staff for achieving this honor.

  We continue our efforts to reduce the spread of COVID-19 by encouraging vaccination, making testing readily available and providing our campus community with the most up-to-date information at the start and end of every week. Last week was the deadline for faculty and staff to submit proof of full vaccination or be required to report weekly COVID test results. Our COVID data dashboard now reflects the rates of faculty, staff and students who have submitted proof of their full vaccination status. The student vaccination rate excludes students who attend classes exclusively online or remotely, who are not placed in internships, practicums or off-campus university assignments, who do not travel to or attend university events and who do not come to campus.

  • Our current data show the rates of those who have uploaded documentation of their fully vaccinated status are 69% for students and 76% for employees. While we continue our efforts to increase vaccination rates among our students and employees, we are pleased with these numbers and are seeing evidence that increased rates of vaccination are helping to control the spread of COVID-19. For local and statewide context, in Watauga County, the rate of those fully vaccinated is 53%, and for North Carolina, the rate is 56%.
  • Preliminary results from the 1,286 COVID tests we have conducted on campus so far this week indicate a positivity rate of 0.5%. Rates in Watauga County and the state continue a downward trend, with latest reported rates of 2.9% and 4.4%, respectively.

  In honor of Veterans Day, the university has planned a week of events. On Veterans Day, Thursday, Nov. 11, the App State Community will gather at the Veterans Memorial on campus. I invite the campus and greater community to join the presentation of colors by our Army ROTC and hear from our special guest, Barbara Ashley. A former App State student, she will share insights specific to the experiences of military spouses and family members. I hope you will join us as we honor and commend those who have served our country in the armed services, and also acknowledge the contributions and sacrifices made by their families.

  
  Sheri Everts, Chancellor
  

  Learn more

October 2021

• 

  Update from Appalachian State University

  Friday, October 29, 2021

  It’s been a busy week on campus, and excitement is high as we are together in person for Homecoming celebrations, which began Monday with festivities and events for students on campus, and will continue through the weekend. Our Student Affairs and Alumni Affairs offices have a slate of events planned to continue throughout the weekend, and we look forward to welcoming the University of Louisiana Monroe to campus for our Homecoming football game.

  This is a fitting time for us to celebrate the longstanding support of our alumni and the impact their legacies can have on future generations of Mountaineers. Kind and generous alumni and friends continue to make it possible for more students to access higher education and enjoy a richer Appalachian Experience.

  • Tonight, we will honor the recipients of the Fleming Scholarship program, a merit-based scholarship established to honor the legacy of alumnus and former Chief Diversity Officer Dr. Willie Fleming. The scholarship covers full in-state tuition and fees, and includes mentorship from alumni as well as networking and leadership-building opportunities.
  • Earlier this week, we highlighted the Frank Scholars Program, named for and funded by the late Hughlene and Bill Frank, longtime friends and supporters of the university. This scholarship program is already covering 75% of the cost of tuition for a dozen students.

  On Tuesday, local leaders in education, business and government gathered together with campus leaders in the North End Zone building for our regular Community Leaders Breakfast. We were pleased to host this event in Grandview Ballroom and showcase the event space as a resource for our community, as well as our campus. This event is an important forum for discussion as we work together to maintain lasting and strong partnerships across the High Country.

  This week, the Sun Belt Conference announced highly anticipated new additions to the conference in 2023: the University of Southern Mississippi and Old Dominion University. These teams are bringing incredible talent to the conference, and we look forward to challenging and exciting seasons ahead.

  As we return to holding more events in person, I encourage our campus community to remain safety-focused. Our data show that our COVID-19 safety precautions are effective.

  • So far this week, we have tested 1,548 individuals on campus. Preliminary results from these tests indicate a positivity rate of 1.2%, maintaining our trend of lower positivity rates than Watauga County's latest reported rate of 4.4% and the state's latest reported rate of 4.5%.
  • Today is the deadline for faculty and staff to submit proof of full vaccination, and our dashboard update on Monday will replace the employee attestation data with verified vaccine data for faculty and staff. As a reminder, students have been required to submit proof of full vaccination status since the start of the Fall 2021 semester. Monday’s dashboard update will reflect the vaccination rate of students who are participating in on-campus classes and activities, and will exclude the student population attending classes exclusively online or remotely, not placed in internships, practicums, or off-campus university assignments, not traveling or attending university events and that does not come to campus.
  • Our current data show 69% of employees and 66% of students have uploaded documentation of their fully vaccinated status. The rate of those fully vaccinated in Watauga County is currently reported as 53% and for North Carolina, that rate is 55%.

  As we move into our Homecoming weekend, we can be proud of the care and consideration we have shown one another throughout the pandemic, and particularly since our return to campus this Fall. Indeed, #AppStateIsHome. Enjoy your weekend!

  
  Sheri Everts, Chancellor
  

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• 

  Update from Appalachian State University

  Friday, October 22, 2021

  On Wednesday, we welcomed members of the UNC System Board of Governors, System staff and Presidential Scholars to campus for a look into the App State Experience and a tour of campus, including the site of our future Innovation District. Mini-Mountaineer ambassadors from the Academy at Middle Fork guided the group through a showcase of academic programs from each college and several disciplines that also included an exhibition of our solar vehicle.

  Faculty, staff and students – including our mini-Mountaineers – did a terrific job demonstrating App State as the premier public undergraduate institution in the Southeast. As we shared our accomplishments, we also underscored our drive to do more with more.

  Several of our visitors stayed for App State football’s victory against nationally ranked Coastal Carolina — offering our special guests a chance to join a stadium full of Mountaineer fans for a nationally televised game. This historic victory was our first win over a nationally ranked team since moving up to the Football Bowl Subdivision in 2014.

  As we continue to manage the COVID-19 pandemic, our latest data show:

  • Faculty and staff are steadily submitting proof of full vaccination. To date, 38% of employees have uploaded their vaccine documentation, with a deadline of Oct. 29. The vaccination rate of our students remains at 64%. The rate of those fully vaccinated in Watauga County is currently reported as 53% and for North Carolina, that rate is 59%.
    
    
  • So far this week, we have tested 1,515 individuals on campus. The positivity rate of our on-campus tests is 1%, maintaining our trend of lower positivity rates than Watauga County's latest reported rate of 3.7% and the state's latest reported rate of 5.1%. The CDC still classifies Watauga County as an area of high transmission and continues to recommend wearing face coverings in public, indoor settings.

  We are also mindful that flu season is upon us. Health experts urge everyone to get a flu shot to protect themselves and those around them and to boost overall immunity. On campus, we have many opportunities to receive a flu vaccine. Today, we are hosting a flu vaccine clinic for faculty and staff. For those students who were not able to take advantage of the student clinic held earlier this week, another flu vaccine clinic for students is scheduled for Nov. 1. Students can also make appointments for a flu vaccine at Student Health Service.

  Our Homecoming events begin Monday and will continue throughout the week with activities for students, the parade and street festival on Friday evening, and our football game against ULM on Saturday afternoon, which includes an on-field recognition of the classes of 1970 and 1971. We look forward to gathering with students, faculty, staff, alumni, families and friends as we celebrate the many reasons we all consider App State our home away from home!

  
  Sheri Everts, Chancellor
  

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• 

  Update from Appalachian State University

  Friday, October 15, 2021

  Our students and many of our faculty returned from Fall Break, signaling we are midway through the fall semester. I would like to take this time to thank our students, faculty and staff for your diligence in following COVID-19 safety protocols. Our COVID response continues in earnest, and while we did see an increase in positivity rates this week, case counts remain low while our student vaccination rates continue to steadily increase. As a reminder, we update our COVID data dashboard on Mondays, and I report end-of-week data in my weekly Friday emails.

  • The latest reported App State student vaccination rate is 64%. For students who live on campus, that rate is 76%. The vaccination rate for Watauga County’s total population is currently 56%, and for North Carolina, the latest reported rate is 54%.
  • So far this week, we have tested 1,142 students, faculty and staff on campus, with a positivity rate of 2.3%. Watauga County's latest reported positivity rate is 3.2% and North Carolina’s latest reported positivity rate is 5.9%. The CDC continues to keep Watauga County in their “high transmission” category, and, following their guidance, our requirements for face coverings in public, indoor settings remain in place.

  Beginning Monday, all employees will be required to upload a copy of their vaccine cards using this link, which is also posted on the vaccine page and reporting page of the university’s COVID website. My leadership team and I are having weekly meetings with university leaders representing Faculty Senate, Department Chairs, Deans, Staff Senate and the Student Government Association. In these meetings, we have consistently heard that these constituent groups would like to see faculty and staff take the next step, and move from attesting to their vaccine status to providing the same level of vaccine documentation we are requiring from students.

  Required and optional testing continues. In addition to testing clinics for students in residence halls, testing clinics remain open for all students, faculty and staff each Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday afternoon for anyone who wants or needs a COVID test for any reason.

  Provost Heather Norris, Vice Chancellor Hank Foreman and I are continuing our meetings with academic departments, joined by the Deans and other members of the university’s leadership team. Last year at this time, our discussions in these meetings largely centered on the university’s COVID response, and while we continue to discuss COVID to some degree, these conversations are more focused on what we have learned as an institution over the last 19 months and how we can leverage our resilience and innovation to become even better prepared for a post-pandemic higher education landscape. These conversations have been engaging and informative, and have included faculty sharing their research successes, ideas for collaboration across colleges and disciplines, and how planning for our future Innovation District, in particular, can benefit not only the campus community but also the local community, state, region and beyond through continued education, research and outreach.

  As part of a grant with the National Geographic Society, Dr. Baker Perry, in the Department of Geography and Planning, is leading App State’s collaboration with citizen scientists in Nepal to operate and maintain the network of weather stations they installed on Mount Everest in 2019. This week, Provost Norris and I had the pleasure of meeting with Panuru Sherpa, one of the Nepali citizen scientists who helped Baker Perry’s team install the weather stations, and who is helping keep the equipment operational between scientific expeditions. This installation was just recently recognized in the Guinness World Records Book as the highest altitude weather station on land. The stations provide important data — including daily forecasts for Mount Everest and temperature and precipitation readings at the Base Camp — that are informing research around the world, and expanding and deepening our perspectives on climate science.

  Closer to home, this is a beautiful time of year to enjoy the outdoors and all the beauty and resources our region has to offer. The emerging fall colors are a sure sign autumn traditions are on the horizon — including our Homecoming celebrations coming up at the end of the month.

  
  Sheri Everts, Chancellor
  

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• 

  Update from Appalachian State University

  Friday, October 8, 2021

  This afternoon, our faculty and staff will gather for the annual Fall Faculty and Staff Meeting, hosted by Academic Affairs. During the meeting, we will honor our faculty who received the UNC System Board of Governor’s Excellence in Teaching Awards and our Staff Excellence Award winners. Afterwards, I hope faculty and staff will join the Provost and me for a reception — a small expression of our thanks for the incredible work they do each day in support of our students.

  Though we are settling into the normalcy of in-person meetings and events, COVID continues to be an important consideration in everything we do. The latest data prove promising.

  • Worldwide and nationwide, we are seeing significant declines in new cases of COVID, as well as in serious cases that require hospitalization. In North Carolina, active case counts are declining as well, and in Watauga County the rate of positive COVID cases is the second lowest in the state. So far this week, we have tested 1,851 students, faculty and staff on campus, with a positivity rate of 0.5%. Watauga County's latest reported positivity rate is 3.8% and North Carolina’s latest reported positivity rate is 6.4%.
    
    
  • App State’s latest reported student vaccination rate is 60%, and we expect to see this number continue to rise. We have seen a 25% increase in verified, student vaccine card submission since Aug. 23, when we first reported vaccination rates for the semester. The Watauga County, North Carolina and national vaccine rates are 52%, 54% and 56%, respectively.

  These data inform our operational decisions, which we have adjusted countless times since we began the university’s preparation, response and recovery efforts 631 days ago. As we evolve our response to an unpredictable virus, I would like to sincerely thank the staff in Environmental Health, Safety, and Emergency Management and in Student Affairs who are central to our comprehensive COVID management strategy. The leaders in these areas regularly review the latest data, guidance and university resources, and make recommendations to the Vice Chancellors and me. As we consider daily guidance from the UNC System, as well as from federal, state and local public health agencies, these recommendations help us make the most judicious and effective safety decisions possible.

  On Wednesday, I had the pleasure of touring App State’s Sustainable Development Teaching and Research Farm in Ashe County with Provost Heather Norris and Vice Chancellors Hank Foreman and Jane Barghothi. As we ventured through the greenhouse and gardens, the students and staff were harvesting and preparing produce for delivery to Campus Dining. The farm models research-based preservation and, like so many opportunities for our students to learn in our beautiful Western North Carolina region, provides an experiential learning lab for students to expand their knowledge and explore their passions.

  Though we are still dealing with many unknowns, the ground is beginning to feel a little more solid beneath our feet. As our students and some of our faculty are departing for a brief Fall Break, I encourage our campus community to remain committed to following all safety precautions related to COVID-19.

  
  Sheri Everts, Chancellor
  

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• 

  Update from Appalachian State University

  Friday, October 1, 2021

  Since my arrival on App State’s campus in 2014, I have been acutely aware of the high cost of living in the Boone area. Our beautiful location is also one of the most expensive places to live in North Carolina, and this brings with it significant challenges as we seek to recruit and retain talented faculty, staff and students. Yesterday, I sent an email to campus containing a survey that will help us assess the current housing and transportation needs and preferences of our faculty, staff and students. Your voice is important as we work to address a concern that has affected the members of our university community for many years.

  Engaging with campus representatives is a key priority for my leadership team and me, and we appreciate hearing from departments and groups across the university about their priorities and points of pride. These discussions have included sharing successes, research priorities, resource allocations, diversity and inclusion initiatives, and COVID-19 response and recovery efforts, and they inform the decisions we are making for our university.

  • My leadership team and I are hosting weekly, small group discussions with leaders representing Faculty Senate, Staff Senate, the Student Government Association, Graduate Student Senate, academic Department Chairs and Deans.
    
    
  • Earlier this week, Interim Chief Diversity Officer Jamie Parson organized a breakfast for our faculty and staff affinity groups, myself and my leadership team as we work to further elevate diversity and inclusion at App State.
    
    
  • Yesterday, the Staff Senate Executive Board met with members of my leadership team to discuss ways to enhance the work environment for our staff members.
    
    
  • Provost Norris and I are continuing our meetings with faculty from academic departments, joined by Deans and other university leadership team members.

  Our future planning is focused on App State’s role in advancing graduates who are critical thinkers and active participants in developing economically, environmentally and equitably sound communities, and in broadening economic development opportunities for rural areas in Northwestern North Carolina. App State’s future Innovation District is an ambitious enterprise that will have a lasting and powerful impact on the region. This exciting, long-term project has been included in the university’s master planning since 2016, and numerous faculty and staff have worked to develop a vision for it with input from students and alumni. Provost Heather Norris will share more information during next week’s Fall Faculty and Staff Meeting, and we will continue to provide regular updates to campus via communications and the university’s Innovation District webpage.

  Last week, I reported on key sustainability initiatives to the university’s Board of Trustees. One area of significant progress: The university is increasing our renewable energy purchase portfolio from just under 2% to 15%. With this conversion, we also anticipate a cost savings of about half a million dollars. This notable step is the result of many years of work, and is a clear demonstration of many units across the university working cooperatively to effect major purchasing changes. It also includes an important commitment from the student-led, student-funded Renewable Energy Initiative, which voted to contribute $50,000 toward the university’s purchase of hydroelectric power from App State’s electric company, New River Light & Power.

  Across the country, App State is known as a leader among public educational institutions for our sustainability and resilience practices, and we continue making headway in the areas of transportation, purchasing, waste management and land use planning. Chief Sustainability Officer Lee Ball has a campus sustainability update underway that will be shared with campus in the coming weeks.

  As we near the halfway point in the semester, our primary COVID-19 data points are trending in a favorable direction. We remain vigilant in our mitigation efforts. The vaccine is the key to our success in managing the effects of COVID-19 on our campus, and it is what allows us to continue holding in-person classes and events. In advance of our COVID-19 dashboard updates on Monday, here is a look at the latest data:

  • So far this week, we have tested 1,925 students, faculty and staff on campus, with a positivity rate of 2.34%. Watauga County's latest reported positivity rate is 4.5% and North Carolina’s latest reported positivity rate is 7.7%.
    
    
  • The vaccination rate of our students continues to rise and has increased to 60%. The vaccination rate of employees remains steady at 94%. With more than 13,000 of our faculty, staff and students fully vaccinated, the university's overall vaccination rate is currently 64%, exceeding that of Watauga County, which is 52%.

  Collaboration across the university is important to our success, and I appreciate the many faculty, staff and students who are working together to help shape the future of App State — the premier public undergraduate institution in the Southeast.

  
  Sheri Everts, Chancellor
  

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September 2021

• 

  Update from Appalachian State University

  Friday, September 24, 2021

  Today we are hosting meetings of our Board of Trustees — a welcome opportunity to share with them the many successes we have achieved so far this semester. The full board meeting will be livestreamed and my full remarks will be posted to my website later today.

  The educational experience at App State continues to garner national recognition. In addition to our recent rankings by U.S. News & World Report, App State has also been lauded by The Princeton Review and Forbes magazine as a “Best” and “Top” college for 2021 and 2022. As I said in my message last week — and it bears repeating — these affirmations of our educational excellence speak directly to the high-caliber faculty and staff who work alongside our stellar students each day.

  My leadership team and I continue to operate a holistic response and recovery effort in regard to COVID-19. A critical component of this effort is regular meetings with leaders from across campus and we are thankful for this continued collaboration. We also closely monitor trends and make decisions informed by data and by CDC, state and local health guidance. In advance of our dashboard updates on Monday, below is a look at the latest data:

  • Preliminary reports from our testing lab indicate we have tested 1,496 students, faculty and staff on campus this week, with a positivity rate of 1.3%. Watauga County's active cases are on a downward trend, with a latest reported positivity rate of 5.7%, and North Carolina’s latest reported positivity rate, currently at 9.1%, is also on a downward trajectory.
    
    
  • The vaccination rate of our students has increased to 58% and that of employees remains steady at 94%. Of note, 76% of students who live on campus are vaccinated. The university's overall vaccination rate has been steadily rising and is currently at 63%. Our campus vaccination rate exceeds that of Watauga County, which is currently at 51%. On campus, we are seeing an increase in the demand for vaccines, and this week, we hosted four on-campus clinics with the FEMA vaccine team.

  These are important, favorable trends during a time in which we are working to balance a return to in-person activity with the reality that the pandemic is still very much a part of our lives. As we see increases in both testing and vaccination rates and lowering positivity rates on campus, locally and across the state, we are cautiously optimistic these trends will continue.

  Last night, our Mountaineers football team hosted longtime rival Marshall University in Boone for the first time in 25 years. Like so many campus experiences, game day at The Rock is a living tradition that creates new and lasting memories with each season. Today, the Class of 2020 will inaugurate a new campus tradition as they ring the Founders Bell to signify their academic achievements. This kicks off their long-awaited, in-person commencement ceremonies this Saturday, and we are excited to celebrate our graduates!

  From hard-earned accolades to a collective response to a global pandemic, the Appalachian Community proves time and time again that Mountaineer spirit prevails.

  
  Sheri Everts, Chancellor
  

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• 

  Update from Appalachian State University

  Friday, September 17, 2021

  From groundbreaking research and creative endeavors, to engaging first-year experiences and resources for student-veterans, the value of an App State education speaks to the excellence of our faculty, staff and students. App State regularly earns top national rankings for academic excellence, and this year is no exception. The 2022 U.S. News & World Report annual “Best Colleges” rankings, released earlier this week, listed App State as:

  • No. 1 in Most Innovative Schools for the second year.
  • No. 2 in Best Undergraduate Teaching for the second year.
  • No. 2 in Best Colleges for Veterans, up one spot from last year.
  • No. 3 in Top Public Schools for the third year.

  Our dedicated faculty and staff continually find new ways to support and mentor our ambitious and supportive community of students, and these national recognitions affirm their good work.

  Together, we are sustaining a reputation for excellence established 122 years ago. This afternoon, we will celebrate our successes and history during our fourth annual Founders Day. We will also continue our tradition of ringing the Founders Bell as we honor more than a century of educational leadership at App State, and a bold academic mission set forth by B.B., D.D. and Lillie Shull Dougherty. This iconic symbol of App State’s history stands as a visual testament to the university’s enduring legacy of academic excellence that is the foundation of our current standing as the premier public undergraduate institution in the Southeast.

  This weekend students, faculty, staff, alumni, parents, families and special guests will come together to celebrate many important events and milestones, including our first in-person Family Weekend since 2019, the naming of Watson-Brumit Hall in honor of a Mountaineer who is continuing the legacy of our Founders by funding a key scholarship program, the dedication of the plaza outside of Kidd Brewer Stadium in honor of legendary App State Football Coach Jerry Moore and our first home football game of the season. These are opportunities for us to celebrate the past, present and future of App State.

  As excited as we are to celebrate the ability to come together in person in ways we have not in 18 months, and as weary as we are with the ongoing pandemic, we must continue to incorporate safety precautions into our daily lives and routines. Remember that face coverings are required in all indoor locations on campus, and while they are not required outdoors, public health recommendations encourage wearing a face covering in crowded outdoor settings.

  The vaccine remains our greatest defense against COVID-19 and we continue to strongly encourage all Mountaineers to get fully vaccinated. To help make vaccines more available to our university and greater community, on Sunday from 1–5 p.m. and Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., the FEMA mobile vaccine team will be on campus offering Pfizer, Moderna and Janssen vaccines free of charge. I urge everyone who is not yet fully vaccinated to take advantage of these upcoming campus vaccine clinics.

  As an expression of our appreciation to students, faculty and staff for prioritizing the health and well-being of themselves and the entire campus community, we have included the names of everyone who has provided their fully vaccinated status to the university in a pool for prize drawings. In addition to other prizes, I am pleased to share that, to date, we have awarded $100,000 in scholarships to vaccinated students.

  Each Monday, we update our COVID-19 data dashboard, and in my Friday updates, I provide interim updates so our community has the latest information at the beginning and end of each work week. Here is a snapshot of the latest data:

  • Preliminary reports from our testing lab indicate we have tested 2,658 students, faculty and staff on campus this week, with a positivity rate of 1.7%. Watauga County's latest reported positivity rate is 7.8% and the state's latest reported positivity rate is 11%.
    
    
  • The vaccination rate of our students has increased to 57% and that of employees remains at 93%. The university's overall vaccination rate has been steadily rising, and is currently at 62%. Our campus rate exceeds that of Watauga County, which is currently at 51%. We are seeing a marked increase in the demand for vaccines on campus, and as a result, expect the campus vaccination rate will continue to rise in the coming weeks.

  Yesterday, our campus community received a message from Interim CIO Tom Van Gilder about an important campuswide IT assessment underway. It is important we have the IT infrastructure and support that is fitting for an institution of our size and caliber. Coordinated, efficient and secure information technology is critical to support the university’s mission now and in the future, and your input is essential to a successful assessment. I appreciate that Tom has taken on this important project for our campus, and I encourage you to provide your full input.

  The principles that inspired the Founders of Watauga Academy in 1899 continue to move our university forward today. Our commitment to providing a life-changing educational experience remains stronger than ever. We can all be proud of our efforts and achievements as we continue the work of our Founders for centuries to come.

  
  Sheri Everts, Chancellor
  

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• 

  Update from Appalachian State University

  Friday, September 10, 2021

  September is filled with opportunities to engage at App State — through highlights of campus resources, visits from families and alumni, and the recognition of research and creative endeavors.

  Through Sept. 14, Wellness and Prevention Services is presenting our annual Health, Wellness and Safety Week. Next week brings Research and Creative Activity at Appalachian, Founders Day and Family Weekend, followed by our commencement celebration for the Class of 2020 at the end of the month. These events and engagements only heighten our focus on promoting the safety of our campus community.

  As I shared last week, and will reiterate, the COVID-19 vaccine is what allows our university, our community and our state to remain open and fully functional. I am encouraged by the increase this week in students, faculty and staff who have reported their fully vaccinated status to the university.
  
  As a reminder, the university's COVID dashboard is updated on Mondays. Our latest reported numbers for this week indicate:
  

  • The vaccination rate of our students has increased to 55% and that of employees has increased to 92%. The university's overall vaccination rate of 60% exceeds that of Watauga County, which is currently at 50%.
    

  • So far this week, we have tested 1,914 individuals on campus. The positivity rate of our on-campus tests is 3.7%. While we will see higher testing numbers in the coming weeks, this is the largest number of tests we have conducted on campus in a single week this semester, and it is encouraging that the positivity rate is significantly lower than Watauga County's latest reported positivity rate of 9.2% and the state's latest reported positivity rate of 11.3%.

  COVID is a presence in all of our lives. Vaccinations make a difference in containing the spread and severity of COVID-19. While it is still possible to contract COVID regardless of vaccination status, the data are clear that the illness is much more severe in unvaccinated individuals, and that those who are vaccinated are much less likely to contract and transmit COVID to others.
  

  To show our appreciation to those who are responsibly vaccinated, we have been placing the names of faculty, staff and students in a pool for prizes. Over the last several weeks, we have awarded more than 60 students with $1,000 scholarships and distributed many other prizes including AirPods, campus bookstore gift cards and free campus parking.
  
  All students, faculty and staff who have not been vaccinated against COVID must submit test results each week, or get tested at an App State clinic. Both App State and local public health offer COVID testing free of charge. Beginning next week, the university will add additional testing clinics for students, faculty and staff so there will be multiple, on-campus testing clinics each week, in addition to the testing clinics offered by local public health each weekday. New test clinic dates will be added to the university's COVID website soon. With the prevalence of the pandemic in all of our lives, additional testing will not only give us a more complete understanding of the extent to which the virus is on our campus, it will also provide greater peace of mind to those who have concerns about COVID exposure, regardless of vaccination status.
  

  These are beautiful early fall days and it is a privilege to be here on campus. In order to be here together, it is up to all of us to get fully vaccinated, to follow safety precautions and to focus on the well-being of the entire Appalachian Community.

  
  Sheri Everts, Chancellor
  

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• 

  Update from Appalachian State University

  Friday, September 3, 2021

  It is with profound sadness that I share Dr. John E. Thomas passed away yesterday. A beloved member of our campus community, he served as chancellor of App State from 1979–1993. His legacy of innovation — and his strong belief that teaching and research work hand in hand — will be upheld on our campus for centuries to come. He championed the importance of teaching, research and service and, for so many who knew him, he was the embodiment of what it means to be a Mountaineer: kind, thoughtful and community-focused. For me, personally, he was also a trusted mentor and dear friend. Through conversations over a cup of coffee, surprise visits and lighthearted emails, we stayed engaged in one another’s lives for nearly a decade. I will always treasure the time I spent with him. He will forever occupy a special place in my heart and the heart of our campus community.

  Earlier this week, we welcomed UNC System President Peter Hans to our campus. He met with students, faculty and leaders from across the university, who put together engaging tours and presentations underscoring why App State is the premier public undergraduate university in the Southeast. I am incredibly proud of all President Hans saw firsthand: our high-quality academic programs, our impressive facilities and, most importantly, our faculty, staff and students, who are truly the heart of our university. As we shared with President Hans what we have accomplished, we also demonstrated the potential our campus has to achieve so much more with a funding model that matches our caliber and the distinction we have earned.

  We remain vigilant and data-driven in our approach to managing the effects of the pandemic. Our goal is to keep classes in person and, at this time, we have no plans to move our in-person classes online. We will continue making data-driven decisions, informed by public health guidance.

  • The vaccination rates of our students (currently 52%) and employees (currently 89%) are increasing and exceed those of Watauga County.
    
    
  • So far this week, we have tested 1,345 people, with a positivity rate of 5%, well below North Carolina’s latest reported positivity rate of 12.6% and below the national rate of 7.7%.
    
    
  • None of the active cases in our students, faculty or staff are hospitalized.
    
    
  • We will continue to keep the university community informed via weekly messages from me, our campus operations updates and our COVID data dashboard.

  As positivity rates and hospitalizations rise across the state, the key to managing the severity of the impact is the COVID vaccine. We are focused on vaccinating our campus community because vaccinated individuals are less likely to contract COVID and if they do contract it, they are less likely to be hospitalized, experience long-term effects and die of COVID-19. The vaccine reduces the severity of the illness, lowers the stress on our medical system and allows the university, our community and our state to remain open and fully functional.

  To gain a more complete picture of the spread of COVID-19 on campus, we will adjust our testing strategy, beginning next week. Rather than placing those who have not reported their fully vaccinated status into a randomized testing pool, beginning next week everyone who has not reported their status as fully vaccinated will be required to get tested each week. Our weekly COVID-19 testing events held each Wednesday are one opportunity to fulfill this requirement, and they are also open to any student, faculty or staff member who would like to get tested, regardless of vaccination status.

  If you are not yet fully vaccinated, or if you have not yet reported your vaccination status, please do so as quickly as possible.

  Last Friday marked the UNC System’s census day, during which we officially determined our enrollment for the 2021–22 academic year. I am pleased to share some remarkable milestones that demonstrate that students have put their trust in App State during the pandemic. In particular, our landmark total enrollment of 20,641 and our steady increases in the enrollment of underrepresented, transfer and App State Online students reflect our university’s commitment to making higher education accessible for all students.

  • First-year enrollment growth has broken a new record at more than 4,000 students, undergraduate enrollment is up nearly 3%, and graduate student and App State Online enrollment are each up more than 6% from 2020.
    
    
  • Underrepresented student enrollment has reached an historic high. Just over 19% of the total first-year population identifies as underrepresented, an increase of 5.7% since last year. We have more than doubled our first-year underrepresented enrollment since 2014 and, in the same time period, we have increased our total underrepresented student population by 66%.
    
    
  • Enrollment from rural populations has surpassed our goals three years early with 34.3% of in-state, degree-seeking undergraduate students from rural populations. First-generation undergraduate students compose 32% of the undergraduate student body.
    
    
  • The transfer student population has grown by nearly 5% since last year.

  Our slow and steady growth since 2014 is critically important to the future of App State. It directly impacts our financial stability and our ability to attract and retain high-caliber students who will go on to make positive contributions to North Carolina’s workforce and far beyond.

  Over the last week, Mountaineers from near and far engaged in the Queen City Takeover, which culminated with last night’s App State football game against East Carolina University. It was incredible to see Bank of America Stadium filled with black and gold fans cheering on our team — an experience topped only by our first win of the season! We look forward to many more this season!

  Each year, new generations of Mountaineers entrust our university with their education. Our faculty and staff foster lifelong relationships with these students as they help shape their Appalachian Experience. We are grateful for the opportunity to guide our students as they grow personally and professionally — now and long into their futures.

  
  Sheri Everts, Chancellor
  

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August 2021

• 

  Update from Appalachian State University

  Friday, August 27, 2021

  As we conclude our second week of classes, I offer my sincere thanks to the students, faculty and staff who are complying with the safety precautions in place to help mitigate COVID-19. As someone who has battled cancer in the last year, I am in a medical category for which additional COVID-prevention precautions are recommended. While getting my booster vaccine this week, my thoughts turned — with heartfelt appreciation — to everyone who has become fully vaccinated or is in the process of becoming fully vaccinated. Every single vaccinated person contributes to a safer face-to-face learning environment for the entire Appalachian Community.

  While we will update our COVID-19 data dashboard on Monday, our current vaccination rates are 51% for students and 87% for employees. Vaccination rates are an important metric for determining operations and safety measures. If you have not already done so, please submit your vaccine status so we can count you among those who have reported they are vaccinated. You will also be eligible to win scholarships and other prizes, you will be exempt from weekly COVID testing and you are less likely to have to quarantine if you are exposed to an active case of COVID.

  If you are fully vaccinated, you have an important voice to share. Please encourage your friends, loved ones and peers to get vaccinated and to share their fully vaccinated status with the university.

  Today, the 10th day after the start of the fall semester, is the day we officially determine our enrollment for the 2021–22 academic year. While the final numbers will be released later today, we expect to have some exciting successes to share, which are particularly meaningful since they were accomplished amid the immense challenges presented by a global pandemic. The value of an App State education is lasting and is the result of the collective efforts of the entire Appalachian Community. Our faculty excel at teaching, research, creative endeavors and service. Our staff are dedicated to the well-being and success of our students. Our students compose an ambitious and supportive community of learners. Together, we are carrying forward the legacy of our founders, more than 120 years in the making.

  This week also brought opportunities to engage with our campus community.

  • The Chancellor’s Student Advisory Board — which focuses on supporting diverse recruitment — joined me for lunch on Tuesday. They shared their successes and challenges from the past year, and we discussed their goals for the upcoming year and how our community can support their work. I look forward to seeing all they accomplish this year!
    
    
  • On Thursday afternoon, I had the pleasure of speaking at an open house event for Mountain Laurel Hall, our university’s first dedicated residence hall for transfer students. I was able to visit with our transfer students and thank the many dedicated staff and faculty members who create engaging programming and robust support services for these students.

  As the Appalachian Community continues to grow and change, we are excited about the potential of our students who will, beyond doubt, continue to make real and powerful differences in communities across the state, the nation and the world.

  
  Sheri Everts, Chancellor
  

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• 

  Update from Appalachian State University

  Friday, August 20, 2021

  With classes underway, it's been a busy and exciting week at App State. Classrooms, the Student Union, the library and Sanford Mall are filled with students, and the energy on campus is high. Welcome Week activities continued, our women's soccer team won their first game of the season and our highly decorated solar vehicle team took a victory lap around campus and Downtown Boone to celebrate their first-place win in the American Solar Challenge. In less than two weeks, we will kick off our football season in Charlotte with a highly anticipated game against East Carolina University, and we are getting ready to show ECU how App State does a Queen City Takeover!

  We continue to closely follow state and local public health guidance and monitor COVID-19 data and trends. Models indicate we will see an increase in positive cases in the coming weeks. Vigilance is critical.

  All Mountaineers should get fully vaccinated against COVID-19. While we are requiring face coverings in all indoor campus locations and continuing our enhanced cleaning and sanitization measures, I cannot overstate the importance of becoming fully vaccinated.
  

  • Those who are unvaccinated are 400% more likely to get COVID-19 than those who are fully vaccinated according to NC Department of Health and Human Services. The CDC indicates that infections, even the Delta variant, happen in only a small proportion of people who are fully vaccinated, and that symptoms tend to be mild. We are seeing this locally as well — severe cases and hospitalizations are occurring at much higher rates among those who are unvaccinated.

  • Because the likelihood of spreading the virus and variants is lower among those who are vaccinated, vaccinated individuals who have been exposed to someone with COVID are not required to quarantine if they are not exhibiting symptoms.
    

  • Ultimately, when enough people are vaccinated, everyone's risk of contracting COVID will lessen to the point at which this virus will not be the most prevalent consideration in our daily decision-making.

  With advisement from local public health, we will launch our COVID-19 data dashboard for Fall 2021 on Monday, Aug. 23, in order to inform our campus about the efficacy of our university's COVID suppression efforts. Preliminary information indicates that more than 47% of our students and 85% of our employees have reported that they are fully vaccinated. This is good news, but we must do better.

  • As a reminder, those who have not provided their vaccination status will be subject to weekly COVID-19 testing. This targeted testing is already underway, and we will begin testing larger groups next week.
    
    
  • This week we placed the names of students, faculty and staff who have submitted their full vaccination status into a pool for prize drawings, including parking passes, $1,000 scholarships for students and tickets to Mountaineers football games. Our first winners will be notified via email this afternoon. This is just one way we are showing our appreciation for those who are helping to protect themselves, our campus and the greater community, and we will continue to do so.
    

  As fall semester gets underway, we are once again reminded how meaningful it is to be back to a full Appalachian Experience. I am confident our students, faculty and staff will continue to prioritize the health and safety of the App State community.
  

  
  Sheri Everts, Chancellor
  

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• 

  Update from Appalachian State University

  Friday, August 13, 2021

  The joyful sights and sounds on our campus this week signaled the start of a new academic year — proud families helping their Mountaineers move into residence halls, students exploring their homes away from home and Sanford Mall once again filled with students enjoying outdoor activities. Our campus is invigorated by this renewed energy!

  We remain cautious and safety-focused. In my conversations with our students, faculty and staff, it is understood that the COVID-19 pandemic is not over.
  

  We must continue to be vigilant:

  • Get fully vaccinated from COVID-19, if you have not done so already.
  • Submit your vaccination status by Aug.16.
  • Wear face coverings indoors.
  • Stay informed by reading the latest university updates.

  Faculty, staff and students can get vaccinated on campus at Student Health Service. Beginning Monday, Aug. 16, every student, faculty and staff member who has submitted their full vaccination status will be placed into a pool for prize drawings, which include free parking passes, gift cards for on-campus dining and community businesses, football getaway weekends and more. Additionally, students will be eligible to win $1,000 scholarships.

  Faculty, staff and students continue to attest their vaccination status as they arrive on campus and in the local community. On Monday, Aug. 23, we will launch our COVID-19 data dashboard for Fall 2021. With the advisement of local public health, we are determining the metrics that will most effectively inform our campus about the university's COVID suppression efforts.

  Our campus experts also serve as important resources for information for our campus and the community. Two recent examples include:
  

  • Dr. Kurt Michael has offered expert advice for transitioning back to face-to-face social situations.
  • Jason Marshburn was interviewed this week about the university's COVID safety measures with Boone Chamber of Commerce President and CEO David Jackson.

  The entire App State community has been cheering on our solar vehicle team, Team Sunergy, as they competed in the 2021 American Solar Challenge. This rigorous competition tests the limits of groundbreaking sustainable technology, problem-solving skills and teamwork. Team Sunergy, finished in first place for multi-occupant vehicles — winning all three stages from Missouri to New Mexico, clocking a total of 964.8 miles and also earning awards for teamwork and electrical design.
  

  Our students were outstanding representatives of App State and excelled among a roster of highly elite institutions. Team Sunergy is the epitome of true Mountaineer spirit and I am extraordinarily proud of their ingenuity, perseverance and teamwork. Read more about how they earned a podium spot in this challenging race.
  

  Earlier this week, I toured campus with members of my leadership team to ensure we are ready for classes to begin on Monday. With welcome week events in full swing, our university is bustling with activity and anticipation of a great fall semester to come.

  
  Sheri Everts, Chancellor
  

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• Update from Appalachian State University

  Friday, August 6, 2021

  Below is a special welcome message for the members of our university community, which could not be more heartfelt:

  Students are beginning to arrive on campus for the fall semester, and by the end of next week, 6,200 students will be settled into residence halls. We are so excited to be providing a full Appalachian Experience for our students once again — many will be continuing their time as Mountaineers while others are just beginning.

  As we return to pre-pandemic operations:

  • We will maintain our practice of making data-driven decisions about COVID safety that are informed by the latest guidance from federal, state and local public health agencies, as well as guidance from the UNC System.
    
    
  • We will continue to adapt our protocols, procedures and policies as necessary to best protect the safety and well-being of our university community.

  The pandemic is still very much with us. I cannot stress more urgently how essential it is for our continued in-person experience that we all get vaccinated against COVID-19. The vaccine is the single most effective tool we have to prevent serious illness and death from COVID-19, and to slow the spread of the virus.

  If you haven’t yet read the latest university operations update, which was sent to campus Wednesday, I encourage you to do so. It includes details about COVID safety protocols for fall semester. Most importantly:

  • Face coverings are now required in all indoor campus locations due to cases rising in Watauga County and the county moving to the category of “substantial” transmission rates.
    
    
  • Students, faculty and staff who have not uploaded their vaccine status will be required to participate in regular, randomized COVID-19 testing. Visit the vaccine page of App State’s coronavirus website for additional information, including how to submit your COVID vaccine status.

  As the fall semester gets underway, I will continue to regularly share campus updates and COVID safety guidance.

  App State is rooting for our solar vehicle team, Team Sunergy. Last weekend, the team took second place in its class at the 2021 Formula Sun Grand Prix in Topeka, Kansas, and qualified for the American Solar Challenge — a nearly 1,000-mile road race from Missouri to New Mexico that began on Tuesday and concludes tomorrow. Yesterday, driven by seniors Jessica Navarro-Luviano and Stephany Garcia Henao, App State’s vehicle summited a nearly 8,000-foot mountain pass in Colorado — one of only three in the race to do so!

  We will be thrilled to welcome Team Sunergy home, along with all the rest of our remarkable Mountaineers.

  
  Sheri Everts, Chancellor
  

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July 2021

• 

  Update from Appalachian State University

  Friday, July 30, 2021

  Campus activity is ramping up as students will soon move into residence halls and classes will begin for the fall semester on Aug. 16. The latest operations update was sent to campus yesterday. If you haven’t yet read it, I encourage you to do so, as it includes details about COVID safety protocols for fall semester, including links for students, faculty and staff to upload their vaccine status. Having data about the vaccine status of our university community will be key to our ability to make informed safety policy and protocol decisions, and I greatly appreciate the nearly 30% of faculty and staff who have, since yesterday, attested their vaccine status.

  As the fall semester approaches and gets underway, additional guidance and more frequent communications will be sent to campus.

  Yesterday, Governor Cooper announced a new Executive Order, EO224, and updated the state’s Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) guidance.

  • The EO224 requirements do not apply to UNC institutions or employees.
    
    
  • The NCDHHS guidance, which isn’t mandated under the Executive Order, is in line with the latest guidance of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and recommends various COVID-19 protocols for both unvaccinated and vaccinated individuals. We are reviewing these carefully.
    
    
  • Gov. Cooper also confirmed that all face covering requirements under the previous Executive Order EO220 will expire today at 5 p.m. and will not be renewed.

  The Vice Chancellors and I meet daily to review the latest guidance and discuss the university's COVID response and recovery efforts. The safety of the university community is our utmost priority and we continue to take the global pandemic very seriously.

  • Since the start of the pandemic, we have relied on data and guidance from the UNC System as well as public health guidance from the CDC and state and local public health agencies to inform our decisions in regard to COVID-19 safety policies and protocols. The updated university guidance we shared yesterday is in line with the latest federal, state and local public guidance.
    
    
  • After 18 months of actively responding to COVID-19, we are acutely aware that guidance necessarily must change as circumstances change and new information is available. We review all information, guidance and directives carefully to determine how they apply to App State. We will continue to make data-driven decisions based on the latest public health recommendations.
    
    
  • A team led by Emergency Management Director Jason Marshburn and Dr. Alex Howard, Assistant Vice Chancellor and Director of Wellness and Prevention Services, meets regularly to review the latest data, guidance and university resources, and makes recommendations to the Vice Chancellors and me. The Vice Chancellors and I review these recommendations each week, in addition to our daily meetings to review and discuss the latest information available from the UNC System, as well as federal, state and local public health agencies.

  In a few weeks we will begin a new academic year with the benefit of 18 months of data, guidance that has been developed by the best medical experts in the world and the most powerful tool available that has been proven to stop the severity and the spread of COVID-19 and its variants — a plentiful supply of vaccine.

  • The COVID vaccine is key to a successful fall semester. If you haven’t yet had the vaccine, please do so now. On campus, faculty, staff and students can make an appointment at Student Health Service by calling 828-262-3100.
    
    
  • The CDC is recommending vaccinated individuals wear face coverings in areas with “substantial” or “high” rates of transmission. Watauga County is currently an area of “moderate” transmission. We are closely monitoring our county transmission rates, and will post the county’s transmission status on the university’s homepage, as well as the university’s coronavirus website. Face coverings will be available for classrooms, and in academic departments and public areas throughout campus.
    
    
  • The enhanced sanitation procedures and rigorous cleaning schedules put in place last year will continue. Please use the hand sanitizer stations across campus and the sanitizing wipes provided in each classroom.

  The last few weeks have also brought important discussions and momentous occasions.

  • Today, we will cut the ribbon on Laurel Creek Residence Hall — the third new hall to open on our campus in the last year! I am proud of the team that completed these buildings on time and under budget despite the challenges presented by the pandemic, and am pleased that our perseverance also helped contribute to the local economy during especially challenging economic times. These buildings, and the many other projects in progress on our campus, represent the future of App State. At a time when the focus is very much on the day to day, we also have our sights on the horizon — anticipating the needs of the Appalachian Community and planning for generations of Mountaineers to come.
    
    
  • Team Sunergy, App State’s solar vehicle team, is in Topeka, KS, representing App State in an international competition in which they will race the App State solar car on the Heartland Motorsports Park track in the Formula Sun Grand Prix, a three-day track race that begins today. Next week, they will join the American Solar Challenge, a five-day, cross-country road race that spans nearly 1,000 miles from Missouri to New Mexico. We are so proud of our team, which has persevered through the pandemic to represent App State at these competitions for the fourth time, inspiring others and testing the limits of what can be accomplished with the power of the sun.
    
    
  • Last week, at the meetings of the UNC System Board of Governors, I represented App State as a member of the Committee on Budget and Finance. During the full board meeting, President Hans reinforced the value of System institutions’ collaboration with community colleges, and also recognized App State as a Literacy Innovation Leader. The rich heritage of our institution has always been focused on student learning, and we are proud to be part of these important UNC System initiatives, which will create profound and lasting positive effects for the future of North Carolina.

  Although the last year and a half has taken a toll on all of us, we have demonstrated our ability to persevere and come together as a community to problem-solve under the most difficult of circumstances. I sincerely thank every faculty and staff member for their hard work to ensure our university is ready to provide a meaningful experience for all Mountaineers this fall. We all look forward to welcoming our students back to campus soon!

  
  Sheri Everts, Chancellor
  

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• 

  Update from Appalachian State University

  Friday, July 16, 2021

  Exactly one month from today classes will begin for the fall, and face-to-face interactions will once again be the norm. 

  As we prepare for the coming semester, faculty and staff across campus are continuing ongoing efforts and initiating new programs to create an exceptional experience for our students.

  • Provost Heather Norris and I are hosting a new, three-week comprehensive leadership workshop for chairs of academic departments, presented by the Division of Academic Affairs. This workshop ensures these campus leaders have access to important resources and information needed to foster the success of their students and faculty. The first week has been full of engaging conversations, and I have greatly appreciated spending time with these key campus leaders.

  • Our newly digitized textbook rental program is already providing tremendous value to students. This digital addition to the program — only the second of its kind in the country — offers equitable access to most course materials for all students, and provides our students with convenient access (online or offline) to their materials before their classes begin.

  • Later today, I will greet donors and student scholarship recipients at the Appalachian Scholarship Celebration. This annual event offers the chance for our donors to meet and hear stories from students whose lives they have forever changed through their generosity and leadership. Scholarships are vital to our efforts to promote access and inclusion on our campus. These donors are helping open doors and lessening the burden of debt for students, making it feasible for them to earn a degree from the premier public undergraduate institution in the Southeast.

  We continue to urge all Mountaineers to get vaccinated to help protect our community, especially children under 12 and immunocompromised individuals who are unable to take the vaccine. This week, ECU Chancellor Rogers accepted my challenge to see which university can vaccinate the most students before the highly anticipated football game between our two schools on Sept. 2. Let’s show them how to do it, Mountaineers!

  This summer, our university and faculty have received prestigious recognitions from the UNC System that reflect App State’s far-reaching influence.

  • An App State research team was one of three from the UNC System to be awarded a grant through the University of North Carolina’s Research Opportunities Initiative (ROI), marking the first time our university has been selected as a lead principal investigator on an ROI grant. Led by Dr. Rahman Tashakkori, chair of the Department of Computer Science, the project aims to answer key questions on bee hive health, development and genomic diversity. App State will partner with a faculty member from UNC Charlotte for this project.

  • App State was selected by the UNC System as one of six institutions to receive recurring grants from the North Carolina Principal Fellows Program. As part of the program, the Reich College of Education will partner with 12 school districts and the Northwest Regional Educational Service Alliance to train and support future principals through the university’s school administration program.

  At our Staff Connect networking event earlier this week, it was clear our campus is starting to bustle with renewed energy and in-person experiences. With safety directing our decisions, we are getting back to the people, places and activities we love.

  
  Sheri Everts, Chancellor
  

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June 2021

• 

  Update from Appalachian State University

  Friday, June 18, 2021

  With each passing day, App State’s campus is looking and feeling more like pre-pandemic operations. Today we hosted a meeting of our Board of Trustees and we welcomed the opportunity to see our Trustees in person. These meetings are always a welcome opportunity to highlight the important work taking place at App State and to share our appreciation for the many ways our Trustees advocate for and champion our university.

  In my remarks, I shared insights into our plans for a full return to pre-pandemic operations in the fall semester, updates about our campus construction projects and fundraising efforts, and spotlights of our extraordinary faculty, staff and students. You may read my remarks in full here.

  With regret I also announced an important staffing update. Vice Chancellor for Business Affairs Paul Forte has announced his decision to leave our university, effective July 31. Since joining App State in 2016, Paul has provided expert administrative oversight of finance and administration, facilities operations and the areas that manage university safety and security. At each turn, Paul found fiscally sound methods to carry out my direction: from ensuring our P3 projects were financially viable, to allocating resources for faculty and staff salary increases, to re-assigning staff who would otherwise have been furloughed. In the process, he has helped our institution become financially stronger, has earned university-wide respect and admiration, and has become not only an esteemed colleague but also a dear friend.

  Sharon Bell has assumed the position of Interim Chief Financial Officer, effective immediately, and I know you join me in thanking Sharon for taking on this role. A national search for a Vice Chancellor for Business Affairs will be announced soon.

  Tomorrow is Juneteenth, and as Interim Chief Diversity Officer Jamie Parson shared in her message to campus, President Joe Biden signed a bill yesterday designating Juneteenth as a federal holiday. Jamie will represent App State at the unveiling of the new historical marker for the Junaluska community — Boone’s historic African American community — during a ceremony in downtown Boone tomorrow evening. Many thanks to Jamie for her leadership as she continues to move forward our diversity and inclusion initiatives and find new ways to celebrate and recognize underrepresented populations.

  This summer stands in stark contrast to the summer of 2020, when we were at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Our plans now focus on returning to normalcy and encouraging the Appalachian Community and beyond to get vaccinated. We are less than two months from the first day of classes for fall 2021 and it cannot get here soon enough!

  
  Sheri Everts, Chancellor
  

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May 2021

• 

  Update from Appalachian State University — week of May 24–28

  Friday, May 28, 2021

  On Monday, the university will be closed in observance of Memorial Day — a day honoring those who gave their lives in service to our country. This morning, Air Force veterans Christy Cook, a faculty member in the Department of Marketing and Supply Chain Management, and David Cook, a staff member in the Office of the Chancellor, placed a wreath at our Veterans Memorial to commemorate this important occasion. We appreciate their dedication to the university and to our country, and thank them for helping honor those who died while serving in the U.S. military.

  On June 1, Dr. Willie Fleming, our first cabinet-level Chief Diversity Officer, is retiring. Willie has been long beloved and respected by faculty, staff and students, and I know you join me in thanking him for his decades of dedicated work to prioritize diversity, equity and inclusion at App State. While we will miss Willie’s presence on campus, he will always be a Mountaineer! As I announced on May 6, Jamie Parson has already begun transitioning into the role of Interim Chief Diversity Officer. Jamie is a proven leader of inclusive excellence at App State who is sustaining and advancing our diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, and I appreciate her continued leadership as she steps into this important role.

  With summer upon us and safety ever at the forefront of our decisions, the hope, excitement and anticipation of the Appalachian Community for a robust fall semester rise. As we work to bring our faculty and staff back to campus and to prepare for a fall semester with pre-pandemic operations, we are regularly updating our university’s COVID-19 website and our Summer and Fall 2021 Guide to Campus Operations. We continue to emphasize the importance of the COVID-19 vaccine in getting back to the people, places and activities we love, and we are proud to be part of North Carolina’s vaccination efforts. Every student, faculty and staff member should get vaccinated against COVID-19. You can find more information about COVID-19 vaccines and our next community vaccine clinic here.

  As I have walked through campus during the last 15 months of the global pandemic, the beauty of our university — both the physical landscape and the heart of our Mountaineers — has been a source of inspiration and hope. I know we all look forward to once again seeing our campus bustling with energy and in-person activity.

  
  Sheri Everts, Chancellor
  

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• 

  Update from Appalachian State University — week of May 17–21

  Friday, May 21, 2021

  The first Summer Session begins Monday. As we look forward to our signature summer events, such as An Appalachian Summer Festival, we continue to welcome prospective students and families to campus for in-person tours. Across campus, units are busily preparing for fall 2021. As we refine our plans for the fall semester, we are beginning a return to pre-pandemic operations with safety precautions in place. We will share operations updates via email, and the latest information and guidance may be found on the university’s coronavirus website.

  Almost exactly 14 months ago, we announced our first campus case of COVID-19. I am proud to report, as of the first of this week, our active cases are at almost zero. While we know the pandemic is not over, this is a tremendous milestone and one that required the dedication of every Mountaineer. I am so very proud of how our campus and community have come together to take care of one another.

  The COVID-19 vaccine is our single best hope for ending the pandemic and getting back to the people, places and activities we love. At App State, we continue to offer COVID-19 vaccines to anyone in North Carolina age 18 and older. Our next clinic is scheduled for Thursday, May 27, from 9 a.m.–noon in the Blue Ridge Ballroom of Plemmons Student Union. Every student, faculty and staff member should get vaccinated against COVID-19. If you have not yet done so, please get vaccinated as soon as possible — I am providing each person who gets vaccinated at the upcoming clinic a $10 Campus Dining card as a thank-you for prioritizing the health and safety of yourself and all those around you.

  While we continue our work to overcome the pandemic, our expert faculty and staff remain focused on creating a supportive and academically challenging environment for students on our campus and beyond. I am so pleased to help share some recent accolades and accomplishments they have earned. I hope you will join me in congratulating:

  • Dr. Maggie Sugg, assistant professor in the Department of Geography and Planning, who received the prestigious CAREER Award from the National Science Foundation’s Faculty Early Career Development Program. This award is given to early career faculty who have the potential to serve as academic role models in research and education, and to lead advances in the mission of their department or organization.
  • Dr. Alex Howard, interim assistant vice chancellor in the Division of Student Affairs and director of Wellness and Prevention Services, who was named one of the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce’s 4 Under 40 in the education professional category.
  • Drs. Rahman Tashakkori, Cindy Norris and Jay Fenwick, faculty members in the Department of Computer Science, who were awarded a National Science Foundation grant to create and implement Computer Science for All, a program designed to expand access to and diversify computer science education for students at rural high schools in the Appalachian region of North Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia.

  We have much to celebrate as we see COVID-19 restrictions lifting and look forward to the upcoming fall semester. Together, we have helped slow the spread of COVID-19 and we are starting to see the first glimpses of a return to pre-pandemic campus life. We will remain focused on safety and vaccinations, and appreciative to be part of this resilient community.

  
  Sheri Everts, Chancellor
  

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• 

  Update from Appalachian State University — week of May 10–14

  Friday, May 14, 2021

  App State’s Spring 2021 Commencement was momentous, with more than 3,600 graduates honored during 13 in-person ceremonies over the course of five days, in addition to a virtual conferral of degrees. The heart of our commencement was captured by the excited smiles of our graduates, and the pride radiating from their many supporters and loved ones who were celebrating from near and far.

  The photos capturing the celebration help tell the story of our graduates marking a most defining moment in their academic careers. We are so very proud of the Class of 2021, particularly for the determination they exhibited under historically challenging circumstances. Their experiences at App State have taught them new ways to innovate and persevere, and I am certain as alumni they will continue to make real and powerful differences in their communities and beyond.

  Our in-person commencement ceremonies were attended by 4,420 individuals and viewed, via livestream, more than 30,000 times. While faculty and staff participation was limited due to COVID-19 safety restrictions, each academic college also held celebrations for the Class of 2021, and we were pleased to be joined in the Holmes Convocation Center by mace bearers Paul Orkiszewski, Drs. Robin Byerly, Rodney Duke, Beth Fiske, Barbara Howard, Marie Huff, Jeff Vahlbusch and Sandra Vannoy, and Appalachian Police Department Capt. Johnny Brown. I am very grateful to Drs. Mark Bradbury and Jay Jackson, who carried the university banner and read the names of our graduates as they crossed the stage. I was also pleased that Dr. Caroline Smith, associate professor in the Department of Health and Exercise Science, was recognized by UNC Board of Governors representative C. Philip Byers for being App State’s winner of the UNC Board of Governors’ 2021 Excellence in Teaching Award.

  Our celebrations helped mark the end of a year of incredible campus-wide efforts managing the many impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. While we recognize this work will continue, we do feel a sense of optimism, driven not only by recent guidance and announcements from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as well as Governor Cooper, but also by our campus data, which show our collective efforts to get vaccinated and to follow safety guidelines are effective. We closed out the academic year having conducted 57,370 COVID-19 tests on campus, having administered 4,340 COVID-19 vaccines to faculty, staff, students and the general public, and having only two active COVID-19 cases — the lowest number of active COVID-19 cases since June 2020.

  Our next operations update will be sent to campus on Monday, and will reflect any changes necessary in light of Governor Cooper’s announcement today.

  The end of the academic year and our Spring 2021 Commencement ceremonies remind us of all we have accomplished during a most challenging year. Thank you to each of our faculty, staff and students — you all overcame incredible difficulties with grace and unwavering resilience.

  
  Sheri Everts, Chancellor
  

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• 

  Update from Appalachian State University — week of May 3–7

  Friday, May 7, 2021

  Today we were thrilled to honor the Class of 2021 during our first of 13 in-person commencement ceremonies since December of 2019. After a year and a half, it was moving to see graduates in regalia and loved ones looking on with pride. We are so very pleased we can offer in-person ceremonies. As more and more people get vaccinated, we look forward to fewer COVID-19 restrictions, a return to the personal interactions we all miss and a fully in-person fall semester. I encourage you to look through these images to experience many touching tributes for and from our graduates that offer a look into the lasting relationships built among Mountaineers.

  Our commencement website also includes a virtual conferral of degrees for those who chose not to, or were unable to, participate in the ceremonies on campus, and the website will offer daily links to the livestreamed ceremonies so graduates and their families can relive this momentous occasion at any time.

  As we conclude the spring 2021 semester and look ahead to the summer and fall, I want to thank our faculty for completing this semester with grace and excellence; our staff for unrelenting and often extraordinary support; and our students for your collective good spirit, enthusiasm and fresh perspectives.

  Through campus communications and public health campaigns in the local community, we continue to champion the importance of getting vaccinated and following all safety precautions related to COVID-19. We update our dashboard with weekly data each Monday, and the totals for this week thus far are below:

  • To date, we have administered 4,280 COVID-19 vaccines to faculty, staff, students and the general public.
    
    
  • We have conducted 57,257 COVID-19 tests on campus, to date, and this week we have conducted 295 COVID-19 tests, with a positivity rate of 1.02% — significantly lower than the state’s latest positivity rate of 4.4%.

  This morning I was proud to announce Dr. Heather Hulburt Norris has been named provost and executive vice chancellor after serving as interim provost since February 2020. She has earned respect and trust across campus, and I appreciate her passion for advancing the success of our great university.

  Congratulations are also in order for renowned climate scientist Dr. Baker Perry, who was once again featured in National Geographic, and gained international attention for his groundbreaking work. After helping to install the highest weather station in the world on Mount Everest, he recently served as co-lead of an expedition to place a weather station just below the summit of the Tupungato Volcano in Chile — making it the highest weather station in the Southern and Western hemispheres.

  The final weeks of the semester have been filled with important end-of-academic-year meetings. Last week, I appreciated the opportunity to share university updates and engage in discussions with several groups, including the university’s Diversity and Inclusion Accountability Team and Faculty Senate. My remarks to Faculty Senate are available to read here. Last Friday’s campus budget presentations for our faculty and staff shared the major goals and accomplishments of the last year, and the budget priorities for the coming year.

  As we celebrate our graduates, our hearts also remain with the many people affected by last week's tragedy. Please remember counseling resources for students, as well as for faculty and staff, are available.

  I look forward to presiding over our remaining commencement ceremonies in the coming days as we honor the accomplishments of the Class of 2021 and the unwavering support of our faculty, staff and App State families.

  
  Sheri Everts, Chancellor
  

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April 2021

• Message from Chancellor Sheri Everts

  Friday, April 30, 2021

  Wednesday’s tragic incident that took the lives of two courageous Watauga County Sheriff’s deputies and two App State alumni has shocked and saddened the Appalachian Community.

  Sgt. Chris Ward and K-9 Deputy Logan Fox died in the line of duty, willingly risking their own safety to protect others. Michelle Wilson Ligon ’94 and George Ligon ’86 were well known and active participants in both the App State and Boone communities.

  We mourn these terrible losses.

  As the incident was unfolding and once it was determined there was no imminent danger to our campus, we immediately engaged teams from across the university to assist our local law enforcement. App State Police were involved in the initial attempt to rescue the deputies, joining other brave officers and first responders from throughout the area who put themselves at terrific risk.

  App State’s Emergency Management, Communications and Campus Dining teams also provided essential support to the local law enforcement and incident management teams. App State will continue to provide resources and support as the impact of this tragedy plays out over time. We are thankful we are able to join so many others in providing expertise and support when our community partners need us.

  For those members of the App State Community who wish to pay respect to the fallen officers, a procession escorting Sgt. Ward and Deputy Fox is expected to arrive in Boone today at approximately 2 p.m. and will travel down King Street.

  It is important to note that despite the prolonged nature of this incident, authorities assured us from the start that at no time was our campus in any danger. Nevertheless, tragedies can have long and lasting aftermaths. Please remember counseling resources for students, as well as for faculty and staff, are available for you.

  As we try to cope with the overwhelming heartbreak and regret, we can lean on one another as Mountaineers.

  
  Sheri Everts, Chancellor
  

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• 

  Update from Appalachian State University — week of April 19–23

  Friday, April 23, 2021

  At their meetings this week, the UNC System Board of Governors heard reports about the significant contributions of System institutions to stopping the spread of COVID-19 in our state. At App State, we are proud to work alongside our sister institutions in the UNC System to support the statewide COVID-19 vaccination efforts by offering vaccine clinics that are open to anyone in North Carolina age 18 and over.

  Vaccine clinics and testing opportunities are both critical to our strategy for managing COVID-19 on our campus, and our positivity rates show that these important components, combined with safety measures and public health campaigns, are making a difference. Our positivity rate has not exceeded 3.2% this semester, and has remained below 2% since mid-March.

  • To date, we have administered 4,152 COVID-19 vaccines. Our next COVID-19 vaccine clinic will be held Thursday, April 29. Please get vaccinated so we can resume operations that are as close to normal as possible in the fall. We look forward to getting more shots in arms and we are giving away $10 Campus Dining gift cards to everyone who gets a vaccine at our clinic on Thursday!
    
    
  • To date, we have conducted more than 56,000 COVID-19 tests on campus. So far this week, we have conducted 633 COVID-19 tests, with a positivity rate of 1.42%, significantly lower than the state’s latest positivity rate of 5.1%. Our next testing event will be tomorrow from noon–5 p.m. Monday’s update to our dashboard will report the final testing and vaccine data for the week.

  Yesterday, the UNC System Board of Governors confirmed four members of our Board of Trustees, with four-year terms beginning July 1. The Governors re-appointed our current Chair, Scott Lampe, and Trustee Bonnie Schaefer. They also appointed Fairley Bell Cook and Joseph Jeffries Chesson. Two additional Trustees will be appointed by the legislature soon. I look forward to continuing to work with Chair Lampe and Trustee Schaefer, and to welcoming our newest Trustees to the Board. On behalf of the entire university community, I thank our outgoing Trustees — Lee Barnes, Donald Beaver, Charles Murray and Carole Wilson — for their service. We will honor them at the June 18 meeting of the Board.

  We appreciate the support of our Governors and Trustees for our faculty, staff and students, who continue to make a difference across the university, the nation and the world.

  • Congratulations are in order for Dr. Caroline Smith, associate professor in the Department of Health and Exercise Science, who was named App State’s winner of the UNC Board of Governors’ 2021 Excellence in Teaching Award. Dr. Smith, like so many of our expert faculty, adapted and thrived this year, and her focus on engaging her students in real-world research is an exemplar for our campus. Dr. Smith is described by one of her former students as a “powerful female in science and a groundbreaking researcher at Appalachian,” and she was instrumental in leading efforts to redesign and develop selected courses within the exercise science curriculum. I am proud to see her work recognized by the Board of Governors.
    
    
  • Congratulations, also, to the six App State faculty members who were honored with campus-based awards for their innovative teaching methods in the classroom and for making a difference in the way students learn:
    
    
    • Brian Zimmer, senior lecturer in the Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences, is the recipient of the Appalachian State University Excellence in Teaching Award.
      
      
    • The winners of the Appalachian State University School/College Awards are Dr. Phillip Ardoin, professor in and chair of the Department of Government and Justice Studies; Dr. Sushmita Chatterjee, associate professor and director of the gender, women’s and sexuality studies program in the Department of Interdisciplinary Studies; Dr. Bonnie Guy, professor in the Department of Marketing and Supply Chain Management; Dr. Christine Leist, associate professor of music therapy in the Hayes School of Music; and Dr. Patrick O’Shea, associate professor of instructional technology in the Department of Leadership and Educational Studies.
      
      
  • In celebration of Earth Month, the Office of Sustainability, along with departments across the university, hosted programming focused on solving major environmental issues. Our Chief Sustainability Officer, Dr. Lee Ball, and the Office of Sustainability team shared some of the university’s major goals and accomplishments and provided practical tips for staying environmentally conscious year-round.
    
    
  • Earlier this week, my leadership team and I shared some of the Appalachian Police Department’s important community policing initiatives, including the new Diversity, Inclusion and Community Engagement Unit and implicit bias training. Along with the Black Student Association, our police recently co-hosted a “Courageous Conversations” event, which brought together local police and student leaders for open and honest conversations about race, trust and policing.

  The final day of classes is next week. With the semester’s end and Spring Commencement on the horizon, the energy on campus is palpable. Together, we have persevered, and we look forward to a bright future for our graduates and our university!

  
  Sheri Everts, Chancellor
  

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• 

  Update from Appalachian State University — week of April 12–16

  Friday, April 16, 2021

  As we enter the final weeks of the spring semester, I continue to be impressed by and incredibly proud of our students, faculty and staff. Each day, you demonstrate academic and professional excellence in the face of extraordinary challenges presented by this global pandemic.

  We are making a difference in the urgently important work of mitigating the COVID-19 virus. Our schedule of mitigation efforts, which includes COVID-19 testing events and COVID-19 vaccine clinics, has intensified. Each week this semester, we have held at least two major testing events, and since mid-March, we have held at least one vaccine clinic per week. This incredible work is powered by the staffing and expertise of our own App State staff, students and faculty.

  • To date, we have conducted more than 55,000 COVID-19 tests during our surveillance testing events, targeted testing in residence halls and with other student populations, and in our student health center. This week’s testing data show a positivity rate of less than 1% of the 780 COVID-19 tests conducted so far. Our positivity rate remains considerably lower than the state’s latest positivity rate of 5.5% reported by the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services.
    
    
  • The addition of regular wastewater testing for our residence halls has been led by Dr. Ece Karatan, vice provost for research; Dr. Alex F. Howard, interim assistant vice chancellor in the Division of Student Affairs and director of Wellness and Prevention Services; Dr. Jenna Valley, lab supervisor for molecular and microbiology in the Department of Biology; and Jason Marshburn, director of environmental health, safety and emergency management. This early detection method allows us to respond quickly with targeted testing and contact tracing, helping reduce the spread of the virus.
    
    
  • To date, our student and faculty nurses and Student Health Services team have administered 3,965 COVID-19 vaccines. This week, we administered the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine at our clinic, and we will administer the Moderna vaccine again at our next clinic on Thursday, April 22. Our vaccine clinic is part of North Carolina’s COVID-19 vaccination distribution plan for rural areas and is open to anyone in North Carolina age 18 and over. Getting the COVID-19 vaccine is vital to returning to more normal operations, and the full return to campus for the fall 2021 semester. Please be sure to take advantage of these free opportunities to get your shot.
    
    
  • Monday’s update to our dashboard will report this week’s testing and vaccine data.

  At Staff Senate’s meeting earlier this week, I was energized by their ideas for getting our community vaccinated, preparing for our full return to campus in the fall and strategically planning for our university’s future. This group is enthusiastic and results-oriented, and I enjoyed the opportunity to discuss our institutional priorities with them.

  As we continue to showcase and celebrate the faculty and staff who make the Appalachian Experience so meaningful for our students, I encourage you to read this profile of Lynn Patterson, who coordinates the scholarship program for our University Libraries, in addition to managing the libraries’ communications, outreach, social media, event planning and donor relations. For 30 years, Lynn has prioritized students and helped make our university a welcoming community.

  I am also excited to share that our Child Development Center earned the highest possible reaccreditation license from the N.C. Division of Child Development and Early Education — a reflection of our university’s commitment to support our youngest Mountaineers and their families. Congratulations to the center’s director, Moriah Stegall, and her team for achieving this gold standard of excellence as they prepare to welcome additional families to the center in the fall.

  I extend my sincere thanks to these individuals and everyone in the Appalachian Community for continuing to elevate our institution while prioritizing the health and safety of our community. We are so very fortunate to work and learn side by side with expert faculty, visionary staff and outstanding students.

  
  Sheri Everts, Chancellor
  

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• 

  Update from Appalachian State University — week of April 5–9

  Friday, April 9, 2021

  Earlier this week, the UNC System shared that more than 50,000 vaccine doses have been administered through UNC campus clinics — a reminder that we are a vital resource for all North Carolinians. App State is proud to be part of this effort. To date, we have administered nearly 4,000 COVID-19 vaccines at our campus clinics, including 943 yesterday. We welcome and encourage anyone in North Carolina to register for future vaccine clinics on our campus. Our next clinic is scheduled for Thursday, April 15.

  Our widespread and multipronged testing strategy has been key to reducing the spread of the virus, allowing us to respond quickly with isolation and quarantine procedures. While Monday’s update to our dashboard will report this week’s testing and vaccine data, our testing data as of today are below:

  • So far this week, we have conducted 769 COVID-19 tests with 5 positive results, or 0.65% — our campus numbers remain significantly lower than North Carolina’s, which has a latest reported positivity rate of 4.6%.

  • To date, we have conducted more than 54,000 COVID-19 tests during our surveillance testing events, targeted testing in residence halls and with other student populations, and in our student health center.

  Earlier this week, Interim Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor Heather Norris and I signed an agreement with Western Piedmont Community College to create a seamless pathway for students to begin their education at Western Piedmont and complete their degrees at App State. This marks our sixth such agreement with partner community colleges in Western North Carolina, and we continue to develop new partnerships across the state. We are proud to continue the mission of our founders to provide access to higher education and to support the myFutureNC goal of ensuring that by 2030, 2 million North Carolinians will have a postsecondary degree or credential that meets the demands of our businesses and industries.

  With national, state and local efforts to return students to classrooms underway, and a nationwide increase in COVID-19 vaccine supply, we are preparing for the full return of students, faculty and staff to campus for the fall 2021 semester. Yesterday, in my regular meeting with the Faculty Senate Chancellor’s Advisory Committee and members of my cabinet, we discussed some of the logistics and expectations for this return. We will work with units across campus to develop the return to campus plan. Our return to campus will include stringent safety procedures, and will be informed by the latest national, state and local public health guidance. We will share more information and guidance soon, and will continue to do so throughout the coming weeks.

  The UNC System recently launched #EssentialUNC, a campaign to celebrate hardworking faculty and staff across the System, and I am pleased that three of our Mountaineers have been recognized — Ron Elmore, regional director of App State’s Small Business and Technology Development Center, and Sherry Street-Tobin and Karalee Cole, both of whom serve as speech-language pathologists in the Communication Disorders Clinic. Our faculty and staff are the heart of our institution and my leadership team and I will continue to share stories of their dedication and innovation with our campus, the UNC System, legislators and media. Our university’s recent recognitions are continued evidence of these successes.

  • The Reich College of Education was recognized for the fifth consecutive year as the national leader for the number of alumni who are National Board Certified Teachers, with 2,178 alumni having earned the national credential to date.

  • U.S. News & World Report named App State to its “Best Online Bachelor’s Programs” and “Best Online Master’s in Education Programs” lists, part of the 2021 “Best Online Programs” rankings.

  • App State has earned gold level recognition from Exercise is Medicine® On Campus for 2021, and we were honored with the 2021 COVID-19 Conqueror badge for our work to make creative adaptations to physical activity programming throughout the pandemic.

  • Forbes magazine highlighted App State’s partnership with AT&T to conduct research designed to help rural communities in the southeastern United States identify barriers and build resilience to climate change. As part of this research, Dr. Tammy Kowalczyk led App State’s efforts to provide climate data to help at-risk neighborhoods prepare for extreme weather events.

  Across our campus, there is a renewed sense of excitement, hope and optimism as the work of our Mountaineers is recognized, and as we continue to gain momentum in vaccinating our campus and community against COVID-19.

  
  Sheri Everts, Chancellor
  

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• 

  Update from Appalachian State University — week of March 29–April 1

  Thursday, April 1, 2021

  It’s been a great week to be a Mountaineer!

  Even with a few snow flurries, spring is in the mountains and optimism is in the air. As we enter the final few weeks of classes and see warmer weather on the horizon, we are proud of the progress we have made in assisting with the statewide vaccination effort and we look forward to more in-person events — outside and with safety protocols in place. We have also been excited to welcome prospective students who are touring our campus and learning more about the Appalachian Experience.

  At two successful clinics this week, our Student Health Service team and nursing students administered 1,970 vaccines to students, faculty, staff and community members. Our next clinic is scheduled for Thursday, April 8. You have heard me say that every vaccine brings us closer to returning to the in-person working and learning environments we all miss, and I am so encouraged by the response we have had to our vaccine clinics so far.

  Our testing events remain a strong component of our COVID-19 management strategy, and this week, we have conducted 919 COVID-19 tests with 8 positive results, or 0.87%, well below the state’s latest reported rate of 4.4%.

  Monday’s update to our dashboard will report this week’s testing and vaccine data. As we begin an extended holiday weekend, I encourage all Mountaineers to remain vigilant in following all COVID-19 safety precautions. I thank everyone for their continued focus on the health and well-being of our campus community.

  
  Sheri Everts, Chancellor
  

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March 2021

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  Update from Appalachian State University — week of March 22–26

  Friday, March 26, 2021

  This week brought two important milestones to our campus: the reopening of the beautifully renovated Sanford Hall and our second community COVID-19 vaccine clinic. We also welcomed many members of our Board of Trustees to campus today for their scheduled March meeting.

  Yesterday, we celebrated the reopening of Sanford Hall. For more than 50 years, this building has been one of the most frequented academic spaces on our campus. The building underwent extensive and much-needed renovations, including updated critical safety and mechanical systems, the installation of air conditioning and enhanced energy efficiency systems, and reimagined classroom, office and event spaces. With its elegant glass elevator tower, this building is now a beautiful anchor to the east end of Sanford Mall and I look forward to seeing it once again become an epicenter of activity at App State.

  At our community COVID-19 clinic this week, we vaccinated nearly 300 students, faculty, staff and community members in just four hours. We have two clinics scheduled for next week, and as we anticipate and prepare for additional vaccine supplies, I would like to extend my sincere appreciation to the many faculty, staff and students who have already taken the vaccine, or plan to do so. Every vaccine brings us closer to returning to the in-person working and learning environments we all miss. Find out more about our vaccine clinics and register on the vaccine page of our coronavirus website.

  Our students, faculty and staff have worked hard to remain safe and protect the safety of others throughout this pandemic, and our continued vigilance will see us through. It is critical we continue to do everything we can to mitigate the risk of transmission of COVID-19 until enough people have been vaccinated. Please continue to follow the three Ws and get your vaccine when the time comes.

  Health experts also emphasize the importance of continued COVID-19 testing, and our regularly scheduled testing events continue to be well attended. We have conducted more than 52,000 COVID-19 tests for students, faculty and staff so far. This week, we have conducted 1,138 COVID-19 tests with 17 positive results, or 1.49%. Our campus positivity rate remains significantly lower than the state’s latest reported rate of 4.3%. We will update our dashboard Monday with our weekly testing and vaccine data.

  During today’s Board of Trustees meeting, the trustees approved the university’s Bridge Strategic Plan, promotion and tenure and emeritus and emerita status for our faculty, and the university’s adoption of a digital textbook rental program that will offer flexibility for faculty and significant savings for our students. In my report to them, I highlighted the inspiring work of our faculty and staff; shared an update on some of our university’s diversity initiatives; provided information about additional federal COVID-19 relief funding for our students; gave an update on our performance in meeting UNC System strategic priorities; celebrated the academic and NCAA success of our student-athletes; reported a new university accolade that places us among the top 10 large public institutions in the U.S. for supporting our veteran and active-duty military students; and shared the progress of our Child Development Center expansion. Additionally, I shared an update about the advocacy work taking place with the state legislature for university resources. Read my full remarks to the Board of Trustees.

  Our outstanding university community deserves a strong, vibrant institution that will carry forward the legacy begun by our founders, and as we look beyond the pandemic, the future of App State is bright. The university you have helped shape is defined by innovation and resilience, and your dedication to its success is inspirational.

  
  Sheri Everts, Chancellor
  

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• 

  Update from Appalachian State University — week of March 15–19

  Friday, March 19, 2021

  As we look ahead to May Commencement and into the fall, our COVID-19 data, vaccine outlook and prospects for more face-to-face interactions are promising.

  • On Thursday, March 25, we will host our second vaccine clinic for students, faculty, staff and community members. We are so pleased to be a part of the public health vaccine distribution process and proud to help in efforts to make the COVID-19 vaccines more accessible and our campus and community safer for everyone. Our coronavirus dashboard now includes weekly totals for the vaccines administered at App State’s vaccine clinics.
  • This week, we have conducted 1,110 COVID-19 tests, and we surpassed a landmark 50,000 on-campus COVID-19 tests. So far this week, our numbers show 21 positive results, or 1.9%, a positivity rate significantly lower than the state’s latest reported rate of 4%. We will update our dashboard Monday with our weekly data, which will include Saturday’s testing data.

  I encourage every Mountaineer to get vaccinated when the time comes and help bring the Appalachian Community closer to returning to the in-person working and learning environments we all miss. Additional information about vaccines is available on our coronavirus website and in our weekly COVID-19 updates.

  Presiding over commencement exercises is perhaps my most precious duty as chancellor — it marks one of life’s most important milestones. In my March 5 message to campus, I announced that we will hold de-densified, in-person commencement ceremonies, in addition to a virtual conferral of degrees. Our commencement planning committee has been hard at work planning the details to ensure each graduate can celebrate with as many options as possible.

  • In-person ceremonies will take place on May 7, 8, 10, 11 and 12. Graduates who wish to participate will walk across the commencement stage in their regalia, have their names read aloud as they receive their diploma covers and have their degrees conferred by me in person. We will livestream all in-person ceremonies.
  • I will also confer degrees virtually on May 7 for those who wish to celebrate with their loved ones remotely.
  • Options to order regalia and receive diploma covers and honors cords (as applicable) are available to all of our graduates, regardless of commencement participation.
  • This afternoon, graduates received additional information via email and details are available on our university’s commencement website, which we will continue to update with additional information.

  We are also busily planning for the upcoming fall semester, which, as I announced on Feb. 5, we expect to look more like fall 2019, provided vaccine distribution continues to go well and people remain vigilant. Given these circumstances, our expectations are:
  

  • In-person classes, and on-campus work, will be the norm again, with renewed flexibility to allow for many operations to continue during times of inclement weather.
  • Residence halls will be fully occupied, campus dining will be fully operational and events and activities will once again be held in person.

  We will, of course, continue to set the standard for excellence with safety and cleaning procedures. In the coming weeks, we will communicate additional guidance as we work toward a robust return to campus.

  Earlier this week, I was pleased to join Charlie Ciaramita’s marketing class for a discussion about our partnership with Banfield Pet Hospital and the online licensed veterinary technician degree we will begin offering in fall 2022. As a former professor, I always enjoy being back in the classroom, and each time I do, I am impressed and energized by our students and faculty.

  Next week our Board of Trustees convenes, and we will celebrate the extensive renovations completed on Sanford Hall. In April, we will share campus budget presentations, which I encourage you all to attend. At the state level, I continue to advocate for our employees and champion the tremendous quality of work taking place on our campus. As I shared at the Spring Faculty and Staff Meeting, UNC System President Hans indicated one of his key operating budget priorities is faculty and staff salaries. He is advocating for us — and for you — as well.

  As access to vaccines increases and our collective commitment to safety remains steadfast, we see encouraging signs of a return to in-person teaching, learning, research, scholarship, creative endeavors and recreation.

  
  Sheri Everts, Chancellor

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• 

  Update from Appalachian State University — week of March 8–12

  Friday, March 12, 2021

  Our campus was uplifted and energized this week as temperatures warmed in the High Country, our men’s basketball team returned from winning the Sun Belt Conference Championship — where our women's team also made us proud — and we hosted our first COVID-19 vaccine clinics.

  The opening of our COVID-19 vaccine center is a momentous occasion in the history of our university and represents a critical step forward in returning to primarily in-person working and learning environments. We look forward to hosting future clinics for our faculty, staff, students and the local community.

  • During our two-day clinic this week, we administered 680 vaccines — all the doses that were allotted to us — to staff, faculty, students and community members who were eligible according to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services prioritization system. When we update our coronavirus dashboard with our weekly data on Monday, we will include weekly vaccine totals.

  • I have heard many positive comments about how well the clinic was run, and the staff on-site were thrilled to be part of this important time in the history of our university and nation. I was told one of the registered nurses in Student Health Service even commented that the event was so exciting it felt like “our own March Madness!”

  • This behind-the-scenes video shares some details about our center, which was set up and staffed by university employees from Student Health Service, Emergency Management and the Holmes Center, as well as re-assigned Campus Dining staff members.

  • Faculty and students from the Department of Nursing were also involved in staffing the center. Our nursing students gained real-world experience, rotating through each station of the clinic, helping administer vaccines and observing patients during the post-vaccine waiting period. WSOC-TV featured these outstanding students — and one elated faculty member — during the 5:30 news yesterday evening.

  Even as we focus on vaccines, our surveillance testing events continue to be well attended by students, faculty and staff, and we remain encouraged by the numbers, which are showing a trend of continuing decline in positivity rates in our county and state.

  So far this week, we have conducted 1,485 COVID-19 tests with 21 positive results, or 1.4%. Our campus positivity rate remains significantly lower than the state’s latest reported rate of 3.7%.

  Earlier this week, I was pleased to share updates and key priorities with Staff Senate, including an update on our strategic planning, which addresses financial solvency and adequate compensation for staff and faculty. I was joined by our Board of Trustees Chair Scott Lampe, who applauded our efforts over the past year, and reinforced these are priorities the Trustees are committed to helping support as well. Our bridge strategic plan will go before the Trustees at the board's March 26 meeting.

  Your ongoing efforts continue to have widespread impact throughout our community and beyond — from your support for Habitat for Humanity and the App Builds a Home project, to your commitment to the AppKIDS program, which you have sustained for more than 40 years, to your recent generosity in volunteering for vaccine efforts in and around our county. I sincerely thank each and every person who has contributed time to these and so many other important causes and events.

  The Appalachian Community proves time and time again that Mountaineers are resilient, resourceful and ready to take on any challenge.

  
  Sheri Everts, Chancellor

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• Update from Appalachian State University — week of March 1–5

  Friday, March 5, 2021

  As we approach the halfway mark in the Spring semester, we are encouraged by statewide and campus data, and we are focusing on both our testing and vaccination efforts.

  • Surveillance testing events continue to be a cornerstone of our COVID-19 response. So far this week, we have conducted 1,316 COVID-19 tests with 22 positive results, or 1.67%. Our campus positivity rate remains significantly lower than the state’s latest reported rate of 4.3%. As a reminder, our coronavirus dashboard is updated each day, with weekly data updated on Mondays.
    
    
  • I am pleased to share we will host two vaccine clinics next week — on March 11 and 12 — to assist with public health efforts in distributing the COVID-19 vaccine in our area. As I shared with campus on Tuesday, we will follow the state’s prioritization system, and the university will send you an email when it is time for you to schedule your vaccine appointment. Many thanks to the staff in Emergency Management and Student Health Service for their leadership and expertise in coordinating and staffing our vaccine center.

  With Commencement on the horizon, our goal is to prioritize safety while offering a memorable experience for every graduate and their loved ones, on campus and away. We are planning a series of de-densified, in-person Commencement experiences, along with a significant virtual component. If COVID-19 trends present an increased risk for safety at any point for the in-person components, we will modify our planning and update our graduates and campus community. We will update the university's Commencement website with more information early next week.
  

  Yesterday, more than 2,350 Mountaineers participated in iBackAPP Day and showed their pride for App State through support, donating nearly $250,000. This was our most successful iBackAPP Day yet! Thank you to everyone — faculty, staff, students and alumni — who showed black and gold spirit and helped make the day a tremendous success. Your pride and generosity support the tireless efforts of our faculty and staff, who are dedicated to creating opportunities and setting strong examples for students.

  I am proud, always, to be a Mountaineer.
  

  
  Sheri Everts, Chancellor

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February 2021

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  Update from Appalachian State University — week of Feb. 22–26

  Friday, February 26, 2021

  We had a taste of spring on campus this week, and the positive energy on campus was palpable.

  Consistent adherence to safety precautions makes a difference. We have conducted more than 13,000 COVID-19 tests so far this year, and our weekly positive case count has not exceeded 3.3%. So far this week, we have conducted 1,429 COVID-19 tests with 34 positive results, or just under 2.4%. Our campus positivity rate remains significantly lower than the state’s latest reported rate of 4.7%. As a reminder, Monday’s update to our coronavirus dashboard will include this data, as well as the data from this weekend’s testing.

  I am thrilled to share App State’s application to become a community distribution center for COVID-19 vaccines has been approved by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. We anticipate beginning vaccine clinics in March, according to the state guidelines for the categories by which groups are prioritized for vaccination. Currently, North Carolina is vaccinating Groups 1 and 2, as well as Group 3 frontline essential workers who work in child care or in pre-K-12 schools. On March 10, Group 3 frontline essential workers will be eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.

  • College and university faculty and staff who are working in person at their work site are included in the group that is eligible to receive the vaccine beginning March 10.
  • All other university personnel who are not prioritized into other groups (for reasons such as age or health care worker status, for example) are in Group 4.
  • Students who are not prioritized into other groups are in Group 5.
  • You will receive an email from the university when it is time for you to schedule your vaccine appointment.

  More information about the state vaccine prioritization system may be found here, and we will continue updating our university’s COVID-19 vaccination webpage with additional information, as well as providing more specifics in our weekly COVID-19 updates.

  I would like you to join me in thanking Jason Marshburn, Margaret Bumgarner, Dr. Alex Howard and their teams in Emergency Management, Student Health Service and Wellness and Prevention Services, who have been preparing and planning logistics for vaccine distribution for many months, as well as Vice Chancellor Hank Foreman, who has been working closely with the UNC System Office on the application and approval process. I also know I speak for the entire campus when I thank President Hans and his leadership team at the UNC System Office for their assistance and advocacy with the application and approval process.

  Gov. Cooper’s new executive order eases some restrictions on public gatherings. Notably, his new order, which is now in effect, increases capacity limits for indoor and outdoor venues. Additional details are being provided by App State Athletics about what this means for App State sporting events. Please know, we are also working hard to determine the best option for celebrating spring commencement. We are reviewing the details carefully and consulting with public health experts to help inform our decisions with as much data as possible. This is a monumental moment in the academic lives of our students and their families, and we will share information about spring commencement plans soon.

  Each day, our faculty and staff continue important work designed to address the current and future needs of our campus community.

  • The Office of Disability Resources continues to provide members of the Appalachian Community with access to essential resources. This work is especially critical given the significant shift to virtual learning and events throughout the pandemic, and the associated increase in awareness of and demand for accessibility and accommodations. Many thanks to the Office of Disability Resources team for their advocacy and support of these important initiatives.
  • I, along with my cabinet members, attended a meeting of the Diversity and Inclusion Accountability Team yesterday, during which staff from App State Athletics — including Athletics Director Doug Gillin, Director of Student-Athlete Development Pierre Banks, and Senior Associate Athletics Director Makini Thompson — presented action plans for education, retention and mentorship of Black student-athletes, as well as progress made regarding hiring and supporting athletic coaches, staff and trainers of color.
  • March 4 is our eighth annual iBackAPP Day, a 24-hour day of giving where Mountaineers everywhere come together to support and celebrate App State. I invite you to participate in whatever way you choose: by making a gift to support an initiative you care about, including the Mountaineer Emergency Fund, by wearing your black and gold or by sharing your love for App State with your friends and family.

  During a virtual visit to App State's Academy at Middle Fork this week, I had the pleasure of reading “How to Read a Book” by Kwame Alexander to the academy’s K–5 students. Afterward, as I listened to the students recite their Mountaineer Pledge, which includes, “I’m a Mountaineer … I show honesty, integrity, kindness and excellence in all that I do,” I was reminded of what makes the connections among Mountaineers so meaningful, no matter where we are.

  We have remained connected throughout a year defined by distance, which makes the news of our upcoming COVID-19 vaccine clinics all the more exciting. This news, coupled with the coming of spring, brings hope for better times to come — evidenced this week through the enthusiasm of our young Mountaineers at the academy and the optimism of our students as they enjoyed a hint of warm weather on Sanford Mall.

  
  Sheri Everts, Chancellor

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• Update from Appalachian State University — week of Feb. 15–19

  Friday, February 19, 2021

  At yesterday’s UNC System Board of Governors Meeting, President Peter Hans lauded the focus and hard work of people across the state as he shared the significant progress that has been made on the System’s strategic plan goals and acknowledged the challenges facing rural and low-income student enrollment.

  At App State, we are proud of the progress we have made in our work to serve rural and low-income students. As I reported at the Spring Faculty and Staff Meeting on Feb. 5, our rural student enrollment exceeds the System’s strategic plan benchmark for this year by more than 300 students, and we are above our benchmark goals for graduating students from low-income backgrounds. Thank you for your work in meeting these important goals that make critical differences for the citizens of the state of North Carolina.

  Our campus community’s collective dedication to health and safety throughout this pandemic is evident every day. Thank you for staying vigilant. Adherence to safety precautions — especially wearing face coverings properly — makes a tremendous difference in our ability to help stop the spread of COVID-19.

  • Since the start of the spring semester, we have conducted 43,497 COVID-19 tests through targeted testing, as well as our regularly held surveillance testing events. Thank you for your participation in these events. Testing data remain critical to our ability to accurately assess and quickly respond to the spread of COVID-19 within our campus community.
  • So far this week, we have conducted 1,185 COVID-19 tests with 22 positive results, or 1.86%, significantly lower than the state’s latest reported rate of 5.7%, which also represents a downward trend. Monday’s update to our coronavirus dashboard will include this data, as well as the data from this weekend’s testing.
  • As a reminder, we share additional key metrics and important COVID prevention information each week in our campus operations updates.
  • We also are preparing to assist in vaccine distribution, in anticipation of North Carolina’s planned move into Phase 3, which will include university employees who are working in-person at their work site beginning March 10.

  Our faculty and staff work daily to create innovative programs and exceptional experiences that benefit those on our campus and beyond.

  • Our College Access Partnerships program has been awarded nearly $12 million in federal grant funding to implement the Empowering Teacher Learning (ETL) project — a virtual, teacher-directed professional learning program for Western North Carolina educators. This latest grant is a testament to the continued success of our faculty and staff in meeting our strategic goal of increasing our external grants and contracts funding.
  • Our Campus Dining team continues working to enhance the experience of our students who are learning on campus. Many thanks to this team for your work in developing new, delicious menu items, as well as ensuring those with dietary restrictions are accommodated.
  • At the Spring Faculty and Staff Meeting earlier this month, we honored our outstanding staff for their work as selfless leaders and visionaries for our university. We also recognized the faculty winners of the Excellence in Teaching awards and the Academic Freedom and Faculty Governance Award.

  With focus and hard work, our faculty, staff and students are powering the future of App State, as we work together to create a better future for our university, our region and our state.

  
  Sheri Everts, Chancellor

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• 

  Update from Appalachian State University — week of Feb. 8–12

  Friday, February 12, 2021

  As we complete our fourth week of classes, we are encouraged by national and statewide trends, which indicate declines in positive cases of COVID-19 — but we must remain vigilant. Please remember to wear your face coverings, maintain distance and wash/sanitize your hands frequently. These small actions really do make a tremendous difference.

  • So far this week, we have conducted 1,121 COVID-19 tests with 32 positive results, or 2.85%. We are mindful this is an increase from last week and are closely watching these numbers. We are encouraged that both our cumulative and week-to-date positivity rates remain significantly lower than the state’s latest reported rate of 6.5%, which also represents a downward trend. As a reminder, we will update weekly testing data on our coronavirus dashboard on Monday, in order to include tomorrow’s testing event in our weekly report.
  • To date, we have collected more than 41,700 COVID-19 tests from students, faculty and staff. Last week, we conducted a weekly record of 4,233 COVID-19 tests. We had nearly 100% participation in the follow-up COVID-19 testing required of on-campus students after move-in. For any students who missed their follow-up test, expect follow-up communication from Wellness and Prevention Services. Throughout the semester, 10% of the on-campus student population will be selected at random for periodic testing based on available data, including voluntary surveillance testing events, contact tracing information and wastewater surveillance research.
  • While we have not seen many large gatherings, our police have been assisting our local law enforcement partners with calls to gatherings that violate Gov. Cooper’s executive order. These are not only violations of the law, they are also student conduct violations and we take them seriously. I thank the many, many students who are diligently following the public health guidelines. For those of you who are taking in-person classes, I know how much you want and need to be on campus. Please be assured we are doing everything possible to make that happen and greatly appreciate your attentive compliance with public health guidance, which is helping to slow the spread of COVID-19.

  Last week, in my remarks at the Spring Faculty and Staff Meeting, I announced a multimillion-dollar sponsored contract between App State and Banfield Pet Hospital. We are thrilled to partner with the leading provider of preventive veterinary care in the U.S. to develop a first-of-its-kind, four-year, online degree program for licensed veterinary technicians aimed at strengthening the pipeline of licensed veterinary technicians and creating a more sustainable future for the veterinary profession. This new signature program will advance the profession, elevate the role of the licensed veterinary technicians and address the market demand for skilled, rural veterinary professionals. Our faculty and staff excel at developing visionary academic programs, and our reputation for doing so is a large part of what has made this synergistic and forward-thinking partnership a reality.

  Yesterday, I was pleased, along with members of my leadership team, to meet with members of the Faculty Senate Advisory Committee. We discussed topics that ranged from the university’s financial situation to how we can support parents and caregivers. We shared that we are preparing for campus-wide budget presentations in April, and we discussed the progress on the university’s Child Development Center expansion, which is slated for completion in August. This will allow the center to be open for 40–50 additional children — on top of the nearly 70 they already serve. We also talked about some more immediate ways we can help those who are working from home with young children, including providing online educational programming and developing a resource list for parents and caregivers.

  To be sure, there are still challenges before us, but we have come quite a way together. When I consider our achievements over this past year, "Go ’Neers" has new significance, and an even more positive meaning!

  
  Sheri Everts, Chancellor

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• 

  Update from Appalachian State University — week of Feb. 1–5

  Friday, February 5, 2021

  Snow in the High Country bookended our third week of classes — and was a beautiful addition to our campus landscape for our first week face-to-face this semester. It is wonderful to have students back on campus!

  Because much of our campus has become accustomed to remote working and learning, the winter weather has done little to disrupt our course delivery. Our students, faculty and staff also continue taking advantage of our weekly COVID-19 testing events.

  • So far this week, we have conducted 2,645 COVID-19 tests with 36 positive results, or just over 1.3%. Both our cumulative and week-to-date positivity rates are significantly lower than the state’s latest reported rate of 7.9%. We will continue to update our dashboard with weekly testing data on Mondays, to include information from our Saturday testing events.
    
    
  • App State’s four new vaccine cold storage units have arrived and, collectively, these units can store 116,200 vials of COVID-19 vaccines. Many thanks to the UNC System for providing these important resources for our university and our community. Our team stands ready to assist in vaccine distribution when doses become available, and I encourage the Appalachian Community to review the university’s vaccine information on our coronavirus website.

  This afternoon, I was pleased to have the opportunity to share some important campus updates at our Spring Faculty and Staff Meeting — including a partnership with Banfield Pet Hospital to develop a four-year online program for licensed veterinary technicians, a budget update from Vice Chancellor for Business Affairs Paul Forte, and the status of our Child Development Center expansion project. I invite you to view my remarks here.

  Each year, App State welcomes more than 1,800 new transfer students — with students who first enrolled as transfers composing about 25% of the student population. Our transfer students enrich campus with varying perspectives, backgrounds and experiences, and they have distinct needs as they pursue their educational goals. I am pleased to share that this fall, students who are transferring into App State will have the opportunity to live in our first residence hall designated for transfer students. In addition to housing options, we are actively working to streamline and enhance other services and resources for transfer students, including programming, events and easier access to staff who support transfer students.

  As we look to the future of our university, our exceptionally talented faculty and staff are key to elevating the Appalachian Experience and preparing our Mountaineers to be successful in their lives and careers.

  
  Sheri Everts, Chancellor

  Learn more

January 2021

• Update from Appalachian State University — week of Jan. 25–29

  Friday, January 29, 2021

  Our campus is full of activity — with students moving into residence halls and faculty and staff finalizing preparations to resume face-to-face instruction on Monday. At last count, 24% of spring semester courses will be taught in person, and 76% will be taught in fully remote and hybrid formats.

  Our university has done tremendous work in managing a global pandemic while also making progress toward our future goals, and I was proud to highlight our efforts at the annual High Country Economic Kickoff event — hosted virtually by the Boone and Blowing Rock chambers of commerce on Thursday. My remarks — which are available here — shared insights into our COVID-19 testing strategy; our support of the local community throughout the pandemic; our business strategies to mitigate financial hardship for our students, faculty and staff; and our key initiatives underway.

  As many of our students and faculty prepare for the return to classrooms next week, we are all reminded of the power of staying connected to our community. With the proper safety precautions in place, App State is committed to offering opportunities for students, faculty and staff to engage with one another, whether in person — in distanced settings like our new campus campfire locations — or via virtual activities and programs our staff are bringing to our campus community each day.

  Since Jan. 1, we have conducted more than 4,562 COVID-19 tests, with a positivity rate of 2.8%. This is a significantly higher number of COVID-19 tests and a slightly lower positivity rate than when students began their return to campus for the fall 2020 semester. So far this week, we have conducted 923 COVID-19 tests with 19 positive results, or about 2%. Both our cumulative and week-to-date positivity rates are significantly lower than the state’s latest reported rate of 8.7%. We will continue to update our COVID-19 dashboard with weekly testing information on Mondays, in order to capture the Saturday testing data.

  We do expect to see positivity rates rise some as students return, but our students, faculty and staff have demonstrated that they follow our on-campus COVID-19 prevention measures. We have had no documented classroom transmission of COVID-19. Our students, faculty and staff continue to regularly take advantage of our on-campus COVID-19 testing. Our spring testing strategy includes mandatory entry testing for students who live in residence halls and also benefits from faculty research that informs us as we continue with wastewater testing in our residence halls. We have also been pleased to see some improvement in the COVID-19 positivity rates in the state and locally, as well as significant improvements in the capacity of our local medical infrastructure.

  Our cold storage units should be arriving soon for use in vaccine storage when doses become available. As I have mentioned in previous messages, our application to become a community distribution center for COVID-19 vaccines has been submitted to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. Our team stands ready, and we are eager to assist in providing vaccines to faculty, staff, students and community members.

  I appreciate the many ways our students, faculty and staff — amid incredible challenges — have continued to show our Mountaineer resilience and pride by improving our resources, innovating at every turn and fostering strong relationships.

  
  Sheri Everts, Chancellor

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• Update from Appalachian State University — week of Jan. 18–22

  Friday, January 22, 2021

  With the busy spring semester now officially underway, I would like to take a moment to extend my heartfelt appreciation to the many of you who have sent me well-wishes and prayers as I recover from the breast cancer surgery I had earlier this month. My prognosis is good; I am doing very well, and I truly appreciate your support.

  Earlier this week the nation honored the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Our university has a long history of using this annual holiday as a time for service, reflection and education with community partners, and I offer my sincere thanks to everyone who continued the tradition of having a day “on” instead of a day off. We will continue our commemoration of Martin Luther King Jr. Day during Tuesday evening’s marquee event, An Evening with Dr. Michael Eric Dyson.

  Our COVID-19 surveillance testing continues, with events scheduled each Wednesday and Saturday this semester. Since Jan. 1, we have conducted more than 2,800 COVID-19 tests at these testing events and through Student Health Service.

  • So far this week, we have conducted 953 COVID-19 tests with 31 positive results, or 3.25%. We continue to provide isolation/quarantine support to students, and we are using 7% of our isolation/quarantine inventory at the present time.
    
    
  • We have added spring 2021 semester charts and graphs to our COVID-19 dashboard, and we will continue to update weekly testing information on Mondays, in order to capture the Saturday testing data.
    
    
  • Our application to become a vaccination center for the community as well as for our university is under review by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. If approved, we will be able to provide significant infrastructure and resources to the vaccination efforts currently underway in our area.

  We remain focused, always, on the fulfillment of our academic mission and the safety of our students, faculty and staff. While classes are being held virtually until Feb. 1, the many departments in our Academic Affairs and Student Affairs divisions are here to assist our students as they work toward their educational goals in the midst of a global pandemic, and, now more than ever before, it is important that our students remain engaged with and connected to daily Mountaineer life. Thank you to the leaders in Academic Affairs and Student Affairs for sharing information about campus resources and support available to our students. Many thanks also to the Office of Human Resources for continuing to share important resources for faculty and staff.

  Spring semester is full of promise and I look forward to seeing students and faculty back on campus and, in many cases, in the classroom the first of next month.

  
  Sheri Everts, Chancellor

  Learn more
• Update from Appalachian State University — week of Jan. 11–15

  Friday, January 15, 2021

  As we finalize preparations to begin classes on Tuesday, I am mindful that it has been 362 days since our university began planning discussions around COVID-19. We can reflect with pride on the distance we have come in the past year. UNC System President Peter Hans recently lauded the collective efforts of UNC System universities, writing, “Thanks to dedicated work by faculty, staff, and health officials, hundreds of thousands of North Carolinians have continued making progress toward their educational goals.” His insights are particularly true at App State, where our faculty and staff have gone above and beyond.

  Across our campus, faculty and staff have been assisting students with the delayed return to campus, ensuring all safety precautions remain in place, reviewing and enhancing our COVID-19 testing strategy and planning, and preparing for COVID-19 vaccine distribution.

  We continue to review key data and make informed decisions to keep the safety of the Appalachian Community at the forefront, working to preserve and continually elevate the Appalachian Experience we all value. As we remain watchful of the availability of local and regional medical resources, as well as of local and state positivity rates, I appreciate your continued commitment to this critical work.

  • Our surveillance testing events continue to be well attended. This week, we conducted 871 COVID-19 tests with 19 positive results, or 2.18%.
  • We continue to provide isolation/quarantine support to students who need it throughout the winter break, and we are using 4% of our isolation/quarantine inventory at the present time.
  • We are in the process of distributing five new face coverings to every student, faculty and staff member. The new designs feature adjustable ear loops and three-ply construction. Our students’ adoption rate of wearing face coverings on campus has been nearly universal. I am most appreciative of everyone’s vigilance, and I expect we will show the same respect for one another in the new semester.

  I am very pleased that App State has submitted an application to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services to be a community-facing COVID-19 vaccination distribution center. If approved, we will assist with North Carolina’s COVID-19 vaccination distribution plan for rural areas by administering COVID-19 vaccines to community members — as well as to students, faculty and staff — once vaccine allotments are provided.

  • Vaccine distribution is managed by public health. AppHealthCare, our local public health department, is leading the vaccination distribution plans in our county, and they have developed a form for those who wish to receive the COVID-19 vaccine to complete.
  • More information about our university’s role in the COVID-19 vaccination planning is available on this new COVID-19 vaccine page of the university’s coronavirus website. We expect to have additional updates to share in the coming days, which we will add to the website and send to campus via email.

  Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Mountaineers have worked diligently to support our university and communities in the region, and they are making significant differences in the daily lives of the citizens of our state:

  • Our Small Business and Technology Development Center helped North Carolina small businesses respond to new challenges while managing four times its normal caseload of clients.
  • A regional North Carolina business owned by two App State alumni donated more than 2,000 face coverings to App State’s Academy at Middle Fork to help keep our students and staff at the academy safe.

  My sincere thanks to all those who show each day that Mountaineer resilience is alive and well — and who prove our university will emerge from this pandemic stronger than ever before.

  
  Sheri Everts, Chancellor

  Learn more
• Spring Classes Update from Appalachian State University — Jan. 8, 2021

  Friday, January 8, 2021

  On Jan. 6, Gov. Roy Cooper announced an extension of North Carolina’s Modified Stay at Home Order to last until at least Jan. 29. Additionally, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) issued an advisory secretarial directive with immediate actions we should all take to protect ourselves and others. Read the FAQ document here. Please take advantage of App State’s free testing events, and remember to regularly check the university’s testing schedule, as winter weather can impact these operations.

  • This week, we conducted 818 COVID-19 tests with 26 positive results, or 3.2%. While this is well below our statewide rate of 13.9%, it is the highest positivity rate we have seen since October.
  • All university-related clusters identified last semester have moved into inactive status.
  • We are using less than 1% of our isolation/quarantine inventory at the present time, and we continue to provide isolation/quarantine support to students who need it throughout the winter break.
  • We have had no documented cases of classroom transmission of COVID-19.

  While our campus numbers are not a cause for current concern, we are cognizant that across the state cases of COVID-19 are high and Watauga County’s case counts have been steadily rising. Data modeling indicates a peak in this latest wave of COVID-19 cases is likely to occur in the western part of the state in the next 1-2 weeks, and we are seeing a strain on local and regional hospitals. State and local data trends are concerning as students prepare to return to Boone and, in particular, to live in residence halls on campus.

  After careful review of the current data and positive case trends locally and statewide, we have made the decision to delay the return to campus. Classes will begin on Jan. 19 as scheduled and will meet online until Feb. 1.

  • Students with residence hall contracts will receive a message from University Housing with new move-in assignment dates, adjusted rental rates and new COVID-19 re-entry test deadlines on Monday.
  • For classes not originally scheduled to meet 100% online, course schedules will indicate that the class is scheduled to meet online until Feb. 1.
  • Students who need in-person lab access, clinical assignments, and student teaching should work with their faculty, clinical supervisors and schools to continue their mode of instruction.
  • Academic Affairs will follow up with specific guidance for students and faculty next week.

  University operations and staffing will resume as scheduled on Jan. 12.

  • As we did prior to the winter break, we will continue to maximize teleworking to the extent possible in order to reduce opportunities for exposure. Staff who need to be on campus to perform all or part of their work will continue to do so.
  • Student employees should reach out to their supervisors to determine whether their work can be performed remotely the first two weeks of the semester.
  • As communicated prior to the break, campus building access will vary through Jan. 18. A key or card swipe may be required for access. Contact your department chair or administrator with questions.
  • Human Resources will send additional employee return-to-work guidance next week.

  Our COVID-19 response team is preparing for vaccine distribution.

  • In my last message to campus, I shared that the UNC System Office will continue to coordinate with NCDHHS about distribution of a vaccine to university students and employees. The university will not independently procure, store or distribute COVID-19 vaccines.
  • We do have an agreement in place with AppHealthCare, the local public health department, to serve as a distribution site for vaccines for students, faculty and staff.
    
  • We do not have a vaccination timeline to share at this time. Vaccine availability varies state- and nationwide, and the planning and distribution is managed by public health at the state and local levels.
    
  • AppHealthCare has developed a form for those who wish to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. If you would like to receive the vaccine, please fill out public health’s vaccine interest form.
  • We will share additional information about vaccine distribution in upcoming weekly operations updates.

  I appreciate the work of the many staff and faculty who have been planning steadily for weeks, preparing for different contingencies for the spring semester, as well as those who, this week in particular, have helped with the final details of planning for this scenario.

  In addition to my weekly messages, please remember to continue checking your email and carefully read your weekly operations updates, which will begin again next week. Both messages include important logistical information and keep our campus informed of the latest information. These messages are also posted to the university’s coronavirus website.

  Everyone please stay safe, and for those of you who are in Boone today, if you can, spend a little time outdoors enjoying this beautiful snow.

  
  Sheri Everts, Chancellor

  Learn more

December 2020

• 

  Update from Appalachian State University — Dec. 21, 2020

  Monday, December 21, 2020

  In higher education, our focus on continual improvement means we sometimes neglect to celebrate our successes. This year in particular we have had many significant achievements worth honoring — specifically our ongoing response to the global pandemic. In preparing this message — my final update in 2020 — I find myself reflecting on all we have accomplished this year in light of the remarkable circumstances presented by COVID-19.

  This year, we have:

  • Administered nearly 31,300 COVID-19 tests at no cost to our faculty, staff and students.
  • Maintained isolation/quarantine inventory at optimal levels. Even at the height of our use, capacity never dropped below 62% and stayed well above 70% for the majority of the semester.
  • Provided more than 15,000 meals for campus and community members — for those in isolation and quarantine and through the Meals for Mountaineers program.
  • Distributed more than 97,700 washable, cloth face coverings to our faculty, staff and students. Our new face coverings have arrived and we are beginning the process of distributing five new face coverings so each student, faculty and staff member will have them in time for the start of the spring semester.
  • Awarded nearly $7 million to students in need through CARES Act emergency grants and the Mountaineer Emergency Fund.
  • Made more than 15,800 calls to check on new and continuing students.
  • Had no documented cases of classroom transmission of COVID-19.
  • Graduated more than 5,300 students through two virtual commencement ceremonies.

  These milestones — and so many others — speak to your compassion and pragmatism as we collectively responded to the many impacts COVID-19 has had on our campus community. Above all, we prioritized safety and sought to assist one another, innovating new ways to help members of the App State and broader community. In times of crisis, we reveal our true character, and I am proud of how we have come together as Mountaineers — working together to rebuild our university infrastructure, even as we are using it, while taking care of one another. This is what we do at App State.

  Last week, we conducted our final COVID exit testing events of the year.

  • Our fall semester COVID-19 exit testing numbers remain strong. Last week, we conducted 617 tests with 9 positive results, or 1.46%.
  • All university-related clusters have moved into inactive status. This means the NCDHHS-established 28-day period for no new active cases in active clusters has passed for all clusters identified as associated with the university.
  • We are not using any of our isolation/quarantine inventory at the present time, but we will provide isolation/quarantine support to students who need it throughout the winter break.

  We will pause updates to our COVID-19 Dashboard from Dec. 24–Jan. 1, and will add daily data for that time period on Jan. 2.

  Our entry testing plans for the spring semester are well underway. This week, students who will be living in residence halls received information about required entry testing, and updates will continue as we approach the beginning of the spring semester. Campus surveillance and entry testing events will resume in early January 2021.

  As I shared in my Dec. 4 remarks to the university’s Board of Trustees, App State has been engaged in conversations with state and local public health officials for several weeks about our role in administering COVID-19 vaccines. With support from the UNC System, we will be well positioned to assist state and local public health officials with storage of the vaccine as part of the state’s implementation of the NCDHHS vaccine distribution plan. App State will be among 15 institutions in the UNC System to receive cold storage units that can collectively store 1.86 million vaccine doses. The units, which will be provided by the UNC System, were purchased by the UNC Policy Collaboratory with funds appropriated by the North Carolina General Assembly to support COVID-19 recovery and response efforts across the state. We will repurpose our four cold storage units at a later time for academic research. We appreciate the state legislature’s forward thinking that will enable us to be a part of the local and state response to serve rural areas in our state.

  • Vaccine distribution will be via state channels in line with the NCDHHS vaccine distribution plan. App State will not independently procure, store or distribute COVID-19 vaccines.
  • The UNC System Office will continue to coordinate with NCDHHS about distribution of a vaccine to university students and employees.
  • We have an agreement in place with AppHealthCare, the local public health department, to serve as a distribution site for vaccines for students, faculty and staff.

  As the university moves into our holiday break, our operations will slow down for a few days. Our campus COVID-19 response team remains hard at work implementing campus safety measures and preparing for spring semester and beyond, and my weekly updates, as well as weekly campus operations updates, will resume the week of Jan. 11.

  This year, more than any before, has illuminated the resilience, perseverance and kindness of the Appalachian Community — and that is something of which we should all be extremely proud. I wish each of you a safe and restful break.

  Happy holidays, Mountaineers!

  
  Sheri Everts, Chancellor

  Learn more
• 

  Update from App State — Congratulations, #AppStateClassof2020!

  Friday, December 11, 2020

  Today as we celebrate our second virtual 2020 Commencement, we can be proud of our perserverance and steadfastness during these past months. Even as we complete the final days of the fall 2020 semester, we continue with our COVID-19 response operations.

  So far this week, we have administered 949 COVID-19 tests with 25 positive results, or 2.6%. We can attribute many of these cases to travel over the Thanksgiving break. Because the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services considers clusters to be active until there have been no cases in isolation for a 28-day period, we still have four clusters associated with residence halls that are considered active, but there are no active cases in any active clusters. We are not using any of our quarantine/isolation space inventory at this time. We continue daily updates to our COVID-19 dashboard, and will update it on Monday with this week’s final testing results.

  We will continue offering free COVID-19 testing events through next week, and will begin next semester’s testing schedule on Jan. 4. I am pleased to see that in addition to faculty and staff, students who remain in Boone continue to take advantage of opportunities to be tested for COVID-19. Throughout the incredible challenges COVID-19 has presented this year, our students remain dedicated to protecting the health and well-being of our community. They exhibit this through their proactive behavior — participating in COVID-19 testing and wearing face coverings — and throughout the semester they have been actively engaged in several peer-to-peer efforts to help slow the spread of COVID-19.

  Today, we are hosting our second virtual commencement ceremony — which you can view here — to honor more than 1,700 App State graduates. We celebrate the Class of 2020, and applaud their grace, perseverance and unwavering resilience. They have earned one of the most significant achievements of their lifetimes while overcoming the tremendous challenges of a global pandemic unlike anything the world has seen in more than a century.

  This year — perhaps more than any other in our institution’s history — our faculty and staff have demonstrated their unwavering commitment to helping our students achieve their dream of graduating from App State. You have earned this day as well and we honor your contributions.

  Faculty — through your teaching, research and service you have made a transformational difference in the lives of these outstanding graduates. Your mentorship of our graduates throughout their academic careers will have a lifelong impact.

  Staff — you have supported and worked alongside our graduates as they faced each obstacle placed before them. You have helped them establish lasting connections that will endure time and distance.

  During this occasion, we also extend our deepest gratitude to our App State families and friends, who have served as role models, supporters and cheerleaders for our graduates. This is your celebration as well. We are grateful for your investment in our amazing students.

  I am moved by the thoughtful messages and good wishes that have been flooding social media even before our ceremony. I’ve shared a few below. We are collecting more on our commencement website:

  “I go from a ‘student of teaching’ into a ‘teacher of students’ in less than a week! 💛🖤🍎”

  “... A virtual graduation is definitely not what I was expecting, but then again this whole year was very unexpected. I’m so thankful to be able to graduate from such an amazing school and I definitely wouldn’t take back any moment from my four years here. ... As a first-generation college graduate, I am proud of this accomplishment and can’t wait for what’s next! ❤️ 📷”

  “Join us in raising a glass (or a coffee cup) to the 1,700 graduates of the #AppStateClassof2020. Excited to watch featured commencement speaker and @Appstatecomdept alum @JohnCarterWBTV.”

  This year, we have adjusted to new ways of celebrating the important moments in our lives and, moreover, we clearly recognize the importance of doing so. I am profoundly thankful we are able to honor our graduates today, and regardless of our mode of celebration, the value and significance of this occasion cannot be overstated.

  Congratulations, Class of 2020!

  
  Sheri Everts, Chancellor

  Learn more
• 

  Update from Appalachian State University — week of Nov. 30–Dec. 4

  Friday, December 4, 2020

  The first week of primarily virtual exams also brought the first accumulation of snow to campus. View a photo gallery of snowy campus scenes here.

  On Wednesdays through Dec. 16, we are offering free COVID-19 testing to faculty, staff and students. View the testing schedule here.

  • Since the start of the semester, we have conducted the majority of the tests in Watauga County, administering more than 29,000 COVID-19 tests to students, faculty and staff, with an overall positivity rate of 3%.
  • Over the last two weeks, we administered more than 5,200 COVID-19 exit tests, with a positivity rate of just under 1%.
  • As of today, we are not using any of our quarantine/isolation space inventory.
  • Currently, we have zero active cases within the active App State COVID-19 clusters, and we expect to see the number of active clusters to continue on a downward trend.
  • So far this week, we have conducted 966 COVID-19 tests with 19 positive results — a positivity rate of approximately 2%. More than 500 people — mostly students — participated in Wednesday’s testing event. We will update our COVID-19 dashboard with weekly test data on Monday.

  Next week we will conclude exams and celebrate the Fall 2020 Commencement of more than 1,700 students — an impressive class of graduates who will forever recall the culmination of their days at App State taking place during a historic pandemic. We are pleased to have alumnus John Carter as our keynote speaker. John is a celebrated WBTV News anchor who earned a Bachelor of Science in communication arts with a concentration in broadcasting from App State in 1979. The ceremony will also feature two stellar student speakers: Walker College of Business undergraduate Wendell Addy and graduate student Jennifer McCracken, who has served as Catawba County’s public health director while pursuing her master's degree in public administration. Vocalist and Hayes School of Music senior Samantha Latino will also perform, with piano accompaniment by Hayes School of Music Dean James Douthit. You can read more about the ceremony and learn how to participate here.

  Logistical planning for the spring semester has been underway for many weeks. The safety of our community and our academic mission remain our guiding principles, and we will continue to rely on data to inform our decision-making. In many ways, the spring semester will look and feel similar to this fall.

  • Next semester, every student, staff and faculty member will receive five washable, reusable face coverings. New designs, along with three-ply material and an adjustable ear loop feature, should make them even more popular than the ones we distributed this fall.
  • We will continue with a robust COVID-19 surveillance testing schedule, including required entry testing for all students living in residence halls, and we are engaging in residence halls wastewater testing research, which will help us further refine our targeted testing strategy.
  • Daily health self-assessments will continue to be required for all faculty, staff and students prior to leaving their residence halls or coming to campus. All cleaning and sanitizing procedures and distancing requirements will remain in place.
  • Course delivery methods will be similar, although there will be more synchronous courses for those taking remote classes. We do expect to have fewer class cancellations for weather, since many classes can now pivot to remote learning.

  We continue working on ways to minimize feelings of isolation and facilitate the community connections our students need while also following safety guidelines. Upon their return to campus, students will find outdoor campfire locations. These will allow them to gather, roast hot dogs and marshmallows, listen to music and enjoy the outdoors, while staying physically distanced, but socially connected.

  Today I had the opportunity to recap the year’s challenges and accomplishments with our university’s Board of Trustees. I shared the efforts of our faculty, staff and students that mitigated the risk of contracting COVID-19, allowed us to further our academic mission in the face of historic adversity, and provided classroom and residential experiences for students who needed them — as well as flexibility for students and faculty who needed remote learning and teaching options. I also shared research highlights and student successes, a construction update — including the status of our Child Development Center expansion and that of Sanford Hall — and highlighted some of our institutional advancements with our diversity and inclusion initiatives.

  My complete remarks to the Board of Trustees may be read here. They recount a year of extreme challenge and laudable resilience, and speak to the incredible strength and character of our university community.

  
  Sheri Everts, Chancellor

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November 2020

• 

  Update from Appalachian State University — Thanksgiving week

  Tuesday, November 24, 2020

  Today marks the last day of classes for fall semester, and I am heartened by how our campus community has shown thoughtfulness and care for one another by following safety precautions, taking advantage of testing events and finding new ways to engage and connect.

  • Since the start of the semester, we have conducted more than 28,000 free COVID-19 tests for students, faculty and staff.
  • At last week’s exit testing events, more than 3,717 tests were collected. This was the highest week of the semester for test collection and represents a 99% increase over the number of tests collected the prior week.
  • Forty-one, or 1.1%, of last week’s tests were positive for COVID-19. The university is supporting these individuals as needed and will continue to support those students who will remain in quarantine over the Thanksgiving holiday.
  • Yesterday’s exit testing event was busy as well, with more than 1,000 tests collected. We will update our COVID-19 dashboard on Monday with the results from all tests conducted this week.

  As many of our students depart for this week’s Thanksgiving break and prepare for a primarily online exam period, please remember university resources remain available. From the Meals for Mountaineers program, to counseling resources for students, faculty and staff, to exam preparation assistance for students, there is a robust support network available for the entire Appalachian Community. Additional details are in this week’s operations update for campus.

  We will spend our Thanksgiving holiday in a world that has been fundamentally changed by this global pandemic. As I reflect on this year, I am so appreciative of the members of our Appalachian Community, and especially for the many ways you have persevered through immense difficulties and demonstrated your innovation and determination to prevail over hardship.

  • Thank you to our students for showing unwavering resilience and grace during a semester unlike any other in your college career. I appreciate your proactive and conscientious behavior and care for one another as you work to stay connected and engaged in a radically changed campus environment.
  • Thank you to our faculty for your tremendous flexibility and vision as you have adapted courses and worked many additional hours — individually and with your colleagues — to position our students for success under the most difficult circumstances in the history of our university.
  • Thank you to our staff for working tirelessly to reimagine the Appalachian Experience — from open houses and wellness events, to athletics and recreation. As COVID-19 continues to shift the circumstances around us, your preparation, fresh perspectives and unwavering focus on the well-being of our students have endured.

  I send my best wishes to all Mountaineers for the Thanksgiving holiday. It is great to be a Mountaineer.

  
  Sheri Everts, Chancellor
  

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• Update from Appalachian State University — week of Nov. 16–20

  Friday, November 20, 2020

  Next week, we will hold our last day of classes and take a short, much-needed break for the Thanksgiving holiday. Vigilance in our personal COVID safety measures is critically important at this time.

  Current statewide and national headlines are reminding us of the importance of limiting exposure to others and getting tested for COVID-19. I am so pleased that our students are utilizing our drive-up/walk-up exit testing events. Please continue to utilize campus testing opportunities, limit your exposure to others to the greatest possible extent, and be sure to make plans for prioritizing safety during the holiday.

  While we will update our weekly testing data on the university’s COVID-19 dashboard on Monday, below are some key exit testing metrics:

  • We have conducted 2,309 free COVID-19 tests on campus for the week so far, with 28 positives, a 1.2% positivity rate.
  • On Monday, we saw a 48% increase in the number of tests conducted over the previous Monday.
  • On Wednesday, we saw a 75% increase in the number of tests conducted over the previous Wednesday.

  Our own campus experts provide important information. In particular, guidance for how to create a pandemic pod, or a small group of people who limit their non-distanced social interaction to one another, has been provided by Dr. Alex F. Howard, interim assistant vice chancellor in the Division of Student Affairs and director of Wellness and Prevention Services.

  Throughout the year, and especially during this season of giving and gratitude, I am inspired by how the Appalachian Community works to help those on our campus and in our local community.

  • To date, we have served approximately 10,000 meals to individuals from our campus and in the community who are in isolation or quarantine. Many thanks to Jason Marshburn and his team in Environmental Health, Safety, and Emergency Management for coordinating this effort, to Campus Dining for preparing these meals and to Parking and Transportation for facilitating these important deliveries. We will continue providing support to our students who are in isolation or quarantine over the break.
  • Last week, App State’s Staff Senate sponsored its 40th annual AppKIDS event. With safety in mind, the committee instituted several new or modified events: the AppKIDS Give Day for online donations; a virtual silent auction; and online shopping for each child in need instead of the traditional in-person shopping day. In total, AppKIDS raised $18,500 for winter clothing and necessities for local children.
  • App State's Campus Dining has created a new Meals for Mountaineers program that offers free, chef-inspired meals to those in need in the Appalachian Community during Winter Break — no questions asked. Available from Dec. 11 to Jan. 14, 2021, this program is another way Campus Dining is serving our Mountaineers, and I am so very proud of their efforts.
  • Yesterday, students enjoyed WinterFest on Sanford Mall — hosted by Campus Activities and Wellness and Prevention Services. With free food and games, this event was a great opportunity for our campus community to enjoy a beautiful Boone afternoon with all safety precautions in place. I appreciate the tremendous work of Wellness and Prevention Services and Campus Activities, as well as Student Health Service, Counseling and Psychological Services and University Recreation in helping keep our students healthy and engaged this semester.

  Finding ways to connect is more important than ever — as App State’s Glee Club reminds us in this virtual performance. While we miss the sights and sounds of performances like these in the Plemmons Student Union and Broyhill Music Center, I am thankful for the many ways we are learning to stay connected, no matter the distance.

  
  Sheri Everts, Chancellor
  

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• Update from Appalachian State University — week of Nov. 9–13

  Friday, November 13, 2020

  In less than two weeks our campus community will depart for the Thanksgiving holiday. It is a significant milestone to have maintained in-person instruction this semester, one which speaks directly to the commitment of our faculty, staff and students to following the 3Ws and the many other safety precautions we have in place on our campus.

  Your actions make a difference, and I thank you for your diligence. While we remain encouraged by our data, we are seeing a slight increase in cases related to group activities, gatherings and Halloween events.

  • So far this week, we have conducted 1,456 tests, with 28 positive cases, or a rate of 1.9%.

  • We currently have 45 active university cases.

  • This week, the Chi Omega and Newland Residence Hall clusters moved into inactive status. The total number of individuals who are active cases in all active clusters is four and the maximum number of individuals who are active cases in any active cluster is two.

  • On Monday, we will update the weekly testing and cluster data on the university’s COVID-19 dashboard. Active case data are updated daily.

  Earlier this week Governor Cooper announced, through Dec. 4, the indoor gathering limit has been reduced to 10 people. As we prepare for the holidays, we must continue to prioritize safety and adhere to gathering limits.

  • The experts tell us that now is the time to limit our exposure to others.

  • I encourage everyone to take advantage of the regular COVID-19 testing opportunities on campus. Walk-up/drive-up testing continues, with another event tomorrow from noon–5 p.m. in the Rivers Street Parking Deck.

  • Additionally, be sure to read and follow the guidance in place for departing from and returning to campus.

  This week also brought Mountaineers and members of the community together, virtually, for several important events:

  • App State observed Veterans Day by virtually celebrating some of our campus heroes: staff veterans in Facilities Operations and retired Army Col. Nick Katers, who now serves as the associate vice chancellor for facilities management. Their stories and a photo gallery of our ROTC cadets raising the flag are available on Appalachian Today, our news and events website.

  • I attended the Diversity and Inclusion Accountability Team’s most recent meeting on Thursday, which focused on our efforts to increase diverse representation among our faculty members. Thank you to Chief Diversity Officer Willie Fleming and Director of Intercultural Student Affairs Lamont Sellers for leading this meeting and facilitating our discussions. Active progress continues on our initiatives, and Dr. Fleming regularly shares updates about this work in his messages to campus and on the university’s Diversity and Inclusion website.

  • This afternoon, we officially cut the ribbon on the Kidd Brewer Stadium north end zone facility, which will offer more than 88,000 square feet of much-needed space for athletic, academic and community uses, including an expansive event space for conferences and programming. The facility, which has four floors, will open in phases and in accordance with Governor Cooper’s executive orders. While we had hoped to make this a bigger celebration, we kept today’s event small, and will share photos and more information about the building with campus and our community early next week.

  I am incredibly thankful to be among Mountaineers who have embraced new ways to connect with and support one another, and who seek to make our community stronger than ever before.

  
  Sheri Everts, Chancellor

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• Update from Appalachian State University — week of Nov. 2–6

  Friday, November 6, 2020

  This week, and for months prior, the 2020 election has dominated headlines. The democratic process is a core function of our society — and one of our greatest responsibilities as citizens — and we can be proud so many in our district made their voices heard. App State has a long-standing, nonpartisan commitment to civic engagement and it was an honor for our university to continue to offer a voting site on campus.

  As we go into the weekend, we are encouraged by the data, which show we have had 12 consecutive days of 30 or fewer active COVID-19 cases on App State’s campus — for the first time since before the start of the fall semester.

  Here are a few other important COVID-19 data points:

  • Since students moved in the week of Aug. 10, we have conducted more than 20,000 COVID-19 tests on campus.
  • So far this week, we have conducted 1,370 tests, with 22 positive cases, or a rate of 1.6%. On Monday, we will report testing data for the week on the university’s COVID-19 dashboard.
  • We also have several clusters that moved into inactive status this week, including App State Football, Alpha Delta Pi and Kappa Delta sororities, Delta Sigma Phi fraternity, and four of our residence halls: White, Frank, and the formerly named Lovill and Hoey halls. In all, 12 clusters, out of 25 total, are now classified as inactive. Active cases in the remaining active clusters total 15 and the maximum number of active cases in any active cluster is 4. Cluster data on the university’s COVID-19 dashboard will be updated by Monday afternoon.

  More key metrics will be shared in this week’s operations update, which will also provide guidance for the departure from campus. We strongly encourage all students, as well as staff and faculty, to limit exposure to others and get a COVID-19 test before departing Boone. Additionally, we encourage everyone to follow the Centers for Disease Control’s guidance for travel during COVID-19. More information will be shared soon.

  In the context of COVID-19, celebrating good news is all the more important. We learned this week that App State won the 2019–20 Sun Belt Conference (SBC) Overall Student Graduation Rate Award — the second straight year we have had the highest graduation rate among overall student bodies of SBC schools. What a terrific testament to our students under particularly challenging circumstances.

  Next week, our nation will take time to observe Veterans Day. Instead of gathering in person at App State’s Veterans Memorial, this year’s observance will be virtual. Thank you to the staff in the Office of Student Veteran Services for gathering insights about military service from veterans who now lend their talents to our Facilities Operations. Veterans Day, originally Armistice Day, is officially observed at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month — a commemoration of the 1918 armistice, which ended World War I. The videos and stories from our campus heroes will be available at appstate.edu at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 11.

  On Veterans Day and throughout the year, let’s take the time to thank our veterans for their service to our country. It is more important than ever to support one another, and that’s what we do as Mountaineers.

  
  Sheri Everts, Chancellor

  Learn more

October 2020

• Update from Appalachian State University — week of Oct. 26–30

  Friday, October 30, 2020

  This week, the data show five consecutive days with less than 30 active COVID-19 cases on App State’s campus — for the first time since before the start of the fall semester. This milestone is a testament to the commitment of our faculty, staff and students to slowing the spread of this virus.

  • Since students moved in the week of Aug. 10, we have conducted more than 19,000 COVID-19 tests on campus.
    
  • We currently have 29 active cases, all of whom are recovering in isolation off campus.
    
  • So far this week, we have conducted 1,308 tests, with 15 positive cases, or a rate of 1.1%. On Monday, we will report testing data for the week on the university’s COVID-19 dashboard. Today’s operations update will include more key metrics.

  Our campus community is committed to protecting one other, and dedicated to following safety precautions. Now is when it is most critical we remain vigilant. I appreciate how many of you have helped to reiterate this message, which was also shared by Charlotte media this week.

  I am proud of the leadership of our students in encouraging others to follow all safety precautions related to COVID-19 — from Wellness Ambassadors, to the App State vs. COVID campaign, to public service announcements by the Student Government Association.

  Our faculty continue to accommodate students’ needs as we plan for spring semester with a mix of face-to-face, hybrid and remote course delivery methods. I appreciate the individualized approach they provide to our students always, and particularly throughout this pandemic, as they look holistically at each student’s circumstances and help them find the best solutions.

  Our staff continue to go above and beyond, remaining flexible and responding to the changing needs of our students and faculty. I would like to especially thank the staff who were reassigned when we had to close some of our Campus Dining facilities due to decreased demand. These staff are currently assisting with COVID-19 response efforts, delivering COVID-19 related supplies to campus units, helping with testing site logistics, and providing courier services for students in quarantine by delivering food, hygiene items, laundry and medication as well as class assignments. For those departments that face the possibility of reducing staff hours due to COVID-19 challenges, we will continue to employ every option to keep our staff working in other areas of the university.

  I want to be clear: we are fighting a long fight, and we cannot claim success, but the science and the data tell us we can flatten the curve if we remain attentive and keep caution at the forefront of our decision-making.

  • Wearing face coverings makes a difference — as does physical distancing and washing hands (or using hand sanitizer) frequently. When you are around others who are not in the household you are living in, wear your face covering. At the beginning of the fall semester, we distributed three washable, reusable face coverings to every student, faculty and staff member. If you need a new face covering, you can request one through the Cloth Face Covering Replacement Request Form. Next semester, students, faculty and staff will each receive five new face coverings.
    
  • Group gatherings must remain small and safe. Keep face coverings on. As much as possible, gather outdoors and maintain distance. As we head into Halloween weekend — with an App State football away game also scheduled for Saturday afternoon — Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs J.J. Brown shared terrific reminders and resources with students about how to have fun while keeping safety in mind.
    
  • Take advantage of COVID-19 testing. On-campus, we will continue to offer walk-up or drive-up COVID-19 testing for students, faculty and staff on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. Local public health is also conducting targeted testing events at our residence halls and some local apartment complexes free of charge.
    
  • Start planning for the holidays. We will share guidance about COVID-19 prevention strategies for the holidays and winter break soon. In the meantime, it’s good to familiarize ourselves with the guidance on social gatherings developed by the North Carolina Department of Health & Human Services and the holiday celebrations guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

  While there is less face-to-face and on-campus activity this semester, daily Mountaineer life continues — we are still teaching, learning, researching, participating in activities, elevating our work, connecting with other Mountaineers and moving ever forward. Here are a few recent examples:

  • App State received recognition in Forbes as one of 19 universities selected to join an ongoing project aimed at developing more inclusive faculty recruitment, hiring and retention in STEM disciplines.
    
  • This fall we welcomed nearly 200 students in our first class from Appalachian GEAR UP, a federally funded college access program. For more than five years, we have partnered with 11 school districts in Western North Carolina to provide academic support, college visits and programming for GEAR UP — staying true to our mission of providing access to education for students in our region and beyond.
    
  • The experts in Belk Library and Information Commons’ Special Collections Research Center are helping preserve the history of App State as well as the history of Appalachia. A recent video and photo essay highlight some of the most interesting items in the collection.

  Thank you for your commitment to helping slow the spread of COVID-19 and for your continued dedication to excellence under any circumstances.

  
  Sheri Everts, Chancellor

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• Update from Appalachian State University — week of Oct. 19–23

  Friday, October 23, 2020

  This week we celebrated Appalachian’s Homecoming — a time to show our Mountaineer pride and enjoy traditional festivities, including the Kazoo Band and crowning of the Top of the Rock. Like everything, our celebrations look different this year — with all of the events reimagined to accommodate safety guidelines. Campus was quiet without tailgating, but the black and gold spirit is still palpable, even when shared virtually, and the Homecoming football game victory was even sweeter after a pause in practice and 26 days without a game. At The Rock, we had 2,100 spectators. I am especially proud of the way our students modeled COVID-19 prevention and safety by maintaining distance and wearing face coverings. Their cheering provided terrific motivation for a great Homecoming win, and a great soundtrack for the national coverage on ESPN.

  Many thanks to our Appalachian Police Department and Emergency Management team for their thorough safety preparations for last night’s game. In addition to extensive access to hand sanitizer stations and required face coverings, social distancing measures in the stands, in restrooms and in entry and concession lines were in place, allowing a portion of our community an important opportunity to celebrate Homecoming together and enjoy some much-needed, in-person social interaction.

  We are encouraged to see our positive and active cases of COVID-19 trending downward, as I shared earlier in the week. The data continue to support this trend — today's active case count of 37 is the lowest it has been since Aug. 31. Since students arrived on campus for the fall semester, we have administered more than 17,500 COVID-19 tests to students, faculty and staff. Throughout the semester — and with guidance and assistance from local public health, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) and the UNC System — we have adjusted and enhanced our testing volume and strategy. We have increased surveillance testing to three times each week and have worked with local public health to add targeted testing at residence halls. As we near the end of the fall semester and continue planning for spring, we are also working with UNC System and NCDHHS leadership to further refine our testing strategy, review the latest guidance and acquire additional resources. We will soon share more information about testing before the winter break and the return to campus in the spring.

  We have continued to work throughout the semester with students who would like to opt out of their housing contracts and students who would like to adjust the delivery method of their courses to be fully online. In the spring semester, we will continue with a mix of in-person, hybrid and all-remote course delivery. We are listening to the needs of our students and faculty alike who are seeking further engagement in virtual and socially distanced settings. Each day, both formally and informally, faculty continue to enhance virtual learning experiences for students. The Center for Academic Excellence team remains a valuable resource for faculty in this regard. I would like to thank our faculty, staff and students for the flexibility and innovation they continue to demonstrate under constantly changing circumstances. There is no one approach that works for everyone, so we will continue providing a mix of solutions that provides a high-quality education and the best possible overall Appalachian Experience. When we look back on these times, we may not be able to say we got everything exactly right, but we will be able to say confidently that as a campus community, together, we employed every option to continue our academic mission, while prioritizing the physical and mental health of our students, faculty and staff.

  As we head into the weekend feeling encouraged by our COVID-19 testing numbers, we cannot let down our guard. I urge everyone to follow COVID-19 precautions: Keep wearing your face coverings when you are around others you don’t live with — in any size group — whether indoors or outdoors. Maintain 6 feet of distance and wash your hands or use hand sanitizer frequently.

  While we have not seen many large parties, our university police and student conduct team are strictly enforcing COVID-19 safety ordinances and policies. The most effective strategy, however, is peer-to-peer reinforcement, which we see taking place across campus. Let’s continue these practices wherever we are. Wearing face coverings, in particular, must be the norm — not the exception — for the foreseeable future.

  Slowing COVID-19 demands a tremendous amount of our attention. Still, our faculty, staff and students remain dedicated to simultaneously advancing the Appalachian Experience and I am so grateful for their efforts. We recently announced the recipients of Appalachian’s premier signature scholarships — a group of 24 students who exemplify Mountaineer values and ideals. We are excited to see these students thrive at App State! Last week, we also hosted our first virtual open house of the fall, welcoming 2,500 students and families remotely for information sessions, a virtual tour, meetings with faculty and opportunities to learn about the many programs and resources available.

  I was fortunate to have the opportunity to virtually attend the UNC System’s Board of Governors meetings this week, and while there is significant concern about the state budget outlook, President Hans emphasized as key priorities enrollment growth and strengthening support for faculty and staff. He took special note of the work faculty and staff are undertaking to continue providing high-quality educational experiences for our students, and said, “There is no pausing people’s lives, which means we must be resilient and resolute in providing a life-changing education. We have had to adapt, to do our part in slowing this pandemic while also weighing the risks of lost opportunity for thousands of students. There is no perfect answer for the decisions we face — only honest grappling with a challenging situation.” I encourage you to read his full remarks.

  With each passing week of this historic semester, I am inspired by the resilience of our campus community and the strong desire to do our part to help keep our community as safe as possible. When we work together, we can — and do — make a difference.

  
  Sheri Everts, Chancellor
  

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• Stay Vigilant

  Monday, October 19, 2020

  I have heard from many of you who have noticed an encouraging downward trend in our active COVID-19 case counts and in positive test results from our on-campus testing. Today’s numbers, which show a 2.3% positive rate in last week's on-campus tests and 61 current active cases, continue to reflect this trend. My leadership team and I are also encouraged, but this is a formidable virus we will be battling for many months to come, and we must not become complacent. Please remember to stay vigilant.

  • Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, continues to remind us that cloth face coverings are effective in reducing transmission of COVID-19. While on campus, I, along with many others, have noticed excellent compliance with our face coverings requirements. Please continue wearing face coverings off campus as well, even in small social gatherings and whether indoors or outdoors.
    
  • Utilize today’s free testing event. These take place every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
    
  • Download the free SlowCOVIDNC exposure notification app, which sends a notification if you have been in close contact with someone who has shared a positive COVID-19 test result. Read more about how the app works.
    
  • Remember to complete your daily health check before leaving your residence hall or coming to campus.
    
  • Use the university’s mental and emotional well-being resources. You can also access the national distress hotline by calling 1-800-985-5990, or texting TalkWithUs to 66746.

  Thank you for your continued hard work and diligence. The data show that together, we can make a difference.

  
  Sheri Everts, Chancellor
  

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• Update from Appalachian State University — week of Oct. 12–16

  Friday, October 16, 2020

  We continue to closely watch our active COVID-19 case counts and active cases of individuals in clusters. Sharing data with our campus is important so our faculty, staff and students can see the data points we are considering and use these data to inform their own decisions. You’ll see additional data in the operations update coming soon, but a few key points my leadership team and I reviewed in our daily meeting yesterday are below:

  • We have steadily increased our testing volume and, to date, we have administered more than 15,600 tests on campus this semester. Last week we saw record numbers of on-campus testing and this week we saw an encouraging drop in our active case counts. So far this week, we have collected 1,560 tests with 33 positive cases, or just over 2%. As a comparison, by the same time last week, we had collected 1,805 tests with 77 positive cases, or just over 4%. Working with local public health, we have additional, targeted testing underway at residence halls. Public health has also been implementing targeted testing at nearby apartment complexes this week.
    
    
  • Residence halls occupancy is down to 76% and we continue to work with students who are requesting exemptions from their housing contracts.
    
    
  • Currently, we are using 17% of our isolation/quarantine space, with 83% available. We have not exceeded 30% of capacity to date this semester and we have no hospitalizations.

  Earlier this week, Provost Norris and I received a message from Faculty Senate asking that we consider the option of an immediate pivot to all-remote instruction. We have also both been asked about a single metric, or “tipping point,” that would determine this action. There is no simple answer to this question. We have looked at the steps taken by other institutions and continue discussions with their COVID response teams and our regular communications with UNC System leadership, the NC Department of Health and Human Services and our local public health agency.

  The work of our deans, associate deans, department chairs, advisors and many others to meet the individual needs of faculty, staff and students has been incredibly important to maintaining quality and continuity to our teaching and learning experiences. Likewise, Student Affairs staff have worked to meet housing and countless other key student support needs. University-wide, we continue to adjust our efforts and responses as data, guidance from health care officials and resource availability change. The result has been an extraordinary level of customization that is not as visible as a broad-based change but is focused and individualized at a level many institutions of our size simply have not undertaken. I am proud of the work you have done. This approach is harder, less visible and frankly less publicly lauded than more broad-based approaches. I hear daily from our students and their parents how incredibly important it has been to them. On behalf of those students, their families and the staff and faculty who have sent me so many messages expressing their appreciation for your work, I thank you.

  In discussions on campus, with UNC System leadership and with local and state public health officials, we have discussed other important considerations, which include:

  • White House Coronavirus Response Coordinator Dr. Deborah Birx and Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Dr. Anthony Fauci have both publicly stated that sending college students home is not an advisable strategy and that robust testing and isolation strategies are areas on which colleges should focus in order to mitigate the spread of the virus.
    
    
  • While approximately 20% of our courses are scheduled for face-to-face learning in classrooms, we do not have a concrete number of how many students are actually in classrooms each day. As the semester continues, we know some students have been allowed to pivot to online instruction by their faculty. We have efforts underway to learn more about the actual numbers.
    
    
  • Even as we continue to accommodate students’ requests to move to remote learning formats, we are not seeing students leave the Boone area en masse. Many students sign year-long leases, get jobs, register to vote and stay in the area as much, and as long, as they can.
    
    
  • Many staff are unable to telework, and without state or federal government funding at levels similar to what we had in the spring, a shift to a fully remote format may result in loss of employment for some university employees.
    
    
  • We are also taking into account the mental health impacts of the decisions before us. Isolation, loss of experiences and lack of motivation, largely due to the presence of COVID-19, are concerns for students in particular, and for faculty and staff as well. I appreciate the work our student, faculty and staff support teams have done to make important resources and support for the campus community in remote-friendly formats.
    
    
  • The science clearly shows what works: Compliance in wearing face coverings, distancing, limiting gathering sizes and hand-washing limits the spread of COVID-19. The combination of education, peer influence, incentives and enforcement has proven effective in influencing broad-based behavioral changes in many settings, and we continue to both encourage and enforce these behaviors.

  As anticipated, COVID-19 is causing financial impacts on our campus, which we are doing our best to mitigate. Our receipt-supported areas, in particular, are facing challenges. In some cases we may continue re-assignment of duties as we are forced by our circumstances to adjust where we most need staffing, but I have made clear to my leadership team that we will spare no effort to keep our employees working.

  • Our Athletics Division is implementing furloughs across the division. Beginning next month, Athletics staff will rotate taking 1-4 days off per month through June 2021, with the highest-paid employees taking the most unpaid leave days.
    
    
  • Our Campus Dining facilities have seen a 41% decrease in transactions since 2019 and have closed three locations until further notice: McAlister’s Deli in the Student Union, Rivers Street Cafe in Roess Dining Hall and the Wired Scholar coffee shop in Belk Library and Information Commons. We re-assigned the full-time, permanent staff who worked in the three closed facilities to other areas on campus. I appreciate the work of the Career Development Center staff, who are communicating directly with each of the affected part-time student employees to help them find other job opportunities.

  In the midst of a coordinated response to a global pandemic, we remain focused on moving forward in other important ways:

  • The UNC System’s Racial Equity Task Force is hosting a series of virtual town hall meetings Oct. 19–29 for students, faculty and staff. I encourage you to register and lend your voice to this important effort. Our Deputy General Counsel Toussaint Romain, who has a long career and service history of social justice work, is participating on the staff session panel. Spaces are limited, so register soon! Learn more.
    
    
  • A special thank-you to Dr. Tandrea Carter, who, in addition to her critically important role as director of App State’s Counseling for Faculty and Staff, began her duties as the university’s new ombudsperson on Sept. 15. With this new role, Dr. Carter’s expertise and specialized skills will benefit the Appalachian Community in new and broader ways.
    
    
  • In times of extreme challenge, celebrations gain new importance. Our annual Homecoming celebration is a welcome moment of levity and an opportunity to show our Mountaineer pride and to connect over distance.

  Appalachian’s academic mission is as strong as ever. Despite the backdrop of COVID-19, which takes an extraordinary amount of our time, energy and focus each day, we persevere.

  
  Sheri Everts, Chancellor

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• Update from Appalachian State University — week of Oct. 5–8

  Thursday, October 8, 2020

  In recent days, I have heard from many members of the Appalachian Community who have shared their desire to remain on campus and others who have requested we move to strictly online learning. The common theme is heartfelt concern for all Mountaineers.

  While we have no confirmed cases of classroom transmission, we are concerned about the residence halls clusters and are closely watching test result data. Here is data from the COVID-19 tests we have conducted so far this week (we will update the weekly test data on our dashboard on Monday):

  • Monday, Oct. 5: 665 tests with 37 positive results: 5.6%
  • Tuesday, Oct. 6: 161 tests with 10 positive results: 6.2%
  • Wednesday, Oct. 7: 979 tests with 32 positive results: 3.4%
  • Week to date: 1,805 tests with 79 positive results: 4.4%
  • We have 4 new cases in the active football team cluster. Active cases in that cluster are down from 25 last Friday to 17 today.
  • 70% of our active cases are in students who live off-campus.

  While we remain concerned about clusters in our residence halls, those teaching, learning and working on campus have noted campus facilities remain at a low density, and our data show campus services are being utilized at greatly reduced rates as compared to the same time last year.

  In addition to our continual coordination with the UNC System, we meet twice weekly with the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services COVID response team and daily with AppHealthCare. We continue to review the data and respond with measures that best meet the needs of our students and faculty, and support the teaching and learning experience at App State. Our latest actions include:

  On campus:

  • We are offering on-campus students the ability to voluntarily opt-out of their housing contracts if they want to return to their hometowns.
  • We are implementing mandatory, large-scale testing in residence halls with active clusters.
  • Mountaineer football practice has been suspended until further notice and the football game against Georgia Southern University, scheduled for Oct. 14, has been postponed.
  • University Housing staff are communicating regularly with our on-campus students to not only ensure their understanding of and compliance with safety restrictions, but also to just to check in. It’s been a difficult adjustment for some, and I greatly appreciate the important work of the permanent and student housing staff to support and engage our students who live in residence halls.

  Off-campus:

  • The Appalachian Police Department is assisting local agencies with patrolling and responding to off-campus sites, including off-campus apartment complexes with large populations of students.
  • We are partnering with AppHealthCare, our local public health agency, to implement community-based testing at off-campus apartment complexes with large populations of students.
  • We are working with local public health, local law enforcement and local housing complexes on next steps, which include helping identify cases, assisting with tracing close contacts, sharing public health messages, and enforcing university, local and state policies and ordinances.

  On-campus compliance with the university’s COVID-19 safety measures has been excellent, but we are serious about enforcement:

  • Office of Student Conduct staff visit the courthouse biweekly to pick up information involving App State students.
  • App State will exercise every measure under the Code of Student Conduct for violations of restrictions related to social activity, face coverings and social distancing on and off-campus.
  • On-campus residents must also comply with restrictions related to visitors and group gatherings.
  • Serious and/or repeated violations will result in suspension.

  We urge everyone to reflect on your daily activities and make any needed adjustments to ensure you are being as safe as possible — from following the 3Ws to taking advantage of our free weekly pop-up testing events now held on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays in the Rivers Street Parking Deck. We also encourage all Mountaineers to download the SlowCOVIDNC exposure notification app, released by the NCDHHS. This is an anonymous way to share a positive COVID-19 result or learn if you have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 14 days.

  Thank you to the Appalachian Community for setting an example — through your actions — of how seriously we are committed to protecting the people we care for and the institution that brings us together. Your thought, care and concern for one another underscores the resilience of our university.

  
  Sheri Everts, Chancellor
  
  

  Learn more
• Update from Appalachian State University — week of Sept. 28–Oct. 2

  Friday, October 2, 2020

  This has been a sad and difficult week on our campus as we all work to process the death of Chad Dorrill. Yesterday, we announced 35 active cases of COVID-19 in seven new clusters in our university community. The coronavirus touches all of us, and its effects can be devastating.

  In times of tragedy and uncertainty, many of us ask “What can I do?” and “How can I help?”

  Here are some action steps we took at App State this week:

  • We added an additional weekly pop-up testing event, so we now have two free testing options available without an appointment each week for students, faculty and staff, every Wednesday and Saturday.
    
  • We added contact tracing resources to support the efforts of local public health.
    
  • We postponed the Oct. 7 Mountaineer football game and have suspended practice.

  Additionally:

  • We have engaged in numerous discussions with local public health, local law enforcement and local businesses about off-campus parties and gatherings.
    
  • A team representing the Chancellor’s Office, Student Affairs and Emergency Management meets daily to strategize with local public health officials and twice weekly with a team of state public health officials that include medical professionals and members of the state COVID-19 response team.
    
  • Academic Affairs and Deans are working on options for additional flexibility in course delivery for faculty and students who need it.
    
  • We are utilizing the student conduct process to take disciplinary action against those who violate our safety protocols.

  The question on everyone’s mind is “What’s next for App State?” We publish daily active case counts and weekly cluster and on-campus testing data on our COVID-19 dashboard. Here’s the current status of some other metrics we are watching:

  • Active cases in residence halls account for 1.2% of the residence hall student population.
    
  • We are using 28% of our available quarantine space.
    
  • We are using 28% of our available meal support capacity.
    
  • The status of our personal protection equipment supplies is good.
    
  • Residence hall occupancy is at 84%

  As my leadership team and I watch the metrics and discuss options with UNC System leadership and local and state public health officials, we are continually evaluating a complex set of interrelated circumstances. Some of these are:

  • Most of our students live off campus in and around Boone and are taking the majority of their classes remotely.
    
  • Those in our classrooms are physically distanced, in spaces that are regularly cleaned and sanitized.
    
  • Face coverings compliance on campus is nearly universal.
    
  • We need better compliance with wearing face coverings off campus, adhering to quarantine and isolation instructions, and answering contact tracing calls from public health.

  Our current on-campus density is low; our available response resources remain high; we can offer flexible course delivery options to those who need it and, should we need to, we are ready to pivot to all-remote learning.

  On a personal level, Chad’s family has, in the midst of their grief, given us very clear direction: we must each stay vigilant with our safety precautions.

  • We must wear face coverings — even outside and in small groups. This is the single, most effective tool we have in the prevention of COVID-19.
    
  • Keep group gatherings small. While Phase 3 of Governor Cooper’s reopening plan eases some restrictions, it also emphasizes safety. Limitations on gatherings remain at 25 people indoors and 50 outside. Remember to wear face coverings and maintain physical distance of at least 6 feet in these settings.
    
  • If you have tested positive for COVID-19 or have been identified as a close contact of someone who has tested positive, it is critically important to follow quarantine and isolation instructions. These time periods can vary from person to person depending on circumstances. If you need support while in quarantine, contact the Office of the Dean of Students or Emergency Management.
    
  • Assist with contact tracing. If you receive a call or text from public health, respond quickly. They will ask questions about where you have been and who you have been with. We know this process slows the spread of COVID-19, so answer these questions as completely as possible. You can also download the SlowCOVIDNC app to your mobile phone — this is an anonymous way to share a positive COVID-19 result or receive a notification if you have been in close contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 14 days. More information is available in this article on Appalachian Today.
    
  • Take advantage of regular COVID-19 testing events. Each Wednesday and Saturday, free pop-up testing events are held in the Rivers Street Parking Deck from noon-5 p.m. for students, faculty and staff. Additional testing is available by appointment through our Student Health Service, AppHealthCare and other locations in Boone. Details are available on the university’s coronavirus website.
    
  • Kindly but firmly, we must hold one another accountable. Many of our students and faculty are not on campus very often — for those who are, you can see the 3Ws in clear evidence. We must practice these behaviors consistently, no matter where we are.
    
  • Spend time on the university’s coronavirus website. There is a lot of information on this site, including key metrics, information on testing, how contact tracing works, prevention information, resources, and every update sent to campus since February.
    
  • Seek and offer support. If you or someone you know is having difficulty coping with grief or stress and need support, please reach out. Some key resources are:
    
  • For students: contact the Counseling and Psychological Services Center at 828-262-3180. The Office of the Dean of Students can connect students to additional resources for support.
    
  • For faculty and staff: free counseling is available from Counseling for Faculty and Staff at 828-262-4951 or through the Employee Assistance Program. Academic Affairs and Human Resources can connect faculty and staff to additional resources for support.
    
  • Our student death protocol provides guidance and important resources and support information for our campus community.

  Finally, I would like to say that many people have asked how they can reach out to Chad’s family to offer their condolences and share their memories. The Dean of Students office has coordinated a virtual memorial book to collect these thoughts and share them with the Dorrill family.

  In a time in which so much is out of our control, your university leadership is working harder than ever to help keep you as safe as possible. Let us all please focus on what we can do — be kind; be compassionate; and be diligent with safety and prevention practices. Mountaineers are resilient. No matter what the future holds, we are stronger together.

  
  Sheri Everts, Chancellor

  Learn more

September 2020

• Update from Appalachian State University — week of Sept. 21–25

  Friday, September 25, 2020

  Today I shared university updates with Appalachian’s Board of Trustees. For my message this week, I encourage you to read my full remarks — available below. This compilation of updates and successes speaks to the tremendous thought and care that has gone into our university’s ongoing management of a global pandemic, and simultaneous efforts to elevate the Appalachian Experience.

  As a reminder, the next pop-up COVID-19 testing event will be held tomorrow from noon–5 p.m. in the Rivers Street Parking Deck and the results will be updated on the university's COVID-19 Dashboard.

  Thank you to the entire Appalachian Community for continuing to #ShowYourLove for our Mountaineers and the local community.

  
  Sheri Everts, Chancellor
  
  

  Remarks from the Sept. 25, 2020, Meeting of the Board of Trustees

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• Update from Appalachian State University — week of Sept. 14–18

  Friday, September 18, 2020

  We have been back on campus for six weeks now (having completed our fifth week of classes), and I sincerely appreciate the examples set by our faculty, staff and students in following safety precautions to help slow the spread of COVID-19. We saw an increase in active cases this week, following an increase in testing events after the Labor Day holiday weekend. Additionally, we announced three clusters this week, which, combined, have nine active cases. Still, we are using less than 10% of our currently available quarantine space. A huge thanks to our Emergency Management team and the Case Management, Wellness and Prevention, and Student Health Service staff, who, in addition to their regular case loads, are working hard to respond to the needs of our students who are managing COVID-19 diagnoses.

  We all must remain diligently focused on following the 3Ws when we leave our homes and are around others: wear a cloth face covering over your nose and mouth, wash your hands or use hand sanitizer and wait to maintain at least 6 feet of distance from others. As a reminder, the next pop-up testing event will be held tomorrow from noon–5 p.m. at the Rivers Street Parking Deck and the results will be updated on the university's COVID-19 Dashboard.

  While our semester looks and feels different, our faculty and staff have made every effort to ensure our campus community still has ready access to exciting and thought-provoking offerings. This week, in particular, our campus virtually hosted several great events.

  • The 2020–21 webinar series sponsored by the Appalachian Energy Summit opened this week, celebrating a remarkable accomplishment: Working together, the institutions and affiliates in the UNC System have achieved and exceeded the goal set in 2012 of avoiding $1 billion in energy costs incurred by institutions across the UNC System. The latest figures indicate a reduction of $1,030,282,949 in avoided energy costs as compared to the 2002–03 UNC System's energy usage. I applaud Chief Sustainability Officer Dr. Lee Ball and the Office of Sustainability for their continued leadership of this important initiative!
    
    
  • Congratulations to Drs. Curtis Ryan and Alecia Jackson, who were honored with the Chancellor's and Provost's Awards, respectively, during the second annual Research and Creative Activity at Appalachian event. This celebration of faculty research featured digital posters, oral presentations, performances and digital art pieces, which are available for viewing on the event webpage.
    
    
  • The first event of the fall 2020 Hughlene Bostian Frank Visiting Writers Series featured poet Jacinta White. The season will also include novelist Jacinda Townsend, poet Nickole Brown and creative nonfiction writer Graham Hoppe.

  Thank you to everyone who joined us and a special thank-you to our faculty and staff who reimagined and executed these events.

  Three important reminders to end the week:

  • Earlier this week, you received an email about the UNC System’s Racial Equity Task Force survey, which will be open until Sept. 30. I encourage all faculty, staff and students to use this opportunity to share your thoughts, as your feedback will be invaluable in helping support System-wide change. More information is available here.
    
    
  • Please also take time to complete the 2020 Census, which has been extended until Oct. 31.
    
    
  • Appalachian is committed to civic engagement, and there will be an on-campus voting location for the upcoming election's 20-day voting period. While touring campus locations with the Board of Elections, the university identified Holmes Convocation Center as an alternate location for this voting cycle to better ensure safety and to avoid further disruption of the teaching and learning experience. After this process, the Board of Elections selected the Blue Ridge Ballroom in Plemmons Student Union. While the process to confirm the final location is still underway, Appalachian's long-standing, nonpartisan commitment to hosting a voting site on our campus remains steadfast.

  The Appalachian Community continues to adapt and innovate our events, our programming and every aspect of our daily lives. Thank you for upholding and elevating the Appalachian Experience during these uncertain times.

  
  Sheri Everts, Chancellor
  
  

  Learn more
• Update from Appalachian State University — week of Sept. 7–Sept. 12

  Saturday, September 12, 2020

  Today and every day, we are proud of how our own Appalachian Police Department (APD) is working to help our local community. APD employees, including Appalachian Police Academy recruits, have completed implicit bias training and, later this month, APD is sponsoring 15 local officers from agencies in Watauga County — including Boone Police Department, Watauga County Sheriff’s Office and the Blowing Rock Police Department — to become certified trainers so they can conduct this implicit bias training within their own agencies. I’d like to extend my personal congratulations to the newest graduates of the Appalachian Police Academy, as last month, all 30 recruits passed the state examination to become certified North Carolina police officers.

  Today is the opening of the App State football season, and like everything else this semester, it will be very different from what we’re used to. We are pleased we will have parents of junior and senior players in attendance today, but in accordance with the outdoor gathering limits, as shared by App State Sports, there will be no tailgating permitted on campus and no fans allowed at The Rock for the home football games in September. Our fans in the stands have powered many Mountaineers victories, and we will miss seeing students, faculty, staff, alumni and community members decked out in black and gold on campus during game day. However, this is a necessary precaution to help keep our campus and community safe. I encourage our fans to watch the game from home or at local businesses in small groups, while adhering to the 3Ws. Visit App State Sports to learn how to watch or listen to the game, and be sure to follow @appstatesports to see how the Appalachian Community is cheering on our Mountaineers football team!

  As we continue to work diligently on increasing diversity and inclusion on our campus, this work is also taking place within the broader university system. The UNC System’s Racial Equity Task Force — a special committee of the Board of Governors — has developed a survey to help assess issues of race and equity in the UNC System. Your input is important and I hope you will take this opportunity to share your feedback. More information will be shared next week. You can also share your thoughts anonymously through this form.

  On Tuesday, I met with Staff Senate, and I appreciated the opportunity to answer the thoughtful questions they shared from staff members across the university. The commitment of our staff supports Appalachian’s daily success, and because of the hard work of the entire Appalachian Community, we are entering our fifth week back on campus — a tremendous accomplishment. Here are some important updates:

  • As of Sept. 11, we have 53 active cases, which means people who are currently in isolation due to a positive COVID-19 test. Our available quarantine capacity is currently at 84% (with 16% of the current capacity in use) and we have the ability to add more as needed.
  • We have added metrics to the dashboard — found here — on our university coronavirus website to show both the number of on-campus tests administered and the percent positive.
  • At Thursday’s pop-up testing event, COVID-19 tests were administered to 816 students, faculty and staff, and the results will be included on the university's dashboard on Monday. As a reminder, the next testing event is today from 12–5 p.m. at the Rivers Street Parking Deck.

  Thank you to the entire Appalachian Community for working together each day to fulfill our academic mission.

  
  Sheri Everts, Chancellor
  
  

  Learn more
• Update from Appalachian State University — week of Aug. 31–Sept. 4

  Friday, September 4, 2020

  This afternoon, I gave my annual remarks at the opening meeting for faculty and staff for the academic year. For this week’s update, I am sharing my remarks below. I also encourage everyone to read the latest operations update, which includes important information, and to please take advantage of the pop-up testing events that are coming up on:

  • Saturday, Sept. 5
  • Thursday, Sept. 10
  • Saturday, Sept. 12
  • Saturday, Sept. 19
  • Saturday, Sept. 26

  These testing events will be held from 12–5 p.m. in the Rivers Street Parking Deck. Visit the university’s COVID-19 Testing page for information on upcoming testing events and on-going testing for students, faculty and staff.

  I wish you all a safe and restful weekend.

  
  Sheri Everts, Chancellor
  
  

  ---

  Remarks from the Fall 2020 Faculty and Staff Meeting:

  Learn more

August 2020

• Update from Appalachian State University — week of Aug. 24–28

  Friday, August 28, 2020

  With our second week of classes complete, all of us are adapting to new routines, including submitting our daily health checks and wearing face coverings when we are on campus. In large part, our entire Appalachian Community is acting responsibly and I could not be more grateful. Thank you all for doing your part.

  I am especially appreciative of our students’ adherence to precautionary measures in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19 — wearing a face covering, physically distancing and washing hands often. Mountaineers are setting an excellent example, and I am proud that our students’ broad use of face coverings, classroom safety precautions in place and pop-up testing opportunities were noted in a report on Thursday on WSOC-TV. Tomorrow from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Rivers Street Parking Deck, we are again providing free COVID-19 testing for students, faculty and staff. Thank you to Jason Marshburn and his team in Environmental Health, Safety, and Emergency Management for coordinating this effort. We recently added some enhancements to our informational COVID-19 case count dashboard. Previously, we updated the dashboard as soon as we received data and now, thanks to our local public health agency, AppHealthCare, we are able to update it daily. We are especially appreciative of faculty input on making this a more informative and easy-to-understand resource.

  Today, we received numbers from the fall 2020 census data and the Office of Admissions. Continuing our path of slow and steady growth, we have record-breaking numbers again this year. You can read about them here. These promising statistics during extremely challenging times speak directly to the tremendous efforts of our faculty and staff to recruit, retain and graduate high caliber students.

  • Our total fall 2020 enrollment is 20,023.
    
    
  • Undergraduate enrollment is up 3% for a total of 18,061.
    
    
  • Graduate student enrollment is up 11% for a total of 1,962.
    
    
  • App State Online (undergraduate and graduate) enrollment has increased by more than 18% for a total of 1,513.
    
    
  • Rural student enrollment is 5,992, more than 300 students above the University of North Carolina System's strategic plan benchmark for this year.
    
    
  • First-generation undergraduate students total 6,100, which is 34% of the total undergraduate population.
    
    
  • A record 18% of the total population is racially/ethnically diverse.
    
    
  • We have increased our total underrepresented student population by 56% since 2014.
    
    
  • We have nearly doubled our first-year underrepresented enrollment in the last six years — a 97% increase.

  I am incredibly proud of the work our faculty, staff and students have done to help realize these numbers. These are your successes during a time in which colleges and universities face significant uncertainties about what the future holds, and I hope you take pride in them.

  Next week, we will host our third annual Founders Day celebration. On this day, the first day of classes on Sept. 5, 1899, we honor the principles set forth by our founders that have guided us as educators and leaders in our state and beyond. Their determination to carve out a center of academic and cultural excellence in the ‘lost provinces’ continues to inspire us as we adapt and recharge for the challenges we face every day. This year’s celebration will feature a series of virtual events that include the dedication of our new residence halls, Thunder Hill and Raven Rocks, and the ringing of our Founders Bell. Many thanks to AppTV for livestreaming these events and making it possible for Mountaineers near and far to be a part of this important annual event.

  I am always inspired by stories of how our faculty and staff find new ways — both large and small — to make App State a place our students feel at home and supported. When first-year student Madeline Ryan’s bicycle arrived boxed and unassembled at the University Post Office, administrative support specialists Tim Norris, Matt Story and Daniel Greer jumped at the chance to help and put the bike together for her. Madeline, who had just moved to Boone from Chicago, said, “It was such an important act of kindness to me during a pretty difficult transition.” Read the full story.

  The Appalachian Experience is fortified by the strong connections among our faculty, staff and students, and these bonds will unite us through another century of educational leadership.

  
  Sheri Everts, Chancellor

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• Update from Appalachian State University — week of Aug. 17–22

  Saturday, August 22, 2020

  Thanks to the extraordinary efforts of the entire App State Community, this week we held the first classes of the fall semester. I am incredibly proud of the collaboration across university departments to make this possible. The decision to welcome students back to campus was guided not only by our desire to give students the Appalachian Experience they hoped for, but also by recommendations from public health officials and the UNC System — as I shared in an Aug. 17 message to campus.

  A few weeks ago, in my June address to our Board of Trustees, I said this pandemic has necessitated our creating what is essentially a new Appalachian State University. Every aspect of campus life is different: in the ways we teach, deliver books, clean, meet, exercise, sit and eat together, and even where we place our toothbrushes. Since March, teams of staff and faculty have been working to prepare our campus to continue our premier teaching, research and learning experiences under the massive constraints and challenges imposed by this pandemic.

  Earlier this week, I spoke with Dr. Mandy Cohen, secretary of the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS). She called to discuss our plans of action and individual challenges, and she was complimentary of Appalachian’s extensive preparations and safety measures. On Aug. 21, the NCDHHS released updated guidance for institutions of higher education, and our preparation throughout the spring and summer has ensured we are in full compliance with this guidance.

  Across the nation, the operations of colleges and universities face daily uncertainties. These first few days are critical in ensuring we are able to flatten App State’s curve. We must all be diligent following the 3Ws, and limiting social gatherings to small numbers. Wear face coverings in compliance with university requirements and when you cannot maintain 6 feet of physical distance; wait to ensure 6 feet of physical distance between yourself and others; wash your hands frequently, scrubbing with soap for 20 seconds, and use hand sanitizer. If you are concerned about your or someone else’s exposure to or illness from COVID-19, you can report it here, and our Environmental Health and Safety and Emergency Management staff will immediately engage a team, including our public health partners, to review and respond as needed.

  Thanks to Student Government President and Vice President Michael Davis and Cam Hunter for the messages they shared with students yesterday, reminding students to limit parties and gatherings to no more than 10 people indoors and no more than 25 outdoors. Their messages and leadership are crucial to our success in being able to maintain an on-campus learning experience for our students. Every student can be a leader by example. As Michael and Cam both said, the actions of each individual person make a difference in our ability to stay the course this semester and beyond.

  While much of our reporting has been on the intricacies of returning to campus, it’s important to remember our faculty and staff continue to create meaningful experiences for our campus community.

  • Dr. Krista Terry, an associate professor in the Department of Leadership and Educational Studies, shared her thoughts on our faculty’s expertise in online instruction and connecting with students through all learning modalities. App State has long been known for its relational culture, and Dr. Terry underscores the importance of that focus now more than ever. Read what she had to say.
    
    
  • University Recreation’s Erin Sanders and Dr. Becky Battista of the Department of Health and Exercise Science and director of the Office of Student Research provided options and safety tips for outdoor exercise, enjoying the fall weather and learning what the university campus and Greater High Country have to offer in outdoor settings.
    
    
  • Landscape Services took advantage of our largely empty campus this summer to cultivate more durable turf on Sanford Mall. These grassy areas can now better withstand sustained amounts of high foot traffic and recreational use. Read more about the project.
    
    
  • During the spring and summer, more than 100 App State employees volunteered to personally call nearly 16,000 incoming and current students as a way to check in with our Mountaineers amid the COVID-19 pandemic, to see how they were doing and connect them to any needed resources. Read more about this initiative.

  In the last few weeks in particular, we have received many messages commending our university’s response to COVID-19 and highlighting the tremendous efforts of our staff, faculty and leaders. The parents of a returning student, who moved into a residence hall last weekend, shared one such message. They thanked the university for the “thoughtful planning for the upcoming fall semester during these unique and unsettling times. We feel very comfortable having witnessed the preparedness and precautions in place and look forward to a successful fall semester.”

  I, too, want to extend my sincerest thanks to our faculty and staff for your work to elevate the experiences of our students — inside the classroom and beyond. The involvement of our faculty, staff and students is central to our institutional mission, and we are working harder than ever to engage the Appalachian Community in our decision-making processes. Your input is valued and we will continue to seek it as we move forward.

  
  Sheri Everts, Chancellor

  Learn more
• 

  Update from Appalachian State University — week of Aug. 10–14

  Friday, August 14, 2020

  Welcome back to all of our new and returning Mountaineers! Move-in week has brought fresh energy to our campus and it is so great to see our students again. Above is a special message to our students.

  As we prepare for the first day of classes on Monday, I remind those of you on campus to wear your face coverings, practice physical distancing and good hygiene, and submit your daily health check. Every aspect of university life has been assessed with safety at the forefront — from academics, to dining, to residence life. You can read more details and find images of how each area of our university has been adjusted in this news story. You can also find more information here about how the university is working to maintain as much continuity as possible during these uncertain times.

  My leadership team and I will continue to work closely with local and state public health and the UNC System. Our work is informed by renowned infectious disease experts, including NCDHHS Secretary Mandy Cohen and infectious disease specialist and epidemiologist Dr. David Weber, who serves as associate chief medical officer of UNC Health Care. To watch updates from Gov Cooper that include Sec. Cohen’s reports, click here.

  Dr. Weber has said, “It is my opinion that if certain precautions are implemented at the university level, the most important being the use of face coverings and maintaining physical distancing, faculty and staff can safely resume instruction and other educational related activities on campus. My opinion is based upon my education, training, experience, and my knowledge and review of reliable, authoritative, science-based data, and clinical observations.” You can also view Dr. Weber’s July 23 presentation to the UNC System Board of Governors here (timestamp 11:40).

  We will work together to make the best possible decisions for our university community and continue our actions to mitigate risk associated with COVID-19.

  I ask that we all continue to diligently practice the 3Ws — wear face coverings, wait to ensure 6 feet of physical distance and wash hands often or use hand sanitizer. Together we can reduce the spread of COVID-19.

  The past few months have presented difficult challenges and decisions, met head-on with resilience and innovation by the Appalachian Community. Now, as we embark on a new academic year, I am certain Mountaineer Spirit will continue to prevail.

  
  Sheri Everts, Chancellor

  ---

  Social media highlights

  • 08.12 — Appalachian’s University Bookstore has been hard at work planning, cleaning and following safety guidelines.
  • 08.10 — Move-in week looked different this year, including lots of App State face coverings — a great way to #ShowYourLove!
  • 08.10 — Appalachian’s University Housing team put a tremendous amount of thought and care into keeping our on-campus residential students as safe as possible.
  • 08.07 — Our newest residence halls look terrific, and the first residents recently moved in!

  Follow me on:

  • Twitter @AppChancellor
  • Facebook

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• Update from Appalachian State University — week of Aug. 3–7

  Friday, August 7, 2020

  Next week, students will begin moving into residence halls. Even as we all work to manage the challenges of a global pandemic, I am excited about beginning a new academic year.

  Earlier this week, Governor Cooper announced the extension of Phase 2 “Safer at Home” through Sept. 11 while also emphasizing that universities are returning students to classrooms. He acknowledged the importance of opening schools and institutions of higher education, saying “Education must go on.” Higher education is indeed an essential function, and we will ensure that education goes on.

  Governor Cooper and Mandy Cohen, secretary of the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS), acknowledged this return to campuses is not without risk, and we acknowledge this as well. As we return to campus, we expect to see an increase in positive COVID-19 cases in the coming weeks, but our staff and faculty have been working for months on countless measures designed to mitigate the risk to members of our community. Our campus will look and feel different with new safety protocols in place — you can learn more about those precautions here.

  I am proud of the ways our campus community has already shown its commitment to work together to keep everyone as safe as possible. Leaders from Appalachian’s fraternities and sororities recently issued a joint statement — which you can read here — with guidelines and actions for the safety of students and others in the community who are returning to campus. Our Student Government Association is working with University Communications on an App State Share the Love public health education campaign. We applaud the proactive approaches of these and other student leaders.

  Our students who begin moving into residence halls on Monday will find that the University Housing team has created an environment that sets community expectations for safety with education, training and visitation protocols. You can see a short video here, in which Associate Director of University Housing Dr. Alicia Vest explains some of the measures in place to help protect students living in the residence halls. I’d like to thank Alicia and the entire University Housing team for the incredible amount of work they have done to rethink every aspect of our students’ on-campus housing experience to make our community safer.

  Our on-campus residential students will also have an opportunity to receive a free COVID test as they move onto campus next week, thanks to a partnership with Mako Medical Laboratories to increase testing availability for our campus community. Next week, Mako will be on campus with a “pop-up” site for students who will be living in residence halls. Testing events like these are one of many efforts each of us can take to promote the health and well-being of the Appalachian Community. Residential students will receive further information about this testing event soon. Our local public health agency, AppHealthCare, continues to offer testing for other members of the Appalachian Community. Please find additional information about testing here.

  NCDHHS tracks trends over time for four metrics — surveillance data, testing data, hospitalization data and viral spread — which inform decisions made by public health at the state and local levels. This then affects our planning and response. We have a strong partnership with AppHealthCare, as well as support from NCDHHS and the UNC System, as we prepare for and respond to many scenarios. This coordinated planning accounts for a multitude of planning scenarios, risk assessments and mitigation strategies.

  Our dedication to the health, safety and well-being of our students, faculty and staff will continue to guide us as we embark on another semester in the eye of a global pandemic, and I thank each of you for your commitment to our university and each other.

  
  Sheri Everts, Chancellor

  ---

  Social media highlights

  • 08.07 — Thank you to AppalCART for implementing enhanced cleaning procedures and other safety protocols.
  • 08.06 — We appreciate all the Mountaineers who are showing their love by following the 3Ws, especially wearing a face covering.
  • 07.28 — Safety precautions related to COVID-19 are nearing completion in Roess Dining Hall and across campus.

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July 2020

• 

  Update from Appalachian State University — week of July 27–31

  Friday, July 31, 2020

  In only two weeks, we will welcome our Mountaineers back to campus. I am proud of the way we have adapted to the challenges of this global pandemic, which has challenged every aspect of daily university life — from how we live and learn, to how we engage and educate. As we work together to adjust to our new safety protocols, we are looking forward to connecting in ways we have not been able to for quite some time. We are building an entirely new learning and living environment, designed to continue offering a meaningful experience for the entire Appalachian Community with safety at the forefront of every decision.

  During the UNC Board of Governors meeting last Thursday, infectious disease specialist and epidemiologist Dr. David Weber, who serves as associate chief medical officer of UNC Health Care, gave an informative presentation on COVID-19 that supports the effectiveness of face coverings and social distancing. Notably, he reported on a study that found wearing a face covering reduced the transmission radius of the novel coronavirus by more than half. A recent survey of Appalachian students conducted earlier this month by the Student Affairs Assessment Team and Wellness and Prevention Services shows Appalachian students are "very willing" to wear face coverings, adhere to physical distancing guidelines and practice good hygiene.

  The entirety of the Appalachian Experience has been assessed to ensure the appropriate precautions are in place to keep us as safe as possible. Face-to-face classes will look and feel different with social distancing and required face coverings in all instructional areas. For those students who will be learning remotely for some or all of their coursework, our faculty have spent hundreds of hours over the summer to develop compelling and engaging learning experiences. Campus Dining staff have also implemented many new safety measures while ensuring students have access to quality food through Campus Dining as well as through contracts with GrubHub and local food truck vendors. You can learn more about the changes to Campus Dining in this video. Additionally, Student Affairs is ensuring health services, wellness and prevention services, and student activities are available in new and safer ways. Students and their families can learn more about student life here.

  As we receive new information and guidance from the UNC System, state and local public health, the state legislature and other key oversight agencies, we work to determine what it means for our campus and share with the Appalachian Community as quickly as possible any new guidance and information, as well as any steps we take in response.

  As I mentioned in my message to campus on July 18, the UNC Board of Governors has asked all UNC System institutions to conduct financial scenario planning exercises. This afternoon, the UNC System released scenario planning documents for all campuses. While we are not facing 25%–50% budget cuts at this time, I want to emphasize it is important to responsible fiscal planning that we engage in budget scenario planning.

  Decisions made by the Board of Governors have a direct impact on our university, and Appalachian’s leaders work diligently to ensure our priorities are heard and considered. My positions on the budget and finance and capital construction committees give me insight and a voice in these important areas. The recent Board of Governors meeting resulted in decisions that are important to our university: A motion was approved for the 2020–21 Operating Budget Allocations, which included $5 million for Appalachian for enrollment change funding. Vice Chancellor for Business Affairs Paul Forte and Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs J.J. Brown presented to the strategic initiatives committee about Appalachian’s approach to student health services, particularly our decision to begin billing our students’ insurance companies to gain additional revenue we can re-invest in further resources for students, such as telehealth options.

  On Saturday, Chief Diversity Officer Dr. Willie Fleming shared an update from an important meeting held last Tuesday. This meeting addressed initiatives and progress underway, and set up a way that university administrators can be accountable to students, faculty, staff and alumni for accomplishing these objectives. Many conversations with students have taken place since that time, and they continue. We are committed to continuing to push ourselves and our university forward. If you have not done so, I encourage you to read Dr. Fleming’s message and spend some time with the chart he presented at the meeting. You can find both here. 

  We are charting new territory, for certain. In these times, it is more important than ever to stay focused on our academic mission and our commitment to enhancing the quality of life for every member of our community.

  
  Sheri Everts, Chancellor

  Learn more
• Update from Appalachian State University — week of July 13–17

  Saturday, July 18, 2020

  As we look to our first day of classes on Aug. 17, faculty, staff and students are engaged in robust planning that provides the safest possible on-campus community experience for our students. Among our preparations are ensuring 6 feet of distance between those who are in classrooms, offering a variety of instructional methods and enhanced cleaning and sanitizing. In the coming days, students can expect communications from Academic Affairs about the course delivery methods for their classes and from Student Affairs about community expectations and the student experience. Staff and faculty are working diligently around the clock to prepare our campus for a return that will provide as robust an on-campus student experience as possible, while adhering to strict safety measures.

  Earlier this week, Governor Cooper announced the extension of Phase 2 “Safer at Home” through August 7, and in-person instruction guidance for K-12 public schools. You can read the Executive Order here, and the announcement about public schools here. I recognize this will have significant impacts on our students, faculty and staff who work with and have children in the K-12 public schools, and my leadership team and I are working to address the many questions these decisions are raising for our community. Please know additional communications will be forthcoming to address these questions.

  As we all work to respond to the latest impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, the UNC Board of Governors has asked all UNC institutions to conduct financial scenario planning exercises. These scenarios are based on potential drops in enrollment; reductions in state appropriations; the loss of business, athletics, and auxiliary revenue, and unanticipated expenses. We are not alone in assessing the possible financial implications of the pandemic, but certainly recognize that should we encounter sizable budget cuts, we could face unprecedented changes to our university. While it is important to recognize these are planning exercises, I want to be clear that my leadership team and I meet regularly with the Faculty Senate Executive Team, and we will continue working collaboratively with Faculty Senate, Staff Senate and our Student Government Association to ensure they are engaged should we need to enact any of the possible financial scenarios.

  Enrollment remains critically important and as we approach fall semester, I am pleased to welcome Kimberly Holley, Appalachian’s new senior director of admissions, to help support our institutional goals. She has been a leader in enrollment management for more than 15 years and has significant experience in supporting marginalized populations and increasing enrollment diversity.

  Along with Provost Norris and Vice Chancellors JJ Brown and Paul Forte, I continue to attend listening sessions with departments across campus to answer questions and hear the thoughts, concerns and ideas of our faculty and staff. While we all yearn for a return to normalcy, I appreciate the many ways the Appalachian Community has continued to move forward. Thank you.

  
  Sheri Everts, Chancellor

  ---

  Social media highlights:

  • 07.14 — Appalachian deeply values its partnerships in the community, and we recently donated 200 masks and helped deliver more than 500 meals to students and community members in isolation and quarantine.
  • 07.14 — Thanks to the Office of Sustainability for giving me a tour of the university’s Roots Garden!

  Learn more
• Update from Appalachian State University — week of July 6–10

  Friday, July 10, 2020

  This week, I hosted a discussion with Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs J.J. Brown and Michael Davis, our new Student Government Association president. I also attended listening sessions with academic departments, including Interdisciplinary Studies, Mathematical Sciences, Leadership and Educational Studies, and Social Work. At each meeting, I heard the conviction of the participants as they shared concerns and asked questions about the logistics of the fall semester in the context of COVID-19, how we plan to keep our faculty, staff and students safe, and what we are doing — or plan to do — to foster cultural change on our campus.

  We are considering all possible scenarios and confirming as many specifics as possible while also awaiting further guidance from Governor Cooper and the UNC System. Governor Cooper’s announcement expected next week about the next steps of his phased reopening plan will be an important indicator for us. I appreciate the collegiality of our faculty and staff, and the patience of our students, as we all work toward the best solution for continuing instruction in the fall. I know all of us want the safest possible learning environment and I appreciate those who are working on this.

  We have added more information about course delivery to our coronavirus website, which includes important information about what to expect in the fall. You can view the Course Delivery page here. Additional information about student life, COVID testing and training modules for health and safety expectations is forthcoming.

  As we work to protect the collective health of our community, it’s essential each person in the Appalachian Community recognizes their individual responsibility. It is up to each of us to follow all recommendations, including wearing face coverings, practicing physical distancing and self-reporting any tests for COVID-19. Full guidance on these topics can be found on the Returning to Work Safely page of our coronavirus website, under the “Phased return of staff and faculty” section.

  We are not alone in rising to the challenges presented by COVID-19. This pandemic necessitates the utmost cooperation within our community, and we are fortunate to have strong relationships with partners throughout the town, county and region. To date, Appalachian has worked with AppHealthCare to donate 200 disposable surgical masks and to deliver approximately 435 meals through Appalachian’s Campus Dining to students and community members under isolation and quarantine. You can read more about our partnership with the community here.

  The Project Management and Implementation Team continues its important work coordinating preparations for fall semester and beyond. These weekly updates are important, as they respond to frequently asked questions that are emailed to many across the institution, as well as the questions and comments submitted via the “Continuity in the time of COVID-19” page of the university’s coronavirus website. We are working to provide important information and answer questions to the best of our current ability in as timely a fashion as possible. You can read all of the latest updates, including today’s update, here.

  As we continue to do our very best to support our students, faculty and staff, I would like to thank Dr. Jesse Lutabingwa, Associate Vice Chancellor for International Education and Development, for quickly reaching out to our international students with resources and support this week. Our international students, faculty and staff enrich our culture and are valued members of our community, and we will continue our support for them. I would like to ensure the campus community is aware of the statement of support for our international students, which I echo wholeheartedly, and I assure you the excellent team in the Office of International Education and Development is working diligently to support our international students.

  Finally, I am pleased to welcome Lamont Sellers as the new director for intercultural student affairs. He comes to Appalachian having previously served as the associate vice president for diversity at the University of South Dakota. Identifying and hiring a new director has been a priority this year for the Division of Student Affairs, and I am confident Lamont will be a tremendous leader at Appalachian.

  We have difficult decisions and work ahead of us — and hard questions to answer. Thank you to everyone in the Appalachian Community for continuing to give of your time and efforts as we move forward.

  
  Sheri Everts, Chancellor

  ---

  Month in review

  • Update from Appalachian State University — week of June 29–July 2
    Posted July 2, 2020
  • Update from Appalachian State University — week of June 22–26
    Posted June 28, 2020
  • Update from Appalachian State University — week of June 15–19
    Posted June 19, 2020
  • Update from Appalachian State University — week of June 8–12
    Posted June 12, 2020
  • Update from App State — message from Chancellor Sheri Everts
    Posted June 5, 2020

  Learn more
• Update from Appalachian State University — week of June 29–July 2

  Thursday, July 2, 2020

  With the fall semester approaching, we are continuing to assess and evaluate the needs of our campus community. Last week, Interim Provost Heather Norris and I reached out to all 43 academic departments to schedule individual department meetings. We want to hear from our faculty colleagues and answer questions they have about the coming days and weeks. This week I also met with the Black Faculty and Staff Association, a team focused on donor and alumni engagement, and a group focused on establishing operational protocol recommendations for Campus Dining, Camps and Conferences, Parking and Traffic, the University Post Office and the University Bookstore. I am very appreciative of the immense amount of work these dedicated faculty and staff perform in support of continued and improved university excellence.

  I also toured Sanford Hall to check on the construction progress, and Anne Belk Hall to see some strategies underway, as we prepare our campus for fall semester and beyond, including reconfiguring classrooms to accommodate 6 feet of physical distancing. We have been running simulations, looking at classroom capacities, assessing all available space (including administrative space) for additional classroom use, and working to balance the course delivery options (face-to-face, fully online and hybrid) to meet the needs of each academic discipline and department — all while providing the best possible academic experience for our students. While we hope and expect to have our students back on campus this fall, we are also making plans to pivot to online delivery in the event it is necessary. With the complex and ever-changing nature of the pandemic, our faculty have been sharing their questions and concerns with university leadership. You can read an open letter Interim Provost Norris and I shared with them earlier today here.

  Each member of our leadership team is exploring the role of diversity and inclusion initiatives in their systems and processes, and identifying areas for improvement. Right now, it is important that we better communicate the resources we have in place, so we have expanded support to Chief Diversity Officer Dr. Willie Fleming to help increase the visibility and accessibility of his office’s important work as well as resources for Black faculty, staff and students, which you can access here. You can also read regular messages from Dr. Fleming about the efforts in place and planned on the Diversity and Inclusion website.

  Appalachian’s faculty members continue to use their expertise to offer valuable perspectives on this global pandemic. Recently, the Office of Research awarded internal grants to eight multidisciplinary faculty teams exploring COVID-19 research related to the spread of the virus in nursing homes and social distancing on greenways and trails, among other topics. Additionally, App State faculty collaborated with the North Carolina Institute for Climate Studies to research the relationship between COVID-19 transmission and weather.

  We can all be proud that earlier this week, Dr. Baker Perry, a professor in the Department of Geography and Planning, was featured on National Geographic Channel’s special program “Expedition Everest,” which details the trek of a team of researchers, including Dr. Perry, to install the two highest operating automated weather stations in the world on Mount Everest. Our faculty members do tremendous work on and off campus, and our students are fortunate to learn from these respected professionals.

  Across the university, we are critically evaluating every piece of our societal puzzle — from how we can host safe, socially distanced classes, to continuity in the important research, teaching and service work of our faculty, to the additional resources needed for our faculty, staff and students of color. While providing these resources is critically important, we must look to the sources of inequity and trauma present and take real action to remove the causes, to ensure our campus is a safe and just space for all.

  
  Sheri Everts, Chancellor

  ---

  Social media highlights

  • 06.30 — I saw great construction progress on my recent tour of Sanford Hall and my visit to Anne Belk Hall showed clear strategies for social distancing and enhanced sanitation.
  • 06.30 — Dr. Baker Perry was featured on National Geographic channel, showing the tremendous expertise of Appalachian’s faculty.

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June 2020

• Update from Appalachian State University — week of June 22-26

  Sunday, June 28, 2020

  Friday, I had the opportunity to share university updates with Appalachian’s Board of Trustees, and to help welcome new Staff Senate constituency representative Kelli Wilson to her first board meeting, as well as Student Government Association President Michael Davis, who was sworn in as a voting member of the board by Judge Rebecca Eggers-Gryder, a 1983 graduate of App State. You may read my full remarks here.

  I welcomed the chance to showcase the work taking place at Appalachian as we confront two of the most important issues to hit higher education in our lifetimes: a global pandemic and the exposure of systemic racism. Notably, I shared with our Trustees our evolving plans for a phased return to campus as well as the strategies we have implemented to continue to build a culture of inclusive excellence on our campus.

  One important change that will be in place before classes begin in August will be new names on our residence halls. Appalachian’s faculty, staff and students have worked diligently to research, assess and make recommendations regarding iconography on our campus. We recognize the names of our buildings are a reflection of Appalachian’s values and priorities. We are re-naming Lovill and Hoey halls so they may echo our commitment to creating an environment that is welcoming, safe and respectful to our Mountaineers and to all those who visit our campus. Additionally, because many of our students choose Appalachian, in part, because of our stunning location, we welcome the opportunity for our students to build a stronger connection with the local geography, geology and biology.

  Chief Diversity Officer Dr. Willie Fleming champions this work taking place across our campus, though we know the work belongs to all of us. Last week, he began sharing regular updates broadly with campus. These updates, as well as the significant milestones we have achieved in recent years, resources, support services, and important information about initiatives and programming, are all available at diversity.appstate.edu.

  We miss our students and are looking forward to welcoming them to campus, and yet we are not naïve about doing this during a global pandemic. As Governor Cooper confirmed in his press conference Wednesday in which he extended Phase 2 of North Carolina’s re-opening, the percentage of positive COVID-19 cases in North Carolina remains elevated. President Roper, in consultation with UNC System Chancellors, continues to watch these numbers for how they might impact our plans for the future. As we look at a variety of scenarios for a return to campus, we recognize one likely scenario might mean we pivot to online instruction. As we continue watching the numbers, I, along with my leadership team, continue to appreciate our partnerships with faculty and staff, as well as continued conversations with student leaders, to ensure the safest path forward. Next week, interim Provost Heather Hulburt Norris and I will begin our meetings with academic departments across campus to discuss concerns and develop solutions as we strategize plans for the fall. The Project Management Implementation Team sends weekly updates to campus with additional details, which you can read here.

  Each week brings new questions and new concerns. We are engaging groups across the university to assess conditions and plan for every scenario to keep our Mountaineers safe, and we are actively taking into account the Appalachian Community’s thoughts and insights as we find the best path forward for our university.

  
  Sheri Everts, Chancellor

  ---

  Social media highlights

  • 06.24 — Three washable, reusable face coverings are being provided to every faculty, staff and student upon their return to campus. Here’s a preview of what they look like.
  • 06.18 — After 37 years of dedicated service to Appalachian, Dr. Randy Edwards, is retiring from his position of vice chancellor for university advancement. We know he’ll always be a loyal Mountaineer!
  • 06.16 — As I check in with each team managing our response to COVID-19 and our preparations for Fall and beyond, I appreciate the efforts of the Emergency Management Task Force, a knowledgeable and efficient group that responds to campus emergencies, and which has been working on the university’s coronavirus response for 159 days.

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• Update from Appalachian State University — week of June 15-19

  Friday, June 19, 2020

  Today is Juneteenth, a day that celebrates the end of slavery in the United States. It commemorates the date in 1865 that Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas, and told slaves of their emancipation — more than two years after President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation and months after the end of the Civil War. More than 150 years later, as we are also enmeshed in a world-altering pandemic, our campus and our nation still face the ugly roots of racism and the devastating inequalities they create.
  

  This commemoration calls on us to reaffirm that Black Lives Matter and to reflect and consider the importance of Juneteenth and what each of us can do in our daily actions to make real and powerful changes.
  

  As a key member of my leadership team, Chief Diversity Officer Dr. Willie Fleming elevates the important work of aligning our university’s diversity and inclusion goals with our values of embracing diversity of thought, belief and community, and offers further insight into how our university can be more responsive, supportive and resilient. While we have moved forward on key actions and initiatives, there is still much we need to do. Dr. Fleming and his colleagues are finalizing the universitywide strategic diversity plan that will guide the full commitment of our institutional efforts and bring invaluable coordination to the urgent work of creating a more diverse and equitable Appalachian and will provide the Appalachian Community with updates on our continuing progress — and our challenges — on a regular basis. You can read an important update from him here:
  

  As Appalachian’s Chief Diversity Officer, it is my role to provide the vision, leadership, coordination and strategic planning for improving Appalachian’s campus diversity and inclusion so that everyone in our university community is valued, supported and respected. I am the first Chief Diversity Officer of a stand-alone office, which is one of many firsts that have been a foundation for real change through action. With my colleagues, I continually study our campus climate to assess how we value, respect and support members of our underrepresented groups, as well as the general campus community. Are we where we need to be? Absolutely not, but we are committed to ensuring Appalachian’s culture is one that fosters inclusive excellence. [Read more]
  

  
  Sheri Everts, Chancellor

  ---

  Because of the pandemic, for the past three months, staff, students and faculty dispersed across the area, even across the country, have come together Zoom by Zoom, hour by hour, day by day, focused on sustaining the academic mission and working our way back to campus. For that I am extremely grateful. I and members of the dedicated recovery leadership teams are meeting with UNC System leaders and local public health agencies as well as groups across campus to get input from faculty, staff and students. We are touring classrooms, hallways, walking paths, construction sites and transportation systems to observe and advise, to ask and answer questions.

  • The website dedicated to sharing the planning underway for continuity of teaching, research and learning during the challenges of COVID-19 is available here.
    
    
  • Read the update from the Project Management Implementation Team sent to campus yesterday here.
    
    
  • Read the update on COVID-19 positive case counts and reporting process here.
    
    
  • In my June 12 update to campus, I shared face coverings would be required for - and provided to - faculty, staff and students. Here's a link to the latest message to campus with additional details.
    

  Learn more
• Update from Appalachian State University — week of June 8–12

  Friday, June 12, 2020

  The extraordinary confluence of a global pandemic and recent displays of deplorable racism is rightfully forcing the evaluation, assessment and reconfiguration of the most basic tenets of our lives. Now, our thoughts, our words and, most importantly, our actions define us and determine our path. We are coming back together to safely make in-person connections during the two most important issues that have hit higher education in our lifetimes. Beginning next week, I will be meeting with small groups across campus to hear your thoughts and ideas as we work together on safely reopening and progressing forward together during this difficult and painful time.
  

  The voices of Appalachian have been loud and clear, standing in solidarity with our Black faculty, staff and students. This week, the UNC System established a six-member Equity Task Force — a special committee of the Board of Governors that will meet with student, faculty and staff groups to discuss issues of race and equity in the UNC System. On campus, my leadership team is increasing the work of their divisions, digging deeper into their systems and processes to help unearth and remedy the disparities that result from centuries of systematic, nationwide oppression. We have made great strides, yet recognize they are small in comparison with the necessary systemic change that must be made. We must — and will — continue progressing forward.
  

  Dr. Willie Fleming, who many of you know is Appalachian’s first Chief Diversity Officer specifically tasked with Inclusive Excellence, champions this work taking place on our campus. Beginning next week, he will share regular updates broadly with campus, and will also make this information available on the university’s website dedicated to diversity and inclusive excellence.
  

  Right now:
  

  • Black-identified students can connect with one another and engage in meaningful conversations about the impact of race-based stress and trauma through a virtual Racial Trauma Healing Space developed by the Department of Wellness and Prevention Services. Register here.
    
  • Daily Zoom sessions offered by Counseling and Psychological Services are offering informal and confidential opportunities for students to problem solve, gain perspective and obtain resources. Find out more here.
    
  • Additional resources and assistance for students is available by contacting the Office of the Dean of Students here. Faculty and staff can find employee assistance resources here or access free counseling services for faculty and staff here.
    

  We are working each day to manage the significant ramifications of the COVID-19 pandemic. Its financial impact on our campus has hit our receipt-supported areas the hardest. Athletics in particular, has faced a significant budget shortfall, which is projected to be at least $5 million as a result of this pandemic. This week we took an extremely difficult step, informing Athletics staff of mandatory furloughs that will impact every full-time employee of the department, a total of 106 employees. By implementing furloughs, it is our goal to protect as many jobs as possible as we navigate the financial consequences of this pandemic. The furlough plan will reduce the hours worked by most Athletics employees over a 90-day period. A smaller number of employees will be on continuous furloughs, but for shorter periods of time. All employees will retain health insurance and other employee benefits. Athletics has implemented operating budget cuts, sport reductions and changes to scheduling and travel strategies. We are hopeful this will be the last step we need to take to address their significant financial challenges.
  

  Furloughs are limited to receipt-supported areas, and Human Resources and Business Affairs have been diligently engaged in finding ways to protect as many jobs as possible. To avoid additional furloughs, I asked that people in other receipt-supported areas, including Campus Dining, be reassigned to the important work of safely returning our students, faculty and staff to campus.
  

  Committees across campus are working diligently on a phased return to campus, always with the health and safety of the community guiding our every decision:
  

  • Next week, our Project Management and Implementation Team will begin weekly progress reports to campus.
    
  • This week saw our Child Development Center and Lucy Brock Child Development Laboratory Program begin phased reopening plans, and I am grateful to these staff and faculty for their diligence in returning these important services to our campus.
    
  • We have a range of personal protection equipment, including plexiglass shields and face coverings. Three reusable face coverings will be provided to every student, faculty and staff member. Face coverings will be required to be worn in accordance with CDC guidelines whether at work, in class or in public areas on campus.
    
  • Classroom plans are being developed; we have identified additional classroom space for use as needed; cameras and microphones, projectors and other equipment are being purchased, and air flow systems are being maximized to allow for increased outside air exchange.
    

  All of these efforts are taking place thanks to faculty, staff and academic leadership, and I would like to thank our academic department chairs, our faculty, and our Environmental Health & Safety and Emergency Management, Building Services and Facilities Operations staff in particular for their incredible work in this regard.
  

  We are first and foremost a university, a center for learning. Appalachian’s faculty, staff and students continue to elevate the Appalachian Experience:
  

  • Throughout the month of June, our Student Orientation Undergraduate Leaders (SOULs) are dedicating their time and efforts to one-day virtual orientation sessions for more than 5,000 incoming students, ensuring they feel connected to the university and prepared to start their Appalachian education.
    
  • Faculty in the Walker College of Business collaborated with faculty at Kristu Jayanti College in Bengaluru, India, to provide a two-week virtual study abroad experience for students at both institutions.
    
  • Reich College of Education faculty members shared advice and insights into how to make the most of online teaching and learning, and how to engage students in virtual spaces.
    

  I am thankful to work alongside Mountaineers who are invested in the success of the entire Appalachian Community. We have and will continue to adapt for the pandemic, and we will work harder and more deliberately to eradicate institutional racism and inequity.
  

  
  Sheri Everts, Chancellor

  Learn more
• Update from App State — message from Chancellor Sheri Everts

  Friday, June 5, 2020

  Earlier this week, I shared my immense sadness and anger in a message to our campus community and also shared remarks by App State Police Chief Andy Stephenson and Chief Diversity Officer Willie Fleming about our continued commitments to our community. If you haven’t read them in full, we hope you will here.

  As critical conversations take place across the nation and world about the importance of inclusion and equity, I have been deeply touched by the dozens of our colleges, departments and programs; athletic teams; student organizations; student services; university offices and more that have shared emails, social media posts, website posts and messages in public support of our students, faculty and staff of color. In particular, Reich College of Education Dean Melba Spooner wrote, “I know words are inadequate right now, but I also know that silence is not an option.” The diverse perspectives and approaches — which mirror what so many of us are feeling — are united in the belief that we can all do more and do better, and we are collectively dedicated to doing so.

  Since classes resumed after spring break, the Office of the Dean of Students has hosted a weekly town hall meeting with students to discuss these important issues. The office worked with three Appalachian students to host a special meeting today called “Dialogue with the Dean.” This was an opportunity for the participants to have open, honest conversations — and to share their anger, frustrations and sadness — about recent national events and the needs of Appalachian students.

  When lives are at stake, systemic change is more critical than ever. Black Lives Matter; and we are listening, hearing and working to effect change.

  When racism is institutionalized, change — to be real and effective — must be implemented across the entire institution. Many of the foundational changes we have made and continue to grow include more inclusive hiring practices, increased diversity on our leadership team and in our faculty, staff and students, decreased divide between the success of our white students and students of color, and an innovative police development program that is changing the way we train officers and reinvent policing. As we become more diverse we will continue listening, hearing and acting because our changing community will continue to identify ways we need to do better and be better. Even as we misstep, make mistakes and say and do the wrong things, academic settings are filled with people who value learning from our past to improve the future.

  As we respond to the upheaval of our lives and our emotions brought on by police violence and systemic racism, we are also navigating a global pandemic. In May, Appalachian began a calling effort to reach out to every current and incoming App State student. Now more than ever, it is critical our Black students hear from us directly that we care and value them in our community.

  Support for our entire campus community is always available. Students can contact the Office of the Dean of Students here or the Counseling & Psychological Services center here. Faculty and staff can find employee assistance resources here or access free counseling services for faculty and staff here.

  We all want to be together, in person, to support one another during these troubling times and to facilitate needed opportunities to dissect these complex issues — and I am thankful for the committees that are planning for our safe return to campus. I would like to share a few updates on our plans to return to campus:

  • Earlier this week, Human Resources sent a message to faculty and staff regarding the safe, phased return of employees to campus. You can read the message here.
    
    
  • We are continually updating our guidance, protocols and information regarding the return of faculty and staff to campus, which you can view here. The university will provide face coverings for returning faculty and staff.
    
    
  • We have also made updates to the university website dedicated to the planning of our return to campus, which you can view here.
    
    
  • We have updated the university’s coronavirus website to include a dashboard that gives increased visibility regarding testing, from the number of positive COVID-19 cases to information related to testing sites. This website and dashboard are the most accurate and immediate source for the latest information related to Appalachian's response to COVID-19.
    

  Appalachian’s faculty, staff and students continue to build connections with those in our community and across the world. For instance, last weekend, App Builds a Home hosted a virtual dedication for its first home completed through a partnership with Watauga County Habitat for Humanity — and the team is already planning a second home, construction of which will begin this fall. Also, several of Appalachian’s faculty Fulbright scholars — who were brought home from their respective partner universities at the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis — are continuing their work remotely to further global connections for their students and the Appalachian Community.

  I also want to extend a special congratulations to the fifth-grade graduating class of Appalachian’s Academy at Middle Fork — our second class of mini-Mountaineers! Last night, we honored their accomplishments with a virtual ceremony, which you can view here. I know they will all go on to do big things!

  We work every day to make our university more inclusive, safe and connected. This week, especially, has brought increased urgency to this work and we will continue to make it a priority.

  
  Sheri Everts, Chancellor

  ---

  Social media highlights

  The Appalachian Experience extends far beyond our physical campus location, and I hope everyone in our community will continue to strengthen relationships with Mountaineers near and far through the university’s social media channels and other virtual platforms offered by campus clubs, organizations and professional groups. I will continue to utilize these outlets to keep our community informed and engaged.

  • 06.04 — Congratulations to the fifth grade graduating class of Appalachian’s Academy at Middle Fork.
  • 06.03 — I shared with the App State community my reflections on recent national events and our university’s role in fostering change.
  • 06.01 — Appalachian is fortunate to have our Chief Diversity Officer Dr. Willie Fleming, who has clear perspectives and keen insights to help us all do better.
  • 05.30 — I am proud of the Appalachian Police Department for helping reimagine law enforcement.

  Follow me on:

  • Twitter @AppChancellor
  • Facebook

  Learn more

May 2020

• COVID-19 update from Appalachian State University — week of May 25–29

  Friday, May 29, 2020

  We are prioritizing our academic mission as we continue our response efforts to COVID-19 and simultaneously manage the “recovery” phase of this crisis situation. In this regard, there are many groups across campus working on Appalachian's transition back to classes and labs in the fall and beyond. As we continue refining the plans for fall, we are also putting plans in place for a phased-in return of employees to campus.

  What will returning to work look like?
  We will continue with our current teleworking plan until at least June 26. Earlier this week, faculty and staff received a communication from Human Resources that shared updated work and leave provisions, which you can view here.

  As we prepare for the safest possible phased return of our staff and faculty to campus, we have developed a return-to-work guide, which you can view here.

  This living document discusses in detail the safety measures that will be in place during Governor Cooper’s Phase 2 of lifting COVID-19 restrictions. The guide also provides information about face coverings, physical distancing, sanitation and initial scheduling guidance for supervisors and employees. It is not a full guide for returning to classrooms, laboratories, internships and other learning environments. That work is ongoing.

  We are keeping the health, safety and well-being of the Appalachian Community at the forefront of every decision.
  As we phase employees back to work on campus, the safety measures we are implementing include close coordination with state and local public health agencies, while following UNC System guidance and guidelines of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which you can view here.

  We will provide face coverings for all employees for use while working, as well as visible signage and guides on campus to help with physical distancing. A robust cleaning schedule will also be in place.

  Planning for fall semester and beyond continues.
  In every aspect of our operations, seeking and sharing information is key to making the best possible decisions. As teams across campus work to make recommendations about many important areas — including academic course delivery; safety, health and wellness; the on-campus residential experience; campus services and sanitation; and child care — we will share their work. To that end, as noted in my weekly update to campus last week, we have created a dedicated website to provide and solicit information about the planning underway for fall 2020 and beyond, which you can view here.

  Since the launch of this website last week, the Project Management and Implementation Team has received informative feedback and questions from many of you, which they have directed to the appropriate work teams. We have kept our UNC System leadership up to date on the work of these planning groups, and will provide an early June status update on key progress areas, including health and safety guidance, communication planning, contingency plans for maximizing remote study and telework if necessary, cleaning and sanitization procedures, and fiscal management.

  Thank you to the many members of the university community who have been involved in both formal and informal discussions. We all share the goal of creating an optimally safe and quality learning experience for our students, and I hope you will all continue to be active participants in this process.

  Other important projects, initiatives and distinctions.
  Faculty and staff across the university have shown tremendous resilience in adjusting to the challenges of the pandemic, all while proceeding with initiatives and projects and earning well-deserved distinctions, including:

  • On Monday, the university observed Memorial Day, a day honoring those who have died in service to our country. Navy veteran Chuck Ford, director of App Catering and assistant director of Campus Dining, placed a wreath at our Veterans Memorial to commemorate this important occasion. We hold close the strong military tradition on Appalachian’s campus, which is uplifted daily by the hundreds of enrolled student veterans and active-duty military members, as well as our veteran staff and faculty members.
  • The University Priorities and Planning Council has continued revising the university's strategic plan, and they intend to complete the plan this fall. I encourage all those in the Appalachian Community to engage in this valuable process by providing feedback through the form linked here.
  • The Climate Action Plan Committee work continues, and they will present their plan to campus in August.
  • The Leon Levine Hall of Health Sciences earned Silver LEED certification. This is our university’s 10th building to be awarded LEED certification, a globally recognized symbol of sustainability achievement and leadership.

  During this pandemic, Appalachian’s faculty, staff and students have continued to exemplify the qualities of a Mountaineer: caring, service-oriented and research-driven. I have never been prouder to be part of this extraordinary university.

  
  Sheri Everts, Chancellor

  Learn more
• COVID-19 update from Appalachian State University — week of May 18-22

  Friday, May 22, 2020

  As we transition from Spring Semester into Summer Sessions, I want to take a moment to recognize and congratulate our faculty, staff and students for the excellent — and extra — work everyone completed to finish a particularly difficult semester. Thank you, too, for your considerable efforts to support one another over the past months. As we celebrated our graduates last Saturday, I was struck by the tremendous support — from every state and dozens of other countries — for our 2020 graduates. Our commencement ceremony was one of which we can all be proud, no matter how we took part. You can read more about it here.

  As we move into Summer Sessions and look toward Fall Semester, I’d like to provide some important updates on our future planning:

  Future Planning

  We are preparing for a return to campus in August with safety as our top priority. For many weeks, planning for Fall Semester and beyond has been underway. My leadership team and I have been working with UNC System leadership, as well as our counterparts across the UNC System, to anticipate and respond to many possible scenarios. Across our campus, faculty and staff have also been engaged in future planning. Many working groups, which cross every division and many, many departments, are engaged in planning and implementation. In the coming days and weeks, these working groups will continue addressing dozens of details and questions.

  We are developing ways to be as flexible and responsive as possible in order to be ready for whatever the coming weeks and months hold. On June 1, my leadership team and I will discuss our preliminary plans for fall with UNC System leadership.

  You can find out more about this work, as well as share the questions you have, here. We will direct your questions to the appropriate working group on campus to be addressed.

  Academic Calendar Update

  We will begin our semester on Aug. 17 as planned, with one adjustment to the calendar: The two-day Fall Break will be eliminated in order to hold our last day of classes on Nov. 24. The final exam period will remain unchanged. All final exams for Fall 2020 will be held online, with the exception of courses that require clinical or lab-based assessments. December Commencement will be held on schedule, and at this time we are still planning for an in-person ceremony. This plan will allow for the greatest number of our students to remain home for an extended period of time before the Spring Semester begins in January. I would like to extend my thanks to the faculty, staff and students who make up the Academic Calendar Committee for the work they did to recommend this change.

  Here are some key safety measures that will be in place:

  • Prior to employees returning to campus, we will establish and share clear guidance on safety measures that must be taken in order to be on campus, including wearing face coverings, washing hands often and maintaining safe physical distance. The university will facilitate this by providing face coverings, adjusting classroom and work spaces and adding hand sanitizing stations across campus.
  • We are working with state and local Public Health to develop and communicate clear and concise public health and safety awareness information that will be visibly displayed in every building and every classroom on campus.
  • Our decisions will be informed by CDC and Public Health data and guidance, as well as by state and local government decisions. We will continue engaging faculty, staff and students in our future planning.

  As a campus, we are becoming more flexible and adaptive to an environment that is subject to rapid social, political, economic and technological changes. We are doing so because we must — and our ability to do so makes us a stronger community.

  Thank you for your unwavering commitment to App State.

  
  Sheri Everts, Chancellor

  Learn more
• 

  Celebrating the #AppStateClassof2020

  Saturday, May 16, 2020

  Today, we joined together from our living rooms, kitchens, dining rooms and front porches to witness a defining moment in each of our graduates’ academic careers and in Appalachian’s history. During our university’s first virtual commencement — which you can view any time here — more than 3,600 students began the next chapters of their lives as our newest Appalachian alumni.

  I was overwhelmed — as I hope our graduates were — by the outpouring of excitement and support on social media from graduates, family, friends, alumni and all those who care for our students. I hope you will take a moment to visit our commencement website and view the many heartfelt testaments to the Class of 2020, such as these:

  “... stage or no stage … we did it, Class of 2020!🎓 Forever grateful to be a Mountaineer.”

  “Congrats to my sister on her graduation from @appstate! Fun fact: My siblings and I have now all graduated from the same university! Our love for Boone runs deep.”

  “While not having graduation obviously isn’t ideal, missing one day doesn’t diminish the past four years — not in the slightest. It’s hard to put into words how much this school has changed me. My friends, Dance Team and even getting roasted in graphic design critiques all made me the person I am today and for that I’m truly grateful. Thanks for the best four years, Appalachian, and as always: roll ’Neers. 🖤💛🎓✨”

  “Six years, two degrees, one sorority, lots of great friends and countless memories — thank you Appalachian State for it all. Boone will always have my heart. Cheers to officially having our master’s; couldn’t have done it without y’all! Here’s to the next step.”

  “Regardless of how it ended, I’m beyond blessed to be able to conclude this chapter of my life and start a new one with my Bachelor of Science. Huge thank you to everyone who made my collegiate experience the most memorable four years of my life.”

  Our commencement speakers and guest performer were outstanding! New York Times best-selling author and Appalachian alumnus Stephen Dubner encouraged students to use their experiences at Appalachian to “do something wild, something bigger than they have ever done before.” He also advised them to think of those who may someday thank them for accomplishing their wild endeavors, as well as who they want to thank right now for helping them get to this moment. Student speakers Olivia Gentry and Ann Marie McNeely gave fresh perspectives on the responsibilities of Appalachian graduates to make a difference in the world. Award-winning country music artist Luke Combs delivered a moving rendition of our university’s alma mater and a surprise version of “This One's for You” he tailored just for us. The contributions of these Mountaineers, who span disciplines and generations, transformed our ceremony into a lasting tribute to the power of the Appalachian Spirit.

  To our graduates: A virus may have stolen the culminating, face-to-face celebration of your accomplishments at App State, but your university, your families and the alumni who have come before you admire the resiliency and creativity you have shown leading up to this great day.

  To our faculty and staff: Your investment in our students helped bring them to this moment and their vast accomplishments reflect the time you spent as teachers, fellow researchers, mentors and role models. My sincere thanks to each of you for the passion you bring to Appalachian, year after year.

  I am profoundly grateful that in a time of physical distancing we were able to come together in a new way to honor our graduates and celebrate their achievements. Thank you to everyone who joined us today — we will never forget this extraordinary celebration nor the graduating Class of 2020.

  
  Sheri Everts, Chancellor

  ---

  Social media highlights look different these days.

  The Appalachian Experience extends far beyond our physical campus location, and I hope everyone in our community will continue to strengthen relationships with Mountaineers near and far through the university’s social media channels and other virtual platforms offered by campus clubs, organizations and professional groups. I will continue to utilize these outlets to keep our community informed and engaged.

  • 05.14 — Appalachian’s campus is in full bloom, which makes us miss even more the sights and sounds of our students.
  • 05.12 — In the midst of the transition to online instruction for schools, Appalachian’s dedicated student teachers continued providing a tremendous experience for their students while completing their Appalachian education.
  • 05.11 — During National Nurses Week, we extended our thanks to nurses everywhere, especially the more than 1,200 students who have graduated from the Beaver College of Health Sciences’ nursing program.

  Follow me on:

  • Twitter @AppChancellor
  • Facebook

  Learn more
• 

  COVID-19 update from Appalachian State University — week of May 4–8

  Friday, May 8, 2020

  Our students have completed their exams and have officially concluded the semester. For some, it is the conclusion of the spring semester, and for others, it is the end of their academic careers at Appalachian. We are proud of our entire campus community for a strong end to a challenging semester. A heartfelt thank you to our faculty and staff for your tremendous efforts and for helping define the Appalachian Experience.

  Earlier this week, Governor Cooper announced an executive order commencing Phase 1 of his plan to lift COVID-19 restrictions in the state of North Carolina effective Friday, May 8, at 5 p.m. With current telework and online and alternative course delivery in place, our operations will not see a significant impact as a result of this order. As a reminder, the current campus staffing plan under Governor Cooper’s stay-at-home order remains in place (read the full message to campus here). We will provide further details as they become available.

  Human Resources Director Mark Bachmeier has been working closely with the UNC System, which recently released additional guidance on pay and leave provisions. You may read the most recent guidance here. Please note we also encourage our employees to review the criteria for leave available to eligible employees under the new Federal Families First Coronavirus Response Act, which you can do here.

  We will continue to keep our campus updated on these and other important matters related to COVID-19. Please continue to check for emails and visit the university’s coronavirus website for the latest updates.

  As part of Teacher Appreciation Week, May 4–8, I shared, on behalf of the university, our gratitude for local teachers and employees of Watauga County Schools, as well as those at Appalachian’s Academy at Middle Fork. Our university has a long legacy of preparing educators to empower future generations. Many of our education students continued to make an impact while serving as student teachers this semester, even with the move to online instruction for themselves and their students. Laura Ialuna, a graduating senior majoring in elementary education, said it best: “Adapting to remote teaching has demonstrated to me how tough and resilient teachers are.” I certainly agree and would add, it has also highlighted just how much we all appreciate our educators!

  Laura, along with about 3,600 graduates, is quickly approaching another major milestone: Appalachian's first virtual commencement ceremony, which is just one week away. As I shared with campus earlier this week, we are proud to welcome award-winning country music artist Luke Combs as a special guest performer, joining his alma mater in celebrating the Class of 2020. His contribution will beautifully complement those of our student speakers, senior Olivia Gentry and Ann Marie McNeely ’16, and our keynote speaker, Stephen Dubner ’84. I hope you will all tune in on May 16 at 11 a.m. to help us honor our newest class of alumni!

  Throughout the spring semester, our students, faculty and staff continued to find ways to serve our university and local communities. Here are two such examples:

  • Department of English faculty member Donna Akers transformed the final project in her Business Writing class to allow students to give back to their communities by working with local businesses, organizations and causes.
  • Appalachian’s Food Resource Hub has continued to provide food and personal care items for the Appalachian Community since we transitioned to virtual working and learning in March.

  Though the Appalachian Community has rallied to help those in need, many students across the university are still experiencing financial hardship. More than 1,200 students affected by challenges associated with COVID-19 have applied for emergency aid since we implemented the Mountaineer Emergency Fund. You can learn more about the significance of this fund to our students’ success, donate to the fund or apply for assistance here. My sincere thanks to all those who have supported this critical student resource.

  While we continue working through answers to many important questions, we will make every decision with the safety of the Appalachian Community as our top priority, and we will approach each day as we always have — as Mountaineers, together.

  
  Sheri Everts, Chancellor

  ---

  Social media highlights

  The Appalachian Experience extends far beyond our physical campus location, and I hope everyone in our community will continue to strengthen relationships with Mountaineers near and far through the university’s social media channels and other virtual platforms offered by campus clubs, organizations and professional groups. I will continue to utilize these outlets to keep our community informed and engaged.

  My weekly updates and additional information for campus about the university's response to COVID-19 are posted to the university’s dedicated coronavirus website.

  • 05.07 — Appalachian appreciates all educators, especially those in our local community.
  • 05.07 — When one faculty member reimagined her final class project during the switch to online instruction, she created an opportunity for students to give back.
  • 05.05 — We are proud that nearly 40 faculty members have come together to develop research clusters to investigate the impacts of COVID-19 on our community and region.

  Follow me on:

  • Twitter @AppChancellor
  • Facebook

  Month in review:

  • COVID-19 update from Appalachian State University — week of April 20–24
    Posted April 24, 2020
  • COVID-19 update from Appalachian State University — week of April 13–17
    Posted April 17, 2020
  • COVID-19 update from Appalachian State University — week of April 6–9
    Posted April 6, 2020
  • COVID-19 update from Appalachian State University — week of March 30–April 3
    Posted April 3, 2020

  Learn more
• 

  Luke Combs to perform at virtual Spring 2020 Commencement

  Tuesday, May 5, 2020

  I’m excited to share that award-winning country music artist Luke Combs will be a special guest performer during Appalachian’s first virtual commencement ceremony. We are proud to have Luke join his alma mater in celebrating the Class of 2020! Be sure to tune in to the commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 16, at 11 a.m. to hear him congratulate our graduates. Thank you, Luke, for bringing your talents — virtually — home to Appalachian!

  
  Sheri Everts, Chancellor

  Spring 2020 Commencement Schedule

  Learn more
• COVID-19 update from Appalachian State University — week of April 27 – May 1

  Friday, May 1, 2020

  The last day of classes for Spring Semester is behind us and exams are officially underway. We send good thoughts and well wishes to our students and faculty as they navigate this busy time made all the more challenging by our present circumstances. We continue to move forward in all aspects of university life. Below are updates on topics of importance to the Appalachian Community:

  Spring Commencement
  Our academic year will culminate with Appalachian’s virtual Spring 2020 Commencement ceremony on May 16. The ceremony will feature remarks by Olivia Gentry, who is earning a degree in public health in the Beaver College of Health Sciences and representing our undergraduate students, and Ann Marie McNeely, who is representing the Cratis D. Williams School of Graduate Studies and earning an Ed.D. in educational leadership. They both have compelling stories to share. I am also very pleased to announce alumnus Stephen Dubner ’84, recipient of the Appalachian Alumni Association’s 2012 Distinguished Alumni Award and co-author of the “Freakonomics” book series, has accepted our invitation to speak at this very special event. We are thrilled to welcome — virtually — Stephen home to Appalachian. In addition to being one of our most distinguished alumni, he is a celebrated interdisciplinary thinker. I am certain his perspectives, always astute and insightful, will prove meaningful for our graduates and all who join us for this special ceremony. We have another exciting addition to our commencement program that we think will make this event even more memorable. I will share more information on that soon, so stay tuned!

  Fall 2020 Semester
  We recognize that many in the Appalachian Community are eager to know our plans for the upcoming Fall Semester. Prepared by the experience of this semester, informed by Governor Cooper’s timeline and supported by the knowledge and experience of UNC System Interim President Roper, we are planning to have students and faculty return to classrooms and labs in the fall. I would like to share with you how we are planning for this.

  Our learning environment has been fundamentally changed by COVID-19, and Fall Semester 2020 will not look like Fall Semester 2019. We recognize returning to campus without a COVID-19 vaccine will present new challenges. We will take every precaution to maximize safety and limit exposure for those who are vulnerable. Learning environments will look and feel different, as will student living environments. Provided the conditions for re-opening our state are met, we will be ready.

  • Personal protective equipment, access to testing and new standards for cleaning and sanitizing our working and learning environments will be in place.
  • We will carefully adhere to recommendations for limitations on crowd sizes, exposure to vulnerable and high-risk populations and other strategies for mitigation.
  • We will develop new incentives for research and teaching practices that are adaptable and responsive to the intrusions of COVID-19.
  • Phase One of our newest residence halls project, which includes Thunder Hill and Raven Rocks halls, will be complete, allowing additional capacity and flexibility for us to manage new challenges presented by communal living environments.
  • Community events, experiences and gatherings will be different, but we will be together — face-to-face — in ways we will not have been for five months.

  In the midst of uncertainty, one certainty is our return to campus will be implemented with the safety of our campus community at the forefront of every decision.

  CARES Act funding
  Following all guidance provided by the U.S. Department of Education, we are working quickly to finalize our plan to disburse the student aid portion of our CARES Act funds to eligible students. Our top priority is to support our students and ensure they have the means to complete their degrees, despite this unexpected and unimaginable situation. Our Financial Aid team has been working on a disbursement plan to prioritize students who are faced with additional expenses and those with urgent needs brought on by the disruptions of COVID-19. The funds will be paid directly to students. We will share further information about this soon.

  Faculty experts
  Appalachian’s focus on applied research and its history as a rural-serving institution of higher learning also position us to identify and solve issues presented by this extraordinary time. As I shared with Faculty Senate earlier this week, nearly 40 faculty representing about a dozen disciplines have come together to develop research clusters to generate information, knowledge and solutions surrounding the impacts of COVID-19 on our community and region.

  With no comparable circumstances in recent history, we are only beginning to see the effects the novel coronavirus will have on our region, our state, our nation and our world. Our faculty are adept at exploring local issues within a global context and preparing our students to do the same. With faculty guidance, our students will be addressing challenges, solving problems and maximizing the opportunities presented by this time in history for generations to come. Our faculty are truly shaping the future of our world.

  We are all fortunate to be part of Appalachian State University — an epicenter of innovation, research, service and compassion.

  
  Sheri Everts, Chancellor

  ---

  Social media highlights

  The Appalachian Experience extends far beyond our physical campus location, and I hope everyone in our community will continue to strengthen relationships with Mountaineers near and far through the university’s social media channels and other virtual platforms offered by campus clubs, organizations and professional groups. I will continue to utilize these outlets to keep our community informed and engaged.

  My weekly updates and additional information for campus about the university's response to COVID-19 are posted to the university’s dedicated coronavirus website.

  05.01 — The Mountaineer Emergency Fund is a critical resource for our App State students financially affected by COVID-19.

  04.30 — Traditionally, we host a day of support and giving called #iBackAPP Day in the spring. This year, given our present circumstances, we decided what we all needed was an #APPBacksU Day: A time to celebrate all our Mountaineers are doing to support each other and their communities.

  04.30 — Mountaineers showed their support for UNC Charlotte on the first anniversary of the tragic shooting that took place on its campus.

  Follow me on:

  • Twitter @AppChancellor
  • Facebook

  Learn more

April 2020

• COVID-19 update from Appalachian State University — week of April 20–24

  Friday, April 24, 2020

  On Monday, we will start the final week of classes for spring semester. Final projects, exams and end-of-year celebrations look quite different this year, but our faculty, staff and students have rallied to find opportunities in adversity and to make the most of every situation. I would like to share some important updates about topics of particular interest:

  Fall semester:
  I am encouraged by Governor Cooper’s plan to lift restrictions as the metrics across the state support such a move. At the UNC System level and on our campus, discussions about what is possible for fall semester have been robust, creative and engaging. In meetings with my leadership team, I have asked them to view our operations differently and to consider options broadly, creatively and ambitiously. We are looking at every option that will allow us to welcome our faculty and students back to their classrooms and labs this fall. Our faculty and staff have been problem-solving numerous contingencies and mitigation strategies, and this work is what will make it possible for us to emerge from our stay-at-home status with solid recovery options in place. These times call for us to think beyond what we have always done and develop adaptable solutions, and you continue to demonstrate your talent and conviction in this regard. Thank you for your continued dedication as we move toward a return to campus.

  Spring 2020 Commencement:
  This year’s Spring Commencement will be unlike any event in Appalachian’s history. While we wish we could be together in the Holmes Convocation Center, our university’s first virtual commencement ceremony will retain as much pomp and circumstance as possible as we honor this tremendous milestone. Many thanks to the members of our virtual commencement committee — made up of 24 faculty, staff and students — who are working tirelessly to ensure our event will, beyond doubt, be a special and memorable occasion! The virtual commencement will broadcast Saturday, May 16, at 11 a.m. on appstate.edu and on the Appalachian State University Facebook page, and a recording will be available to continue sharing with family and friends. May and August graduates will also be invited to attend a special commencement ceremony in their honor in December.

  CARES Act funding:
  We continue to receive guidance from the U.S. Department of Education about CARES Act funding. The direction for disbursing the funding for students, as well as for how we may use the institutional funding, is extremely complicated and involves much oversight, but we are dedicated to providing financial relief to our students, especially for those hardest hit with financial challenges that are presenting obstacles to completing their degrees.

  We will continue to regularly share additional information and updates on these important matters. My weekly updates and additional information for campus about the university's response to COVID-19 are posted to the university’s dedicated coronavirus website.

  As we plan for the future, this is a time of year when we look back at the accomplishments of the academic year, and for many of our students, their academic careers. On Monday, I will share an end-of-year report with the Faculty Senate, and as I review this extraordinary year and the many challenges it has put before our community, I continue to be uplifted by the insights of our faculty.

  In a recent nationally published article, Dr. Andrew Koricich, associate professor of higher education in the Reich College of Education, offered his thoughts on how COVID-19 will impact students from rural communities. He wrote, “None of us get to sit this out, because we’re going to be in a very different world. And I want to be in a world where folks from rural communities are in a position to start speaking up more and being heard better. So we need those folks to come back to do the work that we have to do.” Thank you, Dr. Koricich, for underscoring our important legacy as a rural-serving institution.

  The academic mission is our greatest endeavor and the work of our students is our greatest legacy. I am proud to share the dedication to this ultimate goal with you, and I continue to be inspired each day by our faculty, staff and students.

  
  

  Sheri Everts, Chancellor

  ---

  Social media highlights

  The Appalachian Experience extends far beyond our physical campus location, and I hope everyone in our community will continue to strengthen relationships with Mountaineers near and far through the university’s social media channels and other virtual platforms offered by campus clubs, organizations and professional groups. I will continue to utilize these outlets to keep our community informed and engaged.

  • 04.22 — The Center for Academic Excellence is working with a network of 50-plus faculty members across campus to provide an additional layer of support and encouragement for their colleagues.
  • 04.21 — Our faculty and staff have shown innovation and agility in reimagining experiences and events on virtual platforms.
  • 04.18 — Each evening, my grandson and I have been feeding the campus ducks on behalf of our absent students and it causes me to reflect on how members of the Appalachian Community everywhere are coping as they make minor and major adjustments in their daily lives.
  • 04.16 — A class assignment became an internet sensation for one App State student when a video he made about his family dog went viral.

  Follow me on:

  • Twitter @AppChancellor
  • Facebook

  Learn more
• COVID-19 update from Appalachian State University — week of April 13–17

  Friday, April 17, 2020

  Our fourth week of online instruction is now complete, and many of us in the Appalachian Community are finding new routines that help sustain us in this prolonged and unprecedented situation. We are simultaneously managing a global crisis, establishing our path to recovery and working to restore normal operations as much as possible — it is a tremendous amount of work and, campuswide, we continue rising to the challenge.

  On Saturday, we shared information about federal funding from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, also known as the CARES Act, which will provide grant assistance directly to students as well as to the university. Appalachian’s allocation is $15,927,932, with 50% of that amount being provided in the form of direct aid to students. The U.S. Department of Education is preparing now to release the funding that will go directly to students, and the UNC System is working to determine the allocation formula. The legislation specifies these funds must be used to cover expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to the coronavirus (including eligible expenses under a student’s cost of attendance, such as food, housing, course materials, technology, health care and child care). These funds must be paid directly to students and cannot be used to refund the cost of reimbursements already paid to students by the university.

  We welcome and appreciate this much-needed financial relief for students and for the university. Even with this funding, however, we expect a significant budget shortfall, given our incurred costs and lost revenue to date, and our estimated costs and lost revenue through the end of this fiscal year. Interim Provost Norris, Vice Chancellor Forte and I have been meeting regularly with the Faculty Senate Budget Committee. My leadership team and I will continue providing regular updates to campus about our budget situation. A university-level budget update is planned to take place soon, so please look for follow-up communications about this.
  

  We are all looking ahead to the fall semester. Along with other UNC System Chancellors, I have been engaged in many discussions with System leadership about the delivery method for fall 2020 classes. There are numerous considerations involved, and it seems we uncover more each day.

  Planning for hypotheticals and contingencies isn’t easy, and I appreciate the work our faculty and staff are doing to try to plan for so many scenarios. Likewise, our students and their families are facing deadlines for signing leases and planning as best as possible for the fall 2020 semester.

  While there are still so many uncertainties, one sure certainty is that, to a person, everyone at App State is reviewing every option with the best interest of our students top of mind.

  As soon as we have further information from the UNC System, we will communicate it to the campus community. Thank you for your patience. Your workday and study schedules are already packed, yet you continue to help ensure we are proactive and thoughtful as we struggle with the ambiguities of the coming weeks and months.

  Day after day, Appalachian’s faculty members demonstrate an immense capacity to care for their students and colleagues. A special group has been at the forefront of our transition to online instruction — Appalachian’s faculty champions. These approximately 50 faculty members, selected by the leaders in the Center for Academic Excellence, have been providing technical and instructional support to faculty members since our initial switch and they are still working steadily to ensure everyone has what they need to be successful. Along with these faculty there are so many others, who offer advice and assistance without being asked by anyone. Our faculty care about our students, about one another and about our staff. We are incredibly appreciative of their time and efforts.

  Appalachian’s staff members also continue to serve the university and greater communities. I attended Staff Senate’s monthly meeting this week and was again struck by the selflessness and “can-do” spirit of Appalachian’s staff. University Recreation is offering live classes via Zoom and Instagram; the University Writing Center is available to students through its online platform; and the Office of Sustainability has organized virtual programming for Earth Month, including the 50th anniversary of Earth Day next week. Notably, many in our community are struggling with food insecurity in the midst of this pandemic. Even with our reduced campus population, the Office of Sustainability’s Food Resource Hub has distributed food bags to more than 50 people in the last month. Appalachian’s Academy at Middle Fork has also been active, distributing school supplies to 45 families and serving 566 meals, at last count.

  Our students are also making the most of this situation, even as circumstances disappoint. Students filmed a video of themselves singing “The Song of Purple Summer” — a song from their production of “Spring Awakening” originally scheduled for this semester — and garnered coverage in Broadway World. This is but one example of the resilience of the Appalachian Spirit, which remains strong.

  Though the enormity of this pandemic’s impact is staggering, each day brings new stories of Mountaineers rallying behind one another. These snapshots of hope and points of light sustain us.

  

  Sheri Everts, Chancellor

  ---

  Social media highlights

  Although social distancing is our new normal, the Appalachian Experience extends far beyond our physical campus location, and I hope everyone in our community will continue to strengthen relationships with Mountaineers near and far through the university’s social media channels and other virtual platforms offered by campus clubs, organizations and professional groups. While they are not a primary mode of communicating, they are one important way to maintain a sense of connectedness. I will continue to utilize these outlets to keep our community informed and engaged.

  In addition to my weekly updates and social posts, we continue to send additional updates to campus as key information becomes available. I encourage you also to regularly visit the university’s dedicated coronavirus website for the latest updates, resources and information as this situation continues to unfold.

  • 04.14 — I always enjoy the chance to share university updates and exchange ideas with Appalachian’s Staff Senate.
  • 04.13 — Many thanks to the staff in the Career Development Center for offering new and timely resources for our students.
  • 04.10 — Our university takes seriously the health and safety of those in our community and beyond, and we encourage all Mountaineers to stay safe and follow guidance from public health officials.
  • 04.08 — Congratulations to Dr. Jennifer Snodgrass for being honored by the UNC System for excellence in teaching!
  • 04.07 — Thank you to the Academic Affairs staff for compiling resources for App State families who are working and studying from home with their children.

  Follow me on:

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• 

  COVID-19 update from Appalachian State University — week of April 6–9

  Monday, April 6, 2020

  Video Transcript

  Good afternoon. As we all continue to practice social distancing, it is my pleasure to deliver my weekly campus update through a more personal medium today.

  Yesterday evening, I drove a solar vehicle to feed the campus ducks, replacing what would have been a walk with a drive to ensure social distancing. In doing so, I reflected on how this minor adjustment to my routine is just one of so many changes we have all made in recent weeks. Our campus feels very different from a typical April. We are, of course, in a situation that is anything but typical.

  Yesterday, we announced another positive COVID-19 case in an off-campus student, who is recovering at home. Our hearts are with this student, and all of the members of our Appalachian Community whose lives are touched by this dangerous and pervasive virus.

  I would like to thank all of you for your cooperation with Governor Cooper’s stay-at-home order and the social distancing recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control. It is critical we continue to do so.

  As we are settling into new routines, we continue finding ways to connect virtually with friends, family, classmates and colleagues. New situations and questions arise daily, and we are all working steadily to find solutions.

  I want to convey my heartfelt thanks to the mandatory staff members who are still coming to campus to perform the essential operations of keeping our campus running.

  • We have just over 90 students still living on campus, and of course, support for them is critical.
  • Our IT staff continues to meet the heavy demand for their support, and our appreciation for their team grows day by day.
  • Campus Dining is keeping takeout meals available for those members of our campus who need them, as well as providing support for our community’s emergency response efforts.

  Finances are a heavy concern for many in the Appalachian Community. This week, we announced additional information regarding dining and on-campus housing refunds for our students. These payment processes have begun, and our Student Accounts team is working to process them quickly.

  The university’s Mountaineer Emergency Fund continues to see great demand from students who are facing significant hardship. Many faculty and staff have contributed to this fund, and I am so proud of how our community is stepping up to assist these students who are in dire need. Thank you so much. The fund is less than two weeks old and we have seen more than 700 applications for assistance.

  Thank you to our Case Managers and other Student Affairs staff for working with each of these students, and thank you to our Advancement staff, who continue their active work to help ensure this fund can continue to assist those who need it most.

  Earlier this week, faculty and staff also received information about zero-interest emergency loans for permanent faculty and staff facing financial hardship. I hope these measures will ease some of the burden for many in our community.

  As we continue to manage the COVID-19 crisis, our mission of teaching, research and service remains paramount. We recently announced the 2020 class of Chancellor’s Innovation Scholars. At a time when we are all being called upon to think more creatively than ever, these faculty and staff exemplify the research, scholarship and ingenuity that elevates the Appalachian Experience year-round. I also want to congratulate Dr. Jennifer Snodgrass, professor of music theory in the Hayes School of Music, on being selected for the UNC Board of Governors Excellence in Teaching Award.

  I am so very proud of the accomplishments of our faculty.

  We also look forward to welcoming a new class of Mountaineers in the fall. Our Admissions team is working with the many staff and faculty across campus to flip our Spring Open house to a virtual event, and our Orientation team is also shifting the many student orientation events they host each spring and summer to online events. We all know how important the personal interactions that take place at these events are to our prospective and new students and their families. The staff, faculty and students who support these events are even more determined than ever to make these events personal, interactive and meaningful.

  As we all work to navigate these uncertain times, uplifting stories are all the more important. I’ll leave you with this one: Jakob Minton, a sophomore communication, electronic media/broadcasting major, turned a routine 30-second video production assignment into a clever 2-minute sketch about his beloved family beagle, who now has his own YouTube channel and Facebook page. Jakob attributed his overachievement to being at home with his parents, who inspired him to see beyond the original assignment. Stories like Jakob’s serve as a reminder that our current situation can bring us together in new ways, and yield unexpected returns.

  I sincerely appreciate the efforts and resilience of everyone in the Appalachian Community and I look forward to the days when our campus will again be filled with the sights and sounds of our daily activities.

  Until then, I will continue feeding the campus ducks.

  Please stay safe, and thank you, all.

  

  Sheri Everts, Chancellor

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• COVID-19 update from Appalachian State University — week of March 30–April 3

  Friday, April 3, 2020

  In this rapidly changing situation, accurate and timely information is key to navigating challenges associated with COVID-19. We are doing our utmost to address the questions each day brings and share our processes and solutions as we move forward. This week, with guidance from the UNC System, we have addressed several pressing issues:

  • Course grades. At the end of the spring 2020 semester, students may choose to opt in to an enhanced pass/no credit model after grades are posted, or they may keep their assigned grade. Read the full message to campus about grading here.
    
    
  • Dining and housing refunds. UNC System institutions will issue prorated dining and housing refunds to those who have these plans. We will send more information about App State’s process early next week. Read the full message to campus about refunds here.
    
    
  • Continuation of online instruction. UNC System institutions will continue to be online through summer 2020. Read the full message to campus about summer instruction here.
    
    
  • Emergency assistance. Nearly 500 students have applied for relief funds via the Mountaineer Emergency Fund, and our Advancement team is working hard to ensure we have funding to support those requests. Read about the Mountaineer Emergency Fund here. The university also has a zero-interest emergency loan program for permanent faculty and staff facing financial hardship. Read about this emergency loan program here.

  Mountaineers continue to work together to creatively provide helpful and necessary resources. A few examples:

  • Our health care providers in Wellness and Prevention Services, the Counseling and Psychological Services Center and Student Health Service are continuing to provide care to students via telephone, Zoom video conferencing and, on a limited basis, in person.
    
    
  • The Student Learning Center has shared tips for online learning and created a Keep Learning website with resources to ensure students have the needed support to be successful in their classes.
    
    
  • Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs Jacqui Bergman led a collaboration among the Center for Academic Excellence, Lucy Brock Child Development Laboratory Program and the Appalachian State Child Development Center to develop resources for parents working and/or learning from home.
    
    
  • The Career Development Center is engaging with employers and connecting them with students while continuing to assist our students with career materials, job searches and interview preparation.

  I am immensely proud of our students, faculty and staff who see opportunities among the challenges. Members of the Appalachian Community have also used their words to provide solace, encouragement and a fresh perspective — several examples of which I have highlighted below. I shared some of these messages with our faculty earlier in the week.

  • “I just wanted to get word to you how grateful I am for App State’s efforts. I can only imagine the herculean effort required by staff and faculty to transition to virtual classrooms. My son is reporting it was ready a week later and moving forward without a hitch. And so, therefore, is my son. Thank you all. I am so glad, once again, that my son is with ASU.”
    
    
  • “I think my experience at App is what taught me these healthy ways to cope with a tricky situation like COVID-19 and to maintain a positive outlook. I don't know if I'd be equally as equipped to handle this situation without my App Experience.”
    
    
  • “I am excited for everyone to see how powerful online instruction can be. There are certainly some face-to-face benefits that cannot be recreated online, but there are also online benefits that cannot be recreated face-to-face. Both students and instructors will become more tech savvy, and I believe we’ll emerge from this situation awakened to new possibilities and equipped with new abilities that will strengthen our university."

  Amidst the uncertainty of our present situation, our words and our actions are proof positive that together we can — and will — continue to move mountains.

  

  Sheri Everts, Chancellor

  ---

  Social media highlights look different these days.

  Although social distancing is our new normal, the Appalachian Experience extends far beyond our physical campus location, and I hope everyone in our community will continue to strengthen relationships with Mountaineers near and far through the university’s social media channels and other virtual platforms offered by campus clubs, organizations and professional groups. While they are not a primary mode of communicating, they are one important way to maintain a sense of connectedness. I will continue to utilize these outlets to keep our community informed and engaged.

  • 04.03 — The Turchin Center’s Little Free Art Pantry provides themed bundles of art supplies for community members.
  • 04.02 — Appalachian’s health care professionals are assisting students near and far through secure online telemedicine appointments, and we applaud their commitment to our students.
  • 04.01 — Our university’s Staff Senate responded to social distancing by making the annual AppKIDS 5K a virtual run — using social media to bring the runners “together” for a great cause.

  Follow me on:

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March 2020

• COVID-19 update from Appalachian State University — week of March 23–28

  Saturday, March 28, 2020

  With the first week after our “return” from extended Spring Break behind us, I would like to provide you an update from campus.

  Yesterday, I met with Appalachian’s Board of Trustees via teleconference and shared with them how the Appalachian Community is responding to COVID-19. You can read my full remarks here. I shared with them that we are simultaneously planning for every conceivable scenario, responding to each new circumstance, and learning to anticipate every eventuality as the ground continues to shift beneath our feet.

  We saw our first confirmed case of COVID-19 in an off-campus, App State student, which we shared with campus earlier today. I am pleased to share that the student who was diagnosed with the virus is now symptom-free. We shared with campus that the student has not been on campus since March 4, and has been self-quarantined since returning to the United States from overseas travel. Students who are concerned about symptoms should call Student Health Services at 828-262-3100 and ask to speak with a nurse. They are continuing medical and screening services to students in person and remotely. Faculty or staff who have concerns about students or their own health diagnoses should reach out to safety@appstate.edu.

  Yesterday, we alerted campus to Gov. Roy Cooper’s executive order of March 27, 2020. Because those who are not necessarily at risk of serious disease can carry the disease to their loved ones, we are directing members of the campus community to carefully adhere to social distancing practices as outlined in Gov. Cooper’s order, not gather in groups and physically stay at least six feet apart from others. Read more information here. With current telework and online and alternative course delivery in place, we expect minimal impact to the university, and will provide additional details, including information about administrative leave and compensation for staff on Monday. 

  In recent days, we have:

  • Transitioned 2,600 course sections from face-to-face instruction to online learning in two weeks’ time.
  • Reached nearly 600 faculty last week alone with workshops, support and training sessions.
  • Managed the reduction of our on-campus residents from more than 5,600 to fewer than 130 — 2% of our usual number.
  • Reduced our operations to essential functions, with more than 2,150 faculty and staff working from home or off-campus locations.
  • Brought 128 students home from international programs and suspended or cancelled 58 more international programs scheduled to begin this semester and this summer.
  • Freed resources to ensure we can meet the immediate needs before us, limiting expenditures to essential spending and continuing to closely monitor our resources and COVID-19-related expenditures.
  • Delivered curbside meals to our campus community.
  • Cleaned residence halls, offices and public spaces with increased frequency.
  • Continued to support the emergency response and relief efforts of our broader High Country community.
  • Developed new work shifts to comply with social distancing and to share work hours across staff members.
  • Re-allocated resources to fortify emergency loans for faculty and staff, as well as student grants to help ensure a safety net for the Appalachian Community. 

  We are seeing an increase in financial need for our students affected by displacement and loss of employment. Our Mountaineer Emergency Fund can provide short-term grants to students who are facing financial challenges that present significant barriers to their academic success. With the fund merely days old, we have already granted allotments to students struggling with job loss, and those with child care and utility bills piling up.
  Those who wish can give to the fund here.
  Students can apply for assistance here.

  For faculty and staff who are facing financial difficulties zero-interest emergency loans are available, with minimal payments to be made through monthly payroll deduction.

  On so many occasions, I have been encouraged by the resoundingly positive response of the Appalachian Community to this difficult situation. I am immensely proud of our faculty. They have a keen awareness that the relationships with their students are all the more meaningful in times of widespread anxiety and fear of the unknown, and continue to prove themselves to be selfless and adaptive professionals. Many staff have worked long hours to ensure faculty and students had the technology, training and support necessary to begin a “new normal,” while continuing to keep the institution running and adapting to each new change as it comes. Our students have also shown tremendous versatility throughout this rapidly changing situation. They have opted to accept the new circumstances of spring semester as an opportunity to expand their ability to create and innovate. 

  As you know, along with our sister institutions in the System, we are prevented by the coronavirus from holding a face-to-face Commencement in May. In the history of this institution, we have never canceled the university’s main Commencement ceremony, not even for the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic or World War II. It was unthinkable for us to consider canceling our May Commencement ceremony, especially with the available technology that is allowing faculty to continue teaching and engaging in research. So, we will celebrate May Commencement virtually and invite our Spring graduates to December Commencement. While we don’t know when large events will become the norm, we want to go ahead and offer December commencement so that families and friends can plan ahead. These aren’t the options we want, but they are options we can commit to now, allowing our students and their families and friends the opportunity to celebrate from wherever they are in May, and the option to walk across the Commencement stage - with family and friends in attendance - in December.

  There are many questions yet to be answered. We know many of you have questions about refunds, how long classes will stay online, how grades will be handled, what the summer brings and even what to expect for Fall 2020. Please know we are working through all of these issues and more, addressing those items which we can control first, planning for every contingency we can imagine, and always keeping the health and safety of the Appalachian Community at the forefront of every decision we make.

  The heart of the Appalachian Spirit is resilience and kindness in the face of adversity. For more than 120 years, we have relied on this spirit to guide us through the most difficult moments in our history. 

  We are Appalachian State, and we will emerge stronger, more resilient and poised for even greater success.

  

  Sheri Everts, Chancellor

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• Virtual Commencement, virtual instruction and a new normal

  Friday, March 20, 2020

  First, my sincere thanks to each of you who has stepped up these past few weeks as we adjust to rapidly developing, unprecedented challenges. Faculty and staff are working long hours to transition to alternative course delivery for our students. We are keenly focused always on the health and safety of our campus community and the fulfillment of our academic mission.

  For many of us, the “Appalachian Experience” is firmly grounded in a sense of place. We are all saddened by our empty classrooms and sunny days with no hammocks and slacklines, and while we are fortunate to have technology to keep us connected, Zoom meetings and Panopto just aren’t the same.

  Typically at this time of year, we are well into planning May Commencement ceremonies. President Roper announced at today’s Board of Governors meeting that Spring graduation ceremonies will be disrupted, and campuses can make independent decisions about how to move forward with Commencement ceremonies. For Appalachian, this will mean a virtual Commencement in May. May graduates will have the option to participate in December 2020 Commencement.

  There are many details to work out, but please know my leadership team and I are committed to preserving, to the greatest extent possible, the essence of the celebrations and milestones of the final weeks of the Spring semester, including Commencement. We don’t know exactly what that will look like, but we are working hard on virtual solutions.

  On Monday, Appalachian will begin a new normal. What does “the university remains open” look like for us as we face increased prevalence of the coronavirus and the uncertainties that come with it?

  Here’s what it will look like on Monday: 

  • 160 students who met the criteria to stay on campus will remain in their residence halls. Many others picked up essentials - or more - this week and returned to their homes. The residence halls have been thoroughly cleaned, and only residents are allowed in the buildings.

  • Reduced staffing for facilities means we are all operating under limited capacities. Our academic classroom and office buildings, Student Union, and University Libraries are keeping their core services available, but some buildings will be key- or card-access only.

  • Dining facilities are on a reduced schedule, and takeout only.

  • Faculty and students, who are accustomed to face-to-face interaction, will be teaching and learning online. It has taken tremendous effort on the part of our faculty to make this move and they have proven yet again to be selfless and adaptive professionals. It will not be a seamless transition, and as we work out the kinks together, it will be important to be patient and recognize we are all working alongside one another to provide the best possible academic experience for our students.

  Many of us have loved ones who are attending other UNC System institutions. We find ourselves comparing methods and messages. Your university administrators are in regular contact with their counterparts across the system and in the System Office. We are following System guidance together and applying it to our campuses in the ways that make the most sense for each of our situations.

  We will continue to send you emails with key updates and changes. These will also be posted to the university’s dedicated coronavirus website, which also links to information from key areas across campus that are making operational adjustments.

  Our Mountaineer resiliency is being tested. We will continue to rise to these challenges. Your resourcefulness, ingenuity and hope bolster the entire Appalachian Community as we find our way,  and I am encouraged by your determination and creativity.

  Thank you.

  

  Sheri Everts, Chancellor

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• Resiliency, resources and how to stay informed about COVID-19

  Friday, March 13, 2020

  Mountaineer resiliency is in full force as the university community rallies to meet the challenges presented by COVID-19. Across our campus, faculty, staff and students are exhibiting tremendous ingenuity, determination and resourcefulness as we pull together to safeguard and protect our community. Please know I recognize and appreciate your efforts.

  Be assured, we are working together to keep our community safe and our academic mission on course. As the situation continues to change, your single source for the most recent Appalachian updates and directives is App State's coronavirus site.

  Our staff and faculty are employing their expertise to quickly and creatively address many questions and logistical considerations, and I greatly appreciate their resourcefulness and expertise.

  Please stay informed as we continue to navigate this evolving global challenge. These are difficult times, but Mountaineer Spirit prevails.

  

  Sheri Everts, Chancellor

  Learn more
• 

  Resiliency, renovations and continued advocacy

  Monday, March 2, 2020

  Last month I traveled to the UNC System Board of Governors Meeting, where I continued to advocate for funding for salary increases and for infrastructure repairs and renovations at Appalachian. I shared details about these critical budgetary issues in a previous issue of my newsletter, which is available here.

  On campus, Interim Provost Heather Hulburt Norris met with the Faculty Senate Ad Hoc Committee last week and will share an update with campus soon.

  While we continue to utilize every avenue to address our challenges, we are fortunate for our academic achievements, the integrity of our faculty, staff and students, and the support we have garnered to maintain and improve our campus infrastructure. We have many points of pride to share, including:

  • Since 2010, our university has retained our distinction as a Military Friendly® School, and we were designated a Top 10 school for 2020–21. Our university values empowering the student veterans and active-duty military members enrolled at our university and ensuring they have access to needed resources and support.
  • Our construction projects are progressing smoothly and showing visible progress every day. Our project management team and site crew led a small hard hat tour of Sanford Hall last month. To see firsthand the extensive interior renovations taking shape — on time and on budget — click here.
  • The National Campus Safety Summit named the Appalachian State University Police Department (APD) as one of the top 25 university departments in the country for “increasing the safety and security of their campus community” and “making a difference in student safety” — two critical priorities for our university.

  As part of our emergency preparedness practices, Appalachian’s emergency response team routinely monitors situations that could affect campus. At this time, the team is monitoring COVID-19. Though incidents in the United States are low, we remain vigilant. Our staff is in regular contact with the UNC System and local and state public health officials, and we are following recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS).

  Appalachian has a resource and information website for those in our campus community who are seeking information and guidance related to our university’s preparation and response to COVID-19. Please refer to the information on this site as the definitive source for the latest information specific to Appalachian State University.

  At this time, we are closely monitoring travel guidance, restrictions and advisories from the CDC and U.S. Department of State (State Department). We are directly assisting students, faculty and staff who are traveling or have plans for international travel for university-approved educational or business reasons. As many students prepare to travel for spring break, we encourage consideration of CDC and State Department guidance.

  Students with international travel-related financial aid questions or questions regarding academic requirements related to international travel should contact the Office of International Education and Development.

  It is important to remember that students, faculty and staff have friends, family and loved ones in areas that are at higher risk than in the United States and to remain compassionate about their worries and concerns about their loved ones.

  I am appreciative of the faculty, staff and students who make possible our many accomplishments and sustain the resilient spirit of Appalachian.

  

  Sheri Everts, Chancellor

  Social media highlights

  • 02.18 – On Presidents Day, I was honored to discuss leadership with students at Mabel Elementary School alongside Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute President Mark Poarch.
  • 02.22 – In one day, I enjoyed a great Mountaineer basketball game and a fantastic performance by Trinity Irish Dance — a showcase of the range of entertainment offered to our campus and community.
  • 02.28 – Student Government Association representatives spent an afternoon discussing student wellness with members of my leadership team.
  • 02.29 – Appalachian’s men’s and women’s basketball teams celebrated Senior Day and were honored for their contributions to the Appalachian Community.

  Follow me on:

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February 2020

• 

  Leadership at Appalachian

  Friday, February 14, 2020

  Leadership on our campus and in the community is what drives our success.

  • We hosted the Community Leaders breakfast at Appalachian House where we discussed projects the university, Town of Boone and Watauga County have underway and our vision for the future.
  • Several vice chancellors and I shared our leadership challenges and triumphs with emerging leaders from the Boone Chamber of Commerce’s Watauga Leadership Challenge class.
  • A group of about 50 female faculty and staff, many from the Appalachian Women in Leadership Council, gathered for a panel discussion on effective communication.

  We also welcomed Interim Vice Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor Heather Hulbert Norris and Walker College of Business Acting Dean Sandy Vannoy to their new roles.

  Today, on her fifth day as interim provost, Heather met with members of the Chancellor’s Academic Leadership Development Program and addressed more than 300 faculty and staff at the 2020 spring Faculty/Staff meeting. She has hit the ground running and is well-poised to lead as we navigate budgets and priorities for our colleges, enrollment and diversity challenges, and faculty and staff compensation.

  In her remarks, Heather acknowledged the value of the help and support of all the people — faculty, staff, vice provosts, deans, chairs and all of the Appalachian Community — who have and will help her succeed. I echo that sentiment. We are all called to lead, to collaborate and to challenge one another in order to continue to provide the premier Appalachian Experience for our students.

  Our students’ future is our most precious charge, and a solid infrastructure is also essential to our academic mission. We are moving along briskly with bricks and mortar improvements on campus. Work already has moved inside on Sanford Hall, and we are on budget and on schedule to welcome students into a better equipped and restored building in 2021.

  It is my privilege to lead this university and to recognize and applaud the leaders who walk with me.

  

  Sheri Everts, Chancellor

  January in review

  • Advocating for university funding
    Posted January 18, 2020
  • Upholding the Appalachian Experience
    Posted January 25, 2020
  • Mountaineer passion, creativity and expertise at work
    Posted January 31, 2020
  • Navigating the best path forward for salary increases
    Posted February 7, 2020

  Social media highlights

  • 02.02 – Appalachian senior Gabrielle Knight uses the university’s arts venues as living laboratories to gain rich insights into her future career field.
  • 02.04 – Reich College of Education Dean Melba Spooner represented the university well when she presented before the state’s Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee.
  • 02.05 – Our student-athletes earned their 15th consecutive semester with a collective GPA of 3.0 or above. This achievement underscores the dedication of our students, faculty and staff.
  • 02.06 – Appalachian works diligently to strengthen partnerships with our local communities, and we were thrilled to see Forbes highlight Boone as a “Blue Ridge Carolina Vacation Treasure.”
  • 02.11 – Regular Community Leaders Breakfasts offers a great opportunity to connect with esteemed colleagues in the High Country.
  • 02.11 – Cultivating leaders in our region is critically important, and I was honored to participate with the Chancellor’s Council in a session of the Boone Chamber of Commerce’s Watauga Leadership Challenge.
  • 02.12 – Triangle-area media Appalachian’s Academy at Middle Fork on its Read 2 Succeed segment.
  • 02.14 – Spring Faculty and Staff Meeting was very well attended and the crowd was engaged and appreciative of the information shared.
  • 02.14 – My Valentine's Day was made complete by a serenade from several of our students.

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• Navigating the best path forward for salary increases

  Friday, February 7, 2020

  Since my arrival on Appalachian’s campus in 2014, I have remained steadfast in my commitment to improve working conditions for all Appalachian employees. This includes investing in our physical infrastructure to support our faculty, staff and students. It also includes improving the compensation structure for our most valuable resource: our people.

  As I advocate for Appalachian at the state level, I consistently emphasize these two key areas.

  Authorization, compliance and reporting measures for different sources of funds add additional layers of complexity to an already complex system.

  Remaining competitive in the current higher education market is critical to Appalachian’s success, and competitive compensation is one key to recruiting and retaining the talented faculty and staff who create the premier undergraduate experience for which Appalachian is often lauded.

  The ideal scenario for salary increases is legislative funding and authority to provide a merit-based annual raise process this year. It remains my priority to continue advocating for this option using every available avenue.

  However, in the event that we ultimately do not get an approved budget and authority to conduct an annual raise process, we will explore options within our existing campus authority. For example, at my direction, Vice Chancellor Paul Forte and Human Resources Director Mark Bachmeier have been working with Academic Affairs to identify how resources can best be applied toward labor market adjustments for faculty and staff.

  At this point, we feel the best path forward is to wait for the legislature to reconvene, and make a decision that will have the broadest possible impact for the most employees, but we are prepared to act within our existing authority.

  It is important we control what we can as we continue advocating for a sustainable source of funds and the authority to move forward, unified in our shared goal to achieve a compensation structure that matches the talent of our employees.

  

  Sheri Everts, Chancellor

  Learn more

January 2020

• 

  Mountaineer passion, creativity and expertise at work

  Friday, January 31, 2020

  With the spring semester well underway, much important work is taking place on our campus. This week saw many members of the Appalachian Community lending their passion, expertise and creativity to the university's climate action plan, which will be completed by Earth Day, April 22. If you were not able to attend the public forum, you can still contribute your ideas via an electronic submission form, or in person by visiting or calling the Office of Sustainability, whose staff, along with several climate action working groups, are working diligently to develop a community-informed and developed plan for achieving climate neutrality. Thanks to everyone who continues to be a part of this significant milestone in Appalachian's history.

  This is the time of semester when many students are beginning to feel the full force of their academic and personal responsibilities. Appalachian’s many support services for students are designed and provided by dedicated staff and faculty to help our students balance academic and personal demands and to empower them to take charge of their future. Some key resources include:

  • The Office of Student Success and the Disco Student Learning Center lead our efforts to help students who need intermittent or regular assistance in meeting their rigorous academic goals.
    
    
  • Appalachian Cares. This dedicated web portal aggregates essential resources related to wellness and prevention, emergency preparedness and student health.
    
    
  • Appalachian’s Student Health Service and Counseling and Psychological Services offer an array of resources to help students get well, stay well and
    achieve their goals.

  It is also important to ensure our faculty and staff have access to support and resources, and are engaged with the university.

  Next week, all employees will receive a message from UNC System Interim President Bill Roper regarding the upcoming employee engagement survey, which identifies essential employment trends and issues across the UNC System. A link to the survey will be sent next week, as well. Your input is important! Our goal is for more than 50% participation in the survey, and I encourage each of you to take this opportunity to share your feedback.

  Thanks to everyone who contributes to Mountaineer wellness and success.

  

  Sheri Everts, Chancellor

  Learn more
• 

  Upholding the Appalachian Experience

  Saturday, January 25, 2020

  On Tuesday morning, Appalachian’s Trustees met and unanimously passed a resolution calling on “all elected leaders who support and value the world class higher educational systems in North Carolina to move swiftly to enact a robust state budget that includes significant and meaningful support to the constituent institutions of the UNC System and compensation measures commensurable to the excellence of its faculty and staff.”

  Even as we navigate unprecedented challenges, our faculty, staff and students continue to bring their best every day - that's what we do at Appalachian.

  As I advocate for our university, your strengths and accomplishments continue to inspire me:

  • Academics. Because of our stellar faculty, Appalachian is routinely lauded by national publications for the high quality and value of our academic programs. Most recently, 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.
    
    
  • Engagement. Appalachian and the Community Together (ACT) hosted the 21st MLK Challenge earlier this week and the annual Dance Marathon is scheduled for February, both of which provide dedicated time for reflection and service to the local community. These are just two examples of the hundreds of service opportunities from which our students, supported and championed by our dedicated staff, extend their classroom learning throughout the academic year.

  On Friday, Jan. 31, our Office of Sustainability will hold an important next step in the development of the university’s new Climate Action Plan — slated to be completed by Earth Day, April 22. Please make plans to attend this listening session. Members of the campus community are invited to bring their knowledge and suggestions as we work to address our collective responsibility to mitigate — and work toward eliminating entirely — our carbon footprint. This is one of many opportunities for our faculty, staff and students to come together in structuring a pragmatic and progressive plan toward achieving climate neutrality.

  Along with institutions of higher education everywhere, we seek collaborative solutions. Mountaineer resilience and determination sustain us as we prepare our students to live purposeful lives.

  

  Sheri Everts, Chancellor

  Learn more
• Advocating for university funding

  Saturday, January 18, 2020

  As we enter the third quarter of our fiscal year without a state budget, I traveled to this week’s Board of Governors meeting concerned about critical budget issues for Appalachian.

  Representative of my greatest concerns are two key points I shared with President Roper, which are by no means an exhaustive list:

  • Funding for salary increases: Without a budget in place, we have neither the funds nor authority to address urgent salary needs, which has negative impacts on employee recruitment and retention. Appalachian’s value proposition lies in the talent of its employees, and it is critical that we remain competitive in the current higher education market.

  • Repair and Renovation funding and targeted renovation: Funding for major infrastructure work and repairs, in particular for our academic spaces and campus-wide security features, including electronic door access on all facilities, is key to supporting and empowering the vast human potential on our campus.

  Faculty may recall that at the beginning of this fiscal year, I tasked Provost Kruger and Vice Chancellors Forte and Brown to identify and re-allocate state funds from Student Affairs to Academic Affairs to develop a pool for faculty merit increases. I remain steadfast in my commitment to a merit-based increase for faculty as permitted.

  I will continue advocating for salary increases for all of our employees, for critical infrastructure and for every avenue we can use to not just maintain - but improve upon - our already enviable enrollment, retention and graduation rates.

  Advocacy for a budget is taking place at the topmost levels of the UNC System. Yesterday, our Board of Governors passed a resolution strongly encouraging our elected leaders to pass a budget and calling on all boards of trustees to create and approve a concurring resolution. Our Board of Trustees has called a meeting to address this matter early next week.

  These are unprecedented times. It is important you know that Appalachian’s leadership team remains dedicated to finding every available solution to meet the needs of our campus. We take daily inspiration from our university founders, and when times are tough, we roll up our sleeves and keep working- always for the betterment of our great institution.

  
  

  Sheri Everts, Chancellor

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December 2019

• 

  Celebrating accomplishments and new beginnings

  Saturday, December 14, 2019

  Yesterday, Appalachian hosted our Fall Commencement ceremonies, and I was honored to celebrate the accomplishments of the more than 1,300 students who crossed the stage. If you were unable to join us in person, you can relive the events through these archived videos.

  The student speakers — ranging from a Colombian immigrant earning his doctorate in Educational Leadership, to a music therapist focusing her skills on infants addicted to drugs at birth, to the father and husband of a family with four Mountaineers, three of whom are still currently enrolled — are sterling examples of the breadth and rigor of an Appalachian education and the opportunities it unfolds. A quick perusal of Appalachian Today, our news and events website, showcases countless examples of academic excellence, world-changing research and post-graduation achievement.

  The closing weeks of the semester are always full of activity and excitement and, this year, notably so for Appalachian football. The Mountaineers secured their fourth Sun Belt Championship, making history with the best FBS season in North Carolina. The team is gearing up now for the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl on Dec. 21, and I am thrilled to officially welcome Appalachian alumnus Shawn Clark ’98 as our new head football coach. I know we all look forward to his continued success with this record-setting team.

  All of our graduates, including our student-athletes, can be proud of their achievements. I am certain they will go on to make real and powerful differences in our state and in communities throughout the world. We look forward to hearing their stories as they go forward — forever Mountaineers and our most enduring legacy.

  I am honored to be part of the Appalachian Community. Happy holidays and best wishes for a restful and restorative break!

  

  Sheri Everts, Chancellor

  Social media highlights

  • 12.03 – The Appalachian Community gathered to thank Dean of University Libraries Dane Ward for his invaluable contributions to our university.
  • 12.03 – The Holmes Center was filled with energy as the men’s basketball team won its final nonconference home game.
  • 12.04 – This month included many productive meetings, notably with the Chancellor’s Faculty Advisory Committee and the Council of Chairs. Thank you to all of Appalachian’s leaders, who continually address short-term and long-term goals!
  • 12.04 – Reading Day offers opportunities for students to prepare for final exams by studying and practicing self-care. Faculty and staff also take this time to offer further support to students who may be in need of additional end-of-year support or resources.
  • 12.05 – Community Leaders Breakfasts offer dedicated time to strengthen Appalachian's relationships throughout the High Country.
  • 12.07 – After winning a fourth Sun Belt Championship, the Mountaineer football team earned the No. 20 spot in the AP Poll, College Football Playoff Ranking and Coaches Poll!
  • 12.11 – I love stories about Appalachian’s talented alumni — like Winston-Salem chief of police Catrina Thompson ’09 — who are making positive differences in communities across the state.
  • 12.11 – The annual Faculty and Staff Holiday Reception always fosters delightful conversation and offers a much-needed chance for respite after final exams.
  • 12.12 – Appalachian extended our agreement first established in 2015 with the American University of Ras Al Khaimah to create a transfer program in hospitality management.
  • 12.13 – It is always a powerful experience to be part of Commencement. Congratulations to the graduates of the College of Arts and Sciences, Hayes School of Music and Walker College of Business!
  • 12.13 – I love the pomp and circumstance of Commencement, and the pride of our graduates and their families. Congratulations to the graduates of the Beaver College of Health Sciences, College of Fine and Applied Arts and Reich College of Education!

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November 2019

• 

  In appreciation of the Appalachian Community

  Wednesday, November 27, 2019

  Our university has much for which to be thankful throughout the year. Above all else, I appreciate the limitless human potential on our campus that elevates the Appalachian Experience, and would like to share with you a few examples of the many ways our exceptional students, faculty and staff enrich the Appalachian Community:

  • Our students take advantage of countless opportunities to gain real-world experience before graduation. Interior design students Jake Still and Grace McCormick won the 2019 Planning and Visual Education (PAVE) GlobalShop Design Challenge with their prototype of a pop-up shop that packages key essentials for college students to organize their living spaces. These students saw their winning design professionally fabricated and installed at the Dallas flagship location of The Container Store, a leading national retailer of storage and organizational products.
  • Our university’s record seven Fulbright award winners in 2019–20 and professors like Dr. Beverly Moser showcase our faculty’s virtuosity. Dr. Moser, professor of German and TESL/applied linguistics, received the 2019 Foreign Language Association of North Carolina (FLANC) Honorary Life Member Award in recognition of her years of service to foreign language education in North Carolina and the Appalachian region. On our campus and far beyond, Appalachian’s nearly 1,500 faculty members are recognized and honored for their professional expertise and excellence in teaching.
  • Our exemplary staff members are dedicated to the success of our students and to the university. Last week, I had the pleasure of inaugurating a new tradition: the Chancellor’s Service Awards Luncheon. The event honored the service of more than 120 staff members who have served our university for 20 years or more, and I was honored to share my heartfelt thanks with this esteemed group. The influence of our nearly 1,900 staff members is felt across the university.

  Year-round, Appalachian Today highlights the many honors, awards and grants earned by our staff, faculty and students. The talents and accomplishments of the Appalachian Community greatly enhance the rich learning environment at our university.

  Best wishes and my sincere appreciation to Mountaineers near and far.

  

  Sheri Everts, Chancellor

  Social media highlights

  • 11.22 – It was great to see Appalachian’s women’s basketball team back at the Holmes Center for the home opener!
  • 11.23 – Appalachian’s ROTC program is celebrating its 50th anniversary. We are proud of this program, which has commissioned 950 officers to date.
  • 11.23 – Appalachian alumnus Lt. Gen. Robert Ashley performed the pregame coin toss during Saturday’s football game. It was an honor to welcome him home to Appalachian.
  • 11.24 – Senior Night and Heroes Day at the last regular season home football game ended with a Mountaineers victory. The next day, the AP Poll and Coaches Poll both ranked Appalachian’s football team No. 22, marking three straight weeks in the top 25. Congratulations to the team and coaching staff!
  • 11.25 – We were touched to honor two sets of siblings at The Chancellor's Service Awards Luncheon. Congratulations to all of our staff members, especially brothers Randy and Terry Edwards, and sisters Kathy Deas and Sheila Perry.
  • 11.26 – Appalachian helps students discover their passions and then refine the skills needed to succeed in their chosen field. We are thankful for the many staff members across the university — especially in the Career Development Center — who contribute to our students’ success.

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• 

  Enrollment, Faculty Salaries and Infrastructure

  Trustees meet for November board meeting

  Saturday, November 23, 2019

  On Friday, Appalachian’s Board of Trustees held their November meeting. Our sincere thanks to Appalachian’s trustees — as well as our Board of Visitors members who joined the meeting on campus this week — for your continued advocacy and leadership of our university.

  Throughout today’s committee sessions and full board meeting, it was clear Appalachian is abuzz with progress and good news. Here are a few notable takeaways:

  • Appalachian is on track to achieve a record enrollment of 20,000 students by 2020, a reflection of our university’s “slow and steady growth” philosophy. Nearly 60% of our projected growth will be online or at satellite locations, and, looking into the future, these areas are where there are the most potential for any further increased enrollment. Appalachian’s goal supports Gov. Roy Cooper’s legislative target of equipping 2 million additional North Carolinian adults, ages 25-44, with a high-quality postsecondary degree or credential by 2030. This population is especially important to Appalachian’s recruitment efforts, as the number of graduating high school students across the country is on a steady decline. Appalachian is characterized by – and proud of – our capabilities to take charge and problem-solve. We are now operating from a position of strength in a volatile market environment. We will continue to admit qualified students and further our founders’ mission of serving rural areas in North Carolina.
  • Provost Darrell Kruger reported both short-term and long-term strategies to ensure academic integrity. Short-term strategies include paying faculty to teach course overloads and hiring adjunct instructors, but we will not rely on these strategies long term. Provost Kruger will fund 10 new tenure-track faculty positions and three new academic advisers in Fall 2020. This continues a five-year commitment that includes adding 43 new faculty lines and 11 advisers. Last year, for the first time in Appalachian’s history, we reached more than 1,000 full-time tenured, tenure-track and instructor faculty — a tremendous milestone that reflects our stellar academic reputation.
  • Vice Chancellor Forte's team is ensuring faculty who have earned promotions and tenure this year will see their well-deserved salary increases — retroactive to July 1, 2019 — in their December paychecks.
  • Appalachian’s exceptional faculty continue to distinguish themselves on a national scale. Notably, Dr. Kurt Michael, Appalachian’s Stanley R. Aeschleman Distinguished Professor of Psychology, will serve as principal investigator for a $2.5 million U.S. Department of Education grant that will expand mental health services in rural North Carolina schools, and Dr. Kathryn Kirkpatrick, a professor in the Department of English, earned — for the second time — the prestigious Roanoke-Chowan Award for Poetry, this time for her newest collection, “The Fisher Queen: New & Selected Poems.”
  • Appalachian’s infrastructure projects — which total nearly $250 million and represent the largest infrastructure investment in the entire UNC System — are making significant progress. Two examples include Phase I of the residence halls project, which will see windows installed and exterior brick completed before December Commencement, and the Sanford Hall renovation, which remains on time and on budget. We expect the work underway will extend the life of this building up to 40 years. The Appalachian’s Future website is continually updated with information and photos regarding these projects and more.

  I hope you will take a moment to read my remarks to the Trustees in full here. I will continue to share an update with you after each meeting of the trustees.

  Today and every day, it is great to be a Mountaineer.

  

  Sheri Everts, Chancellor

  Social media highlights

  • 11.13 – Our latest institutional ad showcases the heights our students can reach during their journey at Appalachian.
  • 11.14 – Appalachian’s own Luke Combs, who has taken the music scene by storm, won Male Vocalist of the Year at the Country Music Awards! Our university is thrilled to welcome him home for his first stadium concert at Kidd Brewer Stadium this May.
  • 11.15 – The staff in Facilities Operations makes great use of campus resources to keep our grounds beautiful.
  • 11.17 – Last Saturday’s win against Georgia State earned Appalachian’s football team top 25 rankings in the AP Poll and Coaches Poll — a great position to be in as the team heads into its last regular season home game against Texas State this weekend.
  • 11.19 – I was honored to host the inaugural Chancellor’s Service Awards Luncheon, during which we recognized more than 120 staff members who have reached 20 years or more of service to the university. These dedicated professionals have collectively served the university for nearly 3,000 years! We’re so very thankful for their time and efforts.

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• 

  Exceptional Mountaineers Elevating the Appalachian Experience

  Friday, November 15, 2019

  Throughout the year, our university delights in opportunities to honor outstanding members of the Appalachian Community. Here are a few recent recognitions:

  • This week, Appalachian hosted its Veterans Day Ceremony to honor and commend those who have served our country in the armed services. Our recognition by national publications and our status for nearly a decade as a Military Friendly® School — earning Gold distinction for the 2019–20 academic year — affirm our commitment to strengthen resources for the more than 380 student veterans and active-duty military members at Appalachian. Appalachian alumnus and retired U.S. Army Maj. Ali Donnell Davis ’95 ’01 served as the keynote speaker for this year’s ceremony. Thank you to Maj. Davis and all veterans for sustaining our country and protecting freedoms worldwide.
  • During Appalachian’s Halloween football game, two students earned scholarships for academic excellence and service to the community, through funds donated by 1989 Appalachian alumnus Mark E. Ricks’ company Double Wood Farm. Ashley Thomasson, a junior global studies major, received a scholarship for one year of tuition and Taylor Houston, a first-year apparel design and merchandising major, received a scholarship for a meal plan credit. These exceptional Mountaineers were selected from a pool of eligible students with a GPA of 3.0 or higher and at least eight hours of community service since spring 2018. Ashley and Taylor competed in a high-stakes game of Connect 4 during halftime to determine the winner and runner-up. Congratulations to both our winners!
  • Last month, the Office of Research, the Office of Student Research and University Libraries hosted our university’s inaugural celebration of faculty and staff research and creative activity. During the event, Appalachian presented two new awards that recognize excellence in research, scholarship and creative activity. Our recipients are Dr. Ellen Cowan, professor in the Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences, and Dr. Baker Perry, professor in the Department of Geography and Planning. Congratulations to these exceptional educators for the global significance of their work on climate research.

  I am proud to work alongside faculty, staff, students and alumni whose innovative ideas, academic excellence and commitment to service better the future for us all.

  

  Sheri Everts, Chancellor

  October in review

  • Making Family Connections, Earning Top Rankings
    Posted October 4, 2019
  • Accolades for the Appalachian Community in Action
    Posted October 11, 2019
  • #AppStateIsHome
    Posted October 18, 2019
  • Building Community
    Posted October 25, 2019

  Social media highlights

  • 10.29 – Appalachian graduate students competed in the international 3 Minute Thesis (3MT) competition, explaining complex research in mere minutes!
  • 10.29 – Appalachian’s wrestling team joined me at Appalachian House for a reception to honor its many accolades, including four straight SoCon titles.
  • 10.30 – Olive dressed up as Appalachian’s coach Drinkwitz for Halloween!
  • 11.05 – Appalachian Student Ambassadors are full of energy and lively stories. It was great to gather with this exciting group at Appalachian House.
  • 11.08 – Many thanks to the Appalachian Staff Senate for hosting the annual AppKIDS event for nearly four decades. This terrific tradition helps provide warm clothes and other necessities for local children in need.
  • 11.09 – The Appalachian football team became the first team in Sun Belt history to beat two Power Five schools in one season and the first Sun Belt team to earn an in-season College Football Playoff ranking.
  • 11.11 – Business North Carolina magazine named Leon Levine Hall among the most impressive commercial real estate projects completed in North Carolina.

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October 2019

• 

  Building Community

  Friday, October 25, 2019

  Appalachian believes deeply in the power of community and is well known for this relational culture. The third annual Community FEaST — a near-zero waste, locally sourced meal held earlier this week — stands as a strong visual testament to our institutional focus on community and sustainability. Attendees dined along a table 100 yards long and engaged in dialogue and storytelling about the importance of sustainable food systems. Many thanks to the faculty, staff and graduate students from AppalFRESH who organized this event.

  Across the university, Mountaineers work to help build — and better — our community on and off campus. Here are just a few examples:

  • For 39 years, Staff Senate has sponsored the AppKIDS event to help provide winter clothing, hygiene products and snack food items to local children in need.
  • The Office of Sustainability recently expanded its Food Resource Hub, which was mentioned in The New York Times.
  • The Appalachian Student Government Association publishes The Wellness Times newsletter to highlight the many dimensions of wellness and key programming available for students on campus.

  It is heartening to see faculty, staff and students elevate the culture of care and compassion that has flourished on this campus for more than a century.

  Together, we are creating a better, brighter future for those in the Appalachian Community and far beyond.

  

  Sheri Everts, Chancellor

  Social media highlights

  • 10.18 – The annual Appalachian homecoming parade was great fun, especially with Philip Byers and Pearl Burris-Floyd of the UNC System Board of Governors as our grand marshals.
  • 10.18 – Appalachian honored our exemplary Fleming Scholars at a homecoming reception. I was delighted to spend time with these highly motivated students and celebrate their accomplishments.
  • 10.19 – The Alumni Homecoming Breakfast presents a perfect opportunity to reconnect with graduates and learn where their lives and careers have taken them since their time at Appalachian.
  • 10.19 – During the homecoming football game, we recognized the academic achievements of our student-athletes. At Appalachian, we encourage our athletes to be students first.
  • 10.19 – A homecoming victory means our Mountaineer football team is now nationally ranked and 6–0!
  • 10.20 – After the Mountaineers’ strong showing on Saturday, the AP Top 25 and Coaches Poll ranked our football team No. 21 and No. 22, respectively. Congratulations all-around!
  • 10.21 – Congratulations to our Alumni Awards winners, who were honored at a luncheon during homecoming. These individuals represent the very best of our university through their work, service and philanthropy.
  • 10.21 – Appalachian’s deans work together to elevate our students’ educational experience and power our university’s stellar academic reputation.
  • 10.21 – Members of the women’s tennis team joined me for a reception at Appalachian House to honor their first conference championship and their many successes since.
  • 10.24 – Our women’s basketball team received their well-deserved WBI Championship rings.

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• 

  #AppStateIsHome

  Friday, October 18, 2019

  Appalachian’s homecoming festivities are well underway and we are thrilled to welcome home so many Mountaineers, including our esteemed Alumni Awards winners. Our university is an incredibly special home “on the mountain” for the Appalachian Community and that feeling is even stronger during homecoming, when generations of Mountaineers gather to celebrate their alma mater.

  In honor of this annual event, Appalachian has compiled a slideshow of homecomings past. Many thanks to the staff in University Archives and Records for their help in gathering these images and historical information. This slideshow recalls decades of memories surrounding the camaraderie, the kindness and the close relationships that are the cornerstone of the Appalachian Experience.

  Mountaineer spirit is in the air, and we look forward to seeing many of you at our homecoming celebrations.

  

  Sheri Everts, Chancellor

  Social media highlights

  • 10.13 – Appalachian’s football team earned two top 25 national rankings this week in the midst of an 11-game winning streak!
  • 10.15 – Media outlets often look to Appalachian faculty and staff to author articles and serve as experts. I am so proud of how they showcase our university locally, regionally and nationally.
  • 10.18 – Mountaineer homecoming celebrations date back to the 1930s. It is so fun to see how we have grown and changed over the years, while keeping true to our roots.

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• 

  Accolades for the Appalachian Community in Action

  Friday, October 11, 2019

  Appalachian is distinguished by academic excellence and community engagement.

  We started this week with a well-deserved academic accolade: the Sun Belt Conference recognized Appalachian for having the highest student graduation rate in the conference. Congratulations to the graduates, faculty, staff and others who have helped our university earn this prestigious honor.

  The Appalachian Community routinely collaborates with and gives back to the local community and beyond, often to the benefit of our student volunteers as much as to the causes and organizations. These service experiences help our students further develop critical problem-solving skills, underscore the influence of individual efforts and affirm the value of “doing good.”

  Within the division of Student Affairs, Appalachian and the Community Together (ACT) coordinates service opportunities throughout the year, including Alternative Service Experiences (ASE). Appalachian also supports civic engagement and service-learning as a complement to our rigorous academic programs. In its “Best Colleges” rankings for 2020, U.S. News & World Report ranked Appalachian 14th in the nation in the Service Learning category — proof positive that our university believes deeply in the power of community engagement.

  Appalachian organizes hundreds of service opportunities each year that present real-world experiences with communities facing challenges locally and abroad, and prepare Appalachian students for a lifetime of engagement.

  In the classroom and in the community, it is great to be a Mountaineer.

  

  Sheri Everts, Chancellor

  Social media highlights

  • 10.03 – Appalachian staff enjoy networking during our regularly held Staff Connect events. Our university appreciates all staff do to aid Appalachian’s success!
  • 10.04 – Faculty Club is a great way for our educators to relax and reconnect. They work hard inside and outside the classroom to help Appalachian students succeed.
  • 10.07 – Our university was honored as having the highest student graduation rate in the conference, and one of our women’s tennis players was recognized for her nomination for NCAA Woman of the Year.
  • 10.09 – Appalachian triumphed over the University of Louisiana at Lafayette to mark our football team’s first conference victory on the road this season. Appalachian is now 5-0!
  • 10.10 – Members of the Appalachian Community gathered in Charlotte to learn more about the Beaver College of Health Sciences and the Mountaineers who are leading the health care industry.

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• 

  Making Family Connections, Earning Top Rankings

  Friday, October 4, 2019

  Appalachian’s Family Weekend welcomed hundreds of parents and families to campus for a first-hand look at their students’ Appalachian Experience. The weekend’s festivities included an alumni legacy reception, a breakfast with career services programming, a football game tailgate and a volunteer workday for the App Builds a Home project with Watauga County Habitat for Humanity. Over the weekend, university staff captured candid thoughts and insights from Mountaineer families and compiled them into this delightful video.

  Our university’s competitive advantages are well documented and supported through recognitions in national publications. Each honor attests to the quality of education provided to students by our world-class faculty and staff. Here are a few of the most notable recent accolades:

  • Appalachian ranks among U.S. News & World Report’s “Best Colleges” for 2020.
  • Forbes magazine included Appalachian in its 2019 listings of “America’s Top Colleges” and “America’s Best Value Colleges.”
  • Appalachian was named in MONEY magazine’s “2019–20 Best Colleges Ranking,” The Princeton Review’s “2020 Best Colleges: Region by Region” web feature as a “Best in the Southeast” and Kiplinger’s Personal Finance magazine’s “Best College Values” for 2019.

  A particularly meaningful recognition, U.S. News & World Report ranked Appalachian second among Southern universities in the Best Colleges for Veterans category. As of this fall, Appalachian enrolls more than 380 veterans and active-duty military members, and our university holds their service to our communities and country in the highest esteem. It is critical that we provide the necessary resources for these students, and Appalachian’s status as a Military Friendly® School affirms our success in doing so.

  Thank you to the entire Appalachian Community for celebrating our many distinct offerings.

  

  Sheri Everts, Chancellor

  September in review

  • Sharing Appalachian’s Successes
    Posted September 26, 2019
  • A Commitment to Student Achievement
    Posted September 11, 2019

  Social media highlights

  • 09.27 – The Chancellor’s Academic Leadership Development Program met for a lively work session. University leaders had the opportunity to answer questions submitted by the participants.
  • 09.27 – Appalachian’s ducks are getting some social media attention for their Mountaineer spirit!
  • 09.27 – We had a terrific Family Weekend, even with a little rain. One of the highlights was celebrating our legacy families — alumni whose children are current students.
  • 09.28 – Mountaineer football fans, including many Family Weekend participants, flocked to The Rock for the sold-out game.
  • 09.28 – After an unexpectedly long weather delay, the Mountaineers secured their first conference victory. Congratulations to all who supported this win — coach Drinkwitz, the team and the fans. Appalachian football is 4–0!

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September 2019

• 

  Sharing Appalachian's Successes

  Snapshot of September board meetings

  Thursday, September 26, 2019

  Last week, I participated in the UNC System Board of Governors meeting and also had the opportunity to engage with committees. Sharing university updates and achievements with this influential group of leaders is important for our future.

  Earlier this month, Appalachian’s Board of Trustees held their September meeting with a full agenda, including committee meetings for business affairs, student affairs, academic affairs, audit and athletics. At the full board meeting, three new and three reappointed trustees were sworn in by North Carolina District Court Judge Rebecca Eggers-Gryder ’83. It is an honor to welcome John Blackburn, James “J.K.” Reaves ’93, Kimberly Shepherd ’97, Thomas Sofield ’76, Mark Ricks ’89 and DeJon Milbourne to this esteemed board.

  Advocating for Appalachian here and across the state, especially in Raleigh, is an important part of my work. I continually affirm Appalachian’s position as the premier public undergraduate institution in North Carolina and took the opportunity to elaborate on this statement in my remarks to the Board of Trustees.

  It is vitally important we build infrastructure to help power the human potential on our campus. Our current construction projects total more than $250 million and represent the largest infrastructure investment in the entire UNC System. Each of these projects supports and elevates our educational mission.

  As we improve these spaces on our campus, university staff are working diligently to ensure as seamless an experience as possible for the students who are living and learning alongside construction. Appalachian has resources in place to support these initiatives, as well as our continued slow and steady enrollment growth.

  Our university is thriving because of the hard work, dedication and strategic vision of the Appalachian Community. Collectively, we are realizing the dream of our founders to increase access to a stellar education.

  Thank you for contributing every day as we work together toward our goals.

  

  Sheri Everts, Chancellor

  Social media highlights

  • 09.09 – It was my pleasure to meet with Faculty Senate and host an annual gathering for them at Appalachian House.
  • 09.11 – Appalachian is fortunate to have an incredible team of Student Ambassadors who serve our university as official representatives.
  • 09.12 – It was a pleasure to collaborate with representatives from the Greater Boone and Watauga County communities during one of our regular Town and Gown meetings.
  • 09.12 – In case you missed it, Appalachian’s Food Resource Hub was called out in a recent opinion piece in The New York Times.
  • 09.13 – New and reappointed trustees were sworn in during the Sept. 13 Board of Trustees meeting.
  • 09.19 – Our university’s beloved ducks shared their prediction for Appalachian’s football game against UNC-Chapel Hill. This tweet was so popular, it even garnered an on-air mention during the televised game.
  • 09.21 – Our Mountaineer football team and coach Drinkwitz achieved a historic win against UNC-Chapel Hill, cheered on by Appalachian's stellar fans.

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• 

  A Commitment to Student Achievement

  Appalachian’s academic mission guides success

  Wednesday, September 11, 2019

  Last Thursday was a great day of celebration! We explored Appalachian’s history during our Founders Day festivities, which included a research showcase with poster presentations by faculty, staff and students, a panel discussion with former Appalachian administrators, the dedication of a new statue of co-founder Lillie Shull Dougherty and the ringing of the Founders Bell for the first time. It was wonderful to see generations of Mountaineers gather to honor our beloved university.

  As we celebrate our history, we also recognize our recent achievements. Our official enrollment numbers show we welcomed 19,280 students this fall.

  Because of our focus on strengthening the culture of diversity and inclusion on our campus, it is meaningful to note nearly one in five of the first-year population is underrepresented and a record 17.4% of the total population is racially/ethnically diverse. Between 2014 and 2019, Appalachian has increased its total underrepresented student population by 47%.

  Retention is a key performance indicator for universities across the nation. At Appalachian, our first- to second-year retention rate is 87.8%, well above the national average, and among underrepresented students, our retention rate is 87.2%, up from 82.3% in 2018.

  These figures reflect both our commitment to admitting students who are poised to thrive at Appalachian and our dedication to providing resources that help students succeed once they are here.

  As I shared in my remarks on the state of the university last week, funding is tight for academic institutions, and the landscape for higher education is uncertain. Our university is healthy, and we are approaching a landmark enrollment rate of 20,000. Tuition revenue has a direct and immediate impact on our bottom line — increased revenue leads to increased resources: for classroom resources, for salaries and additional personnel, for innovative and creative teaching and research endeavors.

  We are focusing on the future, firmly rooted in our past and guided by our academic mission.

  

  Sheri Everts, Chancellor

  Social media highlights

  • 08.30 – I had a great time cheering on the women’s soccer team during their game against Duquesne.
  • 08.31 – It was a treat to attend the Hall of Fame breakfast with the legendary Jerry Moore and our newest inductees.
  • 08.31 – The Appalachian football season opener was filled with great food, great company and a Mountaineer victory!
  • 09.03 – I shared a tribute to university friends Hughlene and Bill Frank at the opening night of the Visiting Writers Series.
  • 09.05 – We celebrated Founders Day with an afternoon of festivities, including inducting the inaugural class of the Bell Ringers Society.
  • 09.07 – Our Mountaineer football team earned its second win of the season, marking the first 2-0 opener since 2010!

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August 2019

• 

  Celebrating Appalachian’s History

  Our legacy informs our future

  Friday, August 30, 2019

  The beginning of the new academic year is an excellent time to celebrate our university’s rich history and traditions. We hosted Black and Gold Convocation earlier this week, and on Founders Day — Thursday, Sept. 5 — our 120-year legacy of innovation and educational leadership will be on full display for the Appalachian Community, with an afternoon of events that celebrate our Mountaineer spirit.

  We host this event annually to honor the first day of classes at Watauga Academy in 1899 and to recognize our founders — B.B. and D.D. Dougherty and Lillie Shull Dougherty. We also will inaugurate a new tradition during which 12 members of the Appalachian Community will ring the Founders Bell for the very first time and be inducted into the Bell Ringers Society.

  The principles set forth by our founders guide us as a forward-thinking university that excels at scholarship, research, sustainability and global engagement. Examining our past reminds us of our resiliency and our commitment to increasing access to education for all. By embracing the university’s history and the ties to our mountain home, our graduates leave Appalachian with an enduring love and respect for our region and the values they have seen put into practice here.

  I hope you will join us for Founders Day. It is sure to be a memorable event.

  

  Sheri Everts, Chancellor

  August in review

  • Ensuring Success
    Posted August 26, 2019
  • Summer Accomplishments
    Posted August 17, 2019
  • Cultivating Exceptional Leaders
    Posted August 9, 2019

  Social media highlights

  • 08.26 – The Appalachian State University Academy at Middle Fork celebrated its first day of classes on Monday. I know it will be another terrific year!
  • 08.28 – I hosted the annual SGA Cabinet dinner at Appalachian House. What a great night meeting with these exceptional student leaders and their advisors.

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• 

  Ensuring Success

  Support and resources for lifelong gains

  Monday, August 26, 2019

  We’re now into the second week of classes, and the Appalachian Community is settling into the consistent rhythm of the fall semester — classes, studying, campus activities and exploring our mountain location. Appalachian academics are rigorous and designed to push students to think critically and creatively. The beginning of each semester is always a good time to review the robust resources our university provides that help all students succeed.

  These offerings — many of them guided by our stellar faculty — include early academic interventions, wellness and prevention services, financial aid assistance and career counseling, and contribute to Appalachian’s impressive retention rate, which is about 20% above the national average. We help students establish a foundation for success that lasts a lifetime. Evidence of this, our alumni, nearly 97,000 of whom reside in North Carolina, boast a college debt repayment rate that is 20% above the national average.

  Tomorrow is Appalachian’s Black and Gold Convocation, a time when the Appalachian Community gathers to officially commence the new academic year — a time to celebrate and appreciate our rich history and traditions. This year’s event holds particular importance because 2019 marks our university’s 120th anniversary of educational leadership. I’m thrilled to welcome home our guest speaker — 2013 Distinguished Alumni Award recipient Dr. Harry L. Williams ’86 ’88 ’95, a respected higher education advocate who serves as president and CEO of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund.

  The success and well-being of our Appalachian Community are always our top priority.

  

  Sheri Everts, Chancellor

  Social media highlights

  • 08.19 – I enjoyed seeing students heading to their first day of classes. Our campus is full of positive energy!
  • 08.22 – I shared a terrific interview with @appstate_FB’s @CoachDrinkwitz. I am looking forward to our first home football game on Saturday!
  • 08.22 – I was delighted to visit with the educators at the Appalachian State University Academy at Middle Fork. They are committed to elevating the experience of each and every student.
  • 08.24 – The second class of the @appstatepolice Academy has officially graduated, and 100% have passed their examination to become certified North Carolina police officers. Congratulations!

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• 

  Summer Accomplishments

  Completed construction and invaluable internships

  Saturday, August 17, 2019

  What an exciting week at Appalachian! We welcomed to campus approximately 3,000 new students and their families during move-in weekend, and we officially opened Appalachian’s newest parking facility, located between Frank and Eggers residence halls, that offers 477 well-lit parking spaces. The parking deck is a key milestone as we build additional infrastructure to support our educational mission. For the latest campus construction updates, I encourage you to visit the Appalachian’s Future website. It features a construction update podcast about our residence halls and gives progress notes, answers frequently asked questions and shares interesting facts about the buildings’ design and construction.

  Our campus is energized by the students arriving for the new academic year, and I am always delighted to hear what they accomplished over the summer months. More than 7,000 students enrolled in one of our two Summer Sessions. Others gained important professional experience through internships. According to Appalachian’s Career Development Center, on average, 80% of students report they’ve completed an internship either on or off campus. A few examples:

  • Physics major Kara Snow was one of 11 students from across the state to be awarded a North Carolina Space Grant internship. She spent her summer in the Astronomy and Astrophysics Research Lab of the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences working with OpenSpace — a NASA-funded software designed to visualize the entire known universe.
  • Cellular/molecular biology major Andy Mendoza worked this summer as a biostatistics and computational biology intern at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) in Research Triangle Park, conducting research to identify false positive signals from a chemical toxicity library.
  • Grace King, a communication, electronic/media broadcasting major, was one of 50 students chosen nationally for the Television Academy Foundation’s 2019 Internship Program. She traveled to Burbank, California, to intern in the comedy scriptwriting department at ABC Entertainment.

  Appalachian’s rigorous academic programs and multitude of career resources, along with the dedication of our staff and faculty, prepare students to adapt to a variety of professional experiences and thrive in critical workforce areas after graduation.

  I am ready to start the 2019–20 academic year. Now and always, it’s great to be a Mountaineer!

  

  Sheri Everts, Chancellor

  Social media highlights

  • 07.30 – We gathered to celebrate the university’s newest parking facility, which is officially open for use.
  • 08.16 – I enjoyed greeting new and returning students and their families during move-in day. So much excitement!

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• 

  Cultivating Exceptional Leaders

  Professional development for all ages

  Friday, August 9, 2019

  At Appalachian, we pride ourselves on being leaders in the disciplines we teach. Here are a few recent examples of our commitment to cultivating leadership:

  • It was my pleasure to welcome guests to Appalachian for the eighth annual Appalachian Energy Summit. Experts, policymakers and students from across North Carolina and beyond discussed and strategized sustainability goals, affirming Appalachian’s and our sister institutions’ dedication to resiliency and energy efficiency. I am proud that, as a result of the collective efforts of this group, campuses of the UNC System — together with industry partners — have avoided more than $924 million in utility costs. I’m pleased that Appalachian’s faculty, staff and students have been the driving force behind this symposium of scholarship and innovation.
  • Awarded each year, the Chancellor’s Academic Leadership Development Program (ALDP) provides avenues for selected Appalachian faculty and staff to augment their leadership abilities through mentorship and professional development. Notably, this year’s class of participants is the largest cohort to date, with the most areas represented.
  • We also engage prospective students in leadership opportunities. Last month, we welcomed 24 high school juniors for the 2019 Martha Guy Summer Institute (MGSI) for Future Business Leaders. Over the past seven years, more than 40% of MGSI participants have chosen to attend Appalachian, a testament to the efficacy of the experience.

  Summer is coming to a close, and there is much to look forward to this year. I am thrilled that next week, I will welcome guests to the opening of the new parking deck, and greet new students and those returning to campus as we begin the 2019–20 academic year.

  

  Sheri Everts, Chancellor

  Social media highlights

  • 07.30 – The UNC System Office congratulated the Appalachian Police Department on its Agency of the Year Award from the North Carolina Police Executives Association.
  • 07.31 – I shared an update after a special session of the Board of Trustees regarding HB 389 and the future demolition of Appalachian’s Justice Hall.
  • 08.03 – It was a pleasure to see photos of patrons enjoying The Temptations concert — the final event of An Appalachian Summer Festival’s 35th season.

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July 2019

• 

  Safety, Due Diligence and Housing

  Trustees act on HB 389, demolition of Justice Hall

  Wednesday, July 31, 2019

  Last Thursday, after much thought and deliberation, Appalachian’s Board of Trustees met and approved a resolution allowing the university to seek permits to sell alcohol at athletics facilities. North Carolina House Bill 389, signed into law by Gov. Roy Cooper on June 26, allows the state’s public universities to sell beer and wine at their athletics facilities. Approval by the trustees for the university to seek alcohol sales permits is required by North Carolina statutes.

  I appreciate the due diligence on the part of our trustees and university staff to ensure we can meet the needs of our university, continue to positively contribute to the local economy and enhance the already outstanding Mountaineer fan experience. Throughout this review, we have prioritized the safety and security of our university community, and we will continue to do so as we work through the logistics related to implementing alcohol sales at our athletics venues.

  Research on universities that sell beer and wine at athletics facilities shows significant decreases in alcohol-related arrests and incidents after implementation. Our own experience with the Rock Garten hospitality area outside the north end zone of Kidd Brewer Stadium, which since 2018 has sold limited quantities of alcohol to attendees, has met with positive reviews from fans and the university community.

  Also, on Thursday, the board approved the demolition of Justice Hall, a 67-year-old building used for student housing. The demolition, scheduled to begin next summer, is necessary to complete the third phase of our residence halls project. The board’s approval is required for demolition of any university building.

  As always, we are committed to recovering as much of the building’s items of value as possible. This project, like the others now in progress on our campus, will be documented on the Appalachian’s Future website.

  These are exciting days at Appalachian. We are less than a month away from welcoming a new class of Mountaineers. We have made tremendous progress on many of our infrastructure projects. The new parking deck will be open soon, and I think the orange cone count around campus is actually diminishing! Thank you for your patience.

  I appreciate our trustees’ leadership and the commitment to the university and our academic mission exhibited by our faculty, staff and students.

  

  Sheri Everts, Chancellor

  July in review

  • Recognizing Outstanding Scholars
    Posted July 25, 2019
  • Living and Learning in the Blue Ridge Mountains
    Posted July 12, 2019

  Social media highlights

  • 07.26 – It's great to see the UNC System sharing stories about our partnerships with North Carolina vintners.
  • 07.27 – An Appalachian Summer Festival’s Rosen Sculpture Walk is always a favorite of mine — I enjoy learning more about the sculptures and the artists who created them.
  • 07.29 – I welcomed university and industry partners to the 8th Appalachian Energy Summit on Monday. The work resulting from these summits has saved UNC System campuses and industry partners more than $920 million dollars in utility costs!

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• 

  Recognizing Outstanding Scholars

  Elevating the future of the Appalachian Community

  Thursday, July 25, 2019

  At our inaugural Appalachian Scholarship Celebration, I had the pleasure of welcoming scholarship recipients and the generous donors who have opened the doors to higher education for them. Their stories, and the stories of so many other students, serve as reminders of the significance of an Appalachian education.

  Our university has long fostered an open and accessible pathway to education for all, and scholarships are vital to continuing this legacy. More than 38% of our academic scholarship recipients identify as being first-generation college students, 41% are low-income students and 38% are defined as coming from rural counties.

  We are committed to supporting and expanding the populations we serve, and elevating our scholarship offerings, including the Chancellor’s, Diversity, Fleming and Plemmons scholarships.

  We are proud of these remarkable students and of those recipients who came before them. As scholars and alumni, they enrich the Appalachian Community and communities far and wide. For instance:

  • Lauren Hempen, an English major with a creative writing concentration, traveled to the Dominican Republic as part of an Alternative Service Experience. She is a 2016 Diversity Scholar and serves as an Appalachian Student Ambassador.
  • Appalachian’s Student Government Association President DeJon Milbourne, who is now entering his second term, is a quadruple major in finance and banking, risk management and insurance, accounting and economics. He is also a 2016 Dr. Willie C. Fleming Scholar.
  • Alumna Emily Fedders ’19, who graduated in May with a B.S. in geology, was an award-winning member of the Appalachian women’s cross-country team and a 2015 Chancellor’s Scholar. Notably, Emily won the Outstanding Student Presentation Award at the 2018 American Geophysical Union’s Fall Meeting.

  We delight in the many successes and contributions of our scholarship students — while they attend Appalachian and later in their careers. I am also appreciative of the many donors — which include 114 of Appalachian’s faculty and staff — who offer thousands of our students opportunities to expand their education and make their mark on the world.

  Scholarship funds elevate the future of the Appalachian Community for generations to come.

  

  Sheri Everts, Chancellor

  Social media highlights

  • 07.12 – I had the honor of visiting with Martha Guy during a luncheon for the high school scholars attending the 2019 Martha Guy Summer Institute.
  • 07.12 – Staff Connect is a time for our dedicated staff members to enjoy time with their colleagues.
  • 07.13 – An Appalachian Summer Festival's Patti LaBelle concert was a fun evening that brought together universities and communities from across the region.
  • 07.19 – I was delighted to welcome donors and students to the inaugural Appalachian Scholarship Celebration.
  • 07.20 – Honoring the founders of An Appalachian Summer Festival was a meaningful and delightful way to celebrate the festival's 35th season.

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• 

  Living and Learning in the Blue Ridge Mountains

  A natural setting for exceptional learning

  Friday, July 12, 2019

  Our home in the Blue Ridge Mountains offers infinite opportunities for exploration, and we recently received external validation to that point. Peterson’s — the world’s leading educational services company — named Appalachian in its “The 20 Best Colleges for Outdoor Enthusiasts” list. The university placed 13th out of the 20 recognized schools nationwide, which were ranked based on the academic and recreational opportunities they provide.

  At Appalachian, outdoor recreation builds on the foundations set by our academic programs — simultaneously nurturing the growth of the Appalachian Community. Whether our students and faculty are on a mountaintop, in a classroom, on the banks of a river or on an athletic field, important learning is taking place.

  Our academic offerings also make good use of our living laboratory — rich with watersheds, rivers, forests, rock outcrops and highly diverse animal and plant communities — and engage students and faculty with the outdoors. The recent Appalachian-produced documentary about Moses Cone's Flat Top Manor gives an intimate look at one such local landmark and highlights the experiential education received by our students.

  As often as possible, Appalachian designs outdoor recreation offerings to have lifelong benefits. For instance, more than 240 students participate each summer in First Ascent, a wilderness orientation program for incoming first-year and transfer students, and more than 40 students are trained to become outdoor adventure trip leaders through Outdoor Programs’ Instructor Development Program. Our students thrive in these programs and feel daily the impact of our incomparable location on their lives and studies.

  The Appalachian Experience is all the better because of our location in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

  

  Sheri Everts, Chancellor

  Social media highlights

  • 07.01 – I shared a photo taken by our university photographer of a breathtaking sunrise over @appstate’s campus.
  • 07.01 – Dr. Baker Perry and Dr. Anton Seimon represented our world-class faculty on the peaks of Mount Everest.
  • 07.10 – The educators at the App State Academy at Middle Fork excel as teachers and as students earning advanced degrees, always with the goal of elevating the experience for our mini-Mountaineers.
  • 07.11 – I enjoyed a wonderful evening with An Appalachian Summer Festival’s Advisory Board and their friends at @chetola_resort.

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June 2019

• 

  Sharing Appalachian’s Accomplishments

  Marks of distinction across the university

  Friday, June 28, 2019

  I value meeting with our Board of Trustees throughout the year, and I take the opportunity to share with them our updates and achievements — ranging from infrastructure to Mountaineer successes. Our esteemed Trustees advocate daily on behalf of Appalachian’s faculty, staff and students, and we are appreciative of all they do for our university. Significant work takes place during these meetings, like the one held June 21 which included:

  • An update on the university’s strategic plan, “The Appalachian Experience: Envisioning a Just and Sustainable Future 2014-2019.” The University Planning and Priorities Council held more than a dozen listening sessions last year to gather input for the next iteration of the strategic plan, which will be drafted in the 2019-20 academic year.
  • Approval of an increase to the Appalachian Heights funding authorization to address existing issues related to pipes, ductwork and dehumidification. Built in 1996, the facility is structurally sound and these renovations will extend the life of the building for 20–30 years.
  • An update on the renovation of Sanford Hall. The renovation — which is expected to extend the life of the building by as much as 40 years — is getting underway and is scheduled to be completed by 2021. Appalachian excels at completing projects on time and on budget.
  • An informational presentation on North Carolina House Bill 389, which allows for controlled consumption of beer and wine in athletics venues at UNC System schools. Research on universities that sell beer and wine at athletics facilities shows significant decreases in alcohol-related arrests and incidents after implementation. Board of Trustees approval would be required in order to change our current policy, and I appreciate the Trustees' thorough review of the options available to Appalachian.

  These meetings also afford me the opportunity to share the tremendous success stories I witness every day. On this occasion, I recounted the internationally recognized work of two Appalachian faculty who recently scaled Mount Everest as part of a National Geographic research expedition. Geography professor Dr. Baker Perry was on the team that installed the two highest operating automated weather stations in the world, and faculty researcher Dr. Anton Seimon was on the team that recorded what we believe to be elevation records for at least two insect species. Visit Appalachian Today for the latest details. It is worth mentioning that Dr. Perry also solved a critical technical crisis at more than 27,000 feet with a shovel and a roll of duct tape — true Appalachian ingenuity!

  You are welcome to read my full remarks here. I will share an update with you after each meeting of the Trustees.

  

  Sheri Everts, Chancellor

  June in review

  • A Reflection on Some Key Points of Pride
    Posted June 7, 2019
  • Honoring the Appalachian Experience
    Posted June 14, 2019
  • Celebrating 35 Years of An Appalachian Summer Festival
    Posted June 22, 2019

  Social media highlights from late June

  • 06.21 – @EducationNC shared the important work that took place at @appstateacademy this year.
  • 06.21 – What a terrific evening listening to humorous storytelling by keynote speaker Bobby Cremins at the @appstatesports Legends Gala.
  • 06.25 – Congratulations to the winners of the Walker College of Business’ 2019 Sywassink Awards for Excellence.

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• 

  Celebrating 35 Years of An Appalachian Summer Festival

  World-class arts in the High Country

  Saturday, June 22, 2019

  Next week we’ll launch the 35th annual An Appalachian Summer Festival with headliners like Patti LaBelle, Lily Tomlin, North Carolina Black Repertory Company and the Broyhill Chamber Ensemble. The festival cultivates diverse and vibrant arts that enrich our campus and region. With help from many generous donors and support from our local community, it has become a broad and eclectic mix of music, dance, theatre, visual arts and film that still stays true to its founding principle of promoting young, American artists.

  Many thanks to the Office of Arts and Cultural Programs, whose tireless work on this annual celebration creates a lasting impact on Appalachian’s arts legacy in the High Country and has been recognized by national media, including Southern Living and The New York Times.

  Concurrently, Appalachian presents the annual Cannon Music Camp, now in its 51st year — a prestigious, highly intensive, three-week course in performance and music theory designed for top-tier high school musicians. This week, 220 participants will arrive on our campus and begin private lessons and daily rehearsals with faculty of the Hayes School of Music. This experience serves as an ideal opportunity to showcase the full scope of Appalachian’s preeminent academics and faculty.

  I’m delighted that this year 44 former Cannon camp musicians auditioned for and were accepted into the Hayes School of Music. I look forward to welcoming them to the Appalachian Community in fall 2019.

  As a complement to these marquee events, Appalachian’s Department of Theatre and Dance hosts the Cre8tive Drama Day Camp and Summer Dance Series — two shining examples of how our future arts professionals learn beyond the classroom during their time as Mountaineers.

  An Appalachian Summer Festival, Cannon Music Camp, the Turchin Center for the Visual Arts and the countless other arts enrichment opportunities that take place on our campus during the summer months exemplify Appalachian’s commitment to nurture growth and change, inspire engagement, expand perspectives and create life-changing experiences for students and the region.

  I hope you are able to take advantage of the arts at Appalachian this summer and throughout the year.

  

  Sheri Everts, Chancellor

  Highlights from mid-June

  • 06.14 – Boone was named as one of the five most beautiful college towns in America — something we certainly already knew!
  • 06.13 – Time spent with our state's legislators allows me to advocate for Appalachian.
  • 06.13 – The university's Board of Visitors advises and assists on public policy matters that impact the university and helps communicate Appalachian's mission and accomplishments.

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• 

  Honoring the Appalachian Experience

  Excellence at every age

  Friday, June 14, 2019

  We recently celebrated a convergence of generations: the graduating fifth grade class of the Appalachian State University Academy at Middle Fork and the 50th reunion of Appalachian’s Class of 1969. These two events are compelling reminders that Appalachian exists on a continuum — preparing, engaging and educating students for a lifetime as Mountaineers.

  Much of that work begins through early engagement with our youngest scholars. As I recently shared, students at the Academy at Middle Fork are making tremendous strides. This forward progress was evident last week at the academy’s graduation ceremony, when all 48 graduating fifth grade students were greeted with cheers and congratulations from a room packed with their parents, families and educators. This momentous occasion marked the students’ first Appalachian degree, and I hope to see them cross the stage in Boone in 2030 — if not sooner.

  As the premier, public undergraduate institution in the state, our commitment to students — of any age — continues long after they receive their degrees. The annual Black and Gold Reunion Weekend is one such way we show our appreciation to our graduates.

  The reunion festivities commenced with the induction of about 40 members into the Black and Gold Society, which encompasses more than 400 alumni, and a celebration of the 50th reunion of the Class of 1969. The weekend also featured tours that showcased the growth and development of our campus.

  Across generations, Appalachian welcomes students who seek to lead purposeful lives as engaged global citizens. I invite you all to visit the Appalachian’s Future website and follow along as we continue to build our infrastructure and empower human potential.

  

  Sheri Everts, Chancellor

  Highlights from early June

  • 06.06 – It was my pleasure to host @appstatepolice at the Appalachian House for a celebration of the hard work they do every day to keep our campus safe and secure. They are setting the standard for police in the state!
  • 06.07 – It was a pleasure to celebrate the end of the school year and the graduation of the @appstateacademy fifth graders during the Academy at Middle Fork field day!
  • 06.07 – I extended a warm welcome to those returning to campus for the Black and Gold Reunion Weekend.
  • 06.11 – I enjoyed spending time with @AppStaffSenate, and I appreciate their service to the university and community.
  • 06.11 – What a fantastic year for @appfoodservices! This group gives of their time and talents so others can celebrate in style. I was honored to recognize their many accomplishments and endless dedication.

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• 

  A Reflection on Some Key Points of Pride

  Retention, graduation and success

  Friday, June 7, 2019

  Boone is a great place to spend the summer, and many of our students and faculty continue their academic work throughout the summer. About 65% of our students take at least one summer class during their time at Appalachian. More than 7,000 students are enrolled in one of our two Summer Sessions, taught by more than 500 faculty.

  Taking summer classes can be a valuable strategy that pays off for our students in more ways than one. Four- and five-year graduation rates are much higher for students who attend Summer Sessions, saving our students both time and money.

  With our first Summer Session of 2019 underway, it is a good time to reflect on how the hard work of our students, faculty and staff reaps dividends for our university and our state. These are facts and figures I share regularly with our university stakeholders — they leave little room for debate about how our students benefit from the Appalachian Experience:

  • Appalachian’s retention and graduation rates are well above national and state averages. Of our first-year class, 87.2% achieve second-year status — nearly 20% above the national average.
  • In the last year, more than 7,600 of our students engaged in experiential learning, including internships, at approximately 1,950 sites — a tribute to our faculty and staff and to the employers who engage with our students.
  • Our students are also in high demand in the workplace after graduation. Nearly 70% report employment within one year of graduation. One-third report enrolling in a program of advanced study.
  • Appalachian students and alumni pay down their college loan debt at a rate that is 25% higher than the national average.

  These statistics are the product of the diligence and efforts of our faculty, staff and students, and are part of what makes Appalachian the premier, public undergraduate university in the state. Take pride in this level of achievement. Every day, I share how these figures increase the already high value of an Appalachian education. I encourage you to do the same.

  

  Sheri Everts, Chancellor

  Highlights from late May

  • 05.22 – Our graduates are sought after by employers for their work ethic, professionalism, adaptability and passion. Here’s to their great success!
  • 05.24 – We marked our campus monument in honor of those who died in service to their country for Memorial Day.
  • 05.26 – I am so appreciative of the hard work that takes place on this campus throughout the year.
  • 05.30 – Our student-athletes broke a new university record — from May 2019 to the end of April, they spent 10,474 hours in community service.

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May 2019

• 

  A Special Thank You to Staff

  Year-round dedication and service

  Sunday, May 26, 2019

  The campus will remain quiet for a few more days before the start of our first summer session. Faculty, staff and students deserve a break from the excellent work accomplished throughout the academic year. I find the first few weeks of summer a good time especially to recognize the more than 1,900 staff members who work steadily, and quite often behind the scenes, year-round.

  A walk across campus is testimony of the planning and execution put in by our landscaping crew — the rhododendrons are particularly beautiful now. This story on the intentional conservation measures taken for one of the university’s oldest trees is just one example of the many efforts we employ to sustain the natural beauty of our campus.

  Our Environmental Services staff is completing some deep cleaning and repairs while traffic is low in campus offices and residence halls. This team keeps the university clean and safe, and has committed to making an extra ecological effort to use Green Seal-certified products to reduce environmental impacts and protect human health.

  The Belk Library and Information Commons staff continues to serve the campus academically over the summer and also experiences an increase in visitor traffic. The library serves the community as well as campus, and visitors can check out books and take advantage of the many additional resources and programming.

  Our orientation team is leading orientations for our incoming class with help from a terrific student group of Student Orientation Undergraduate Leaders (SOULs). Between now and August, SOULs will introduce the Appalachian Experience to more than 4,500 new first-year and transfer students. SOULs provide our newest Mountaineers a glimpse into life at Appalachian, answer thousands of questions and serve as friendly and compassionate peer leaders to incoming students and families.

  Orientation is a busy time for the University Bookstore as well. In addition to adding inventory and stocking up on new Appalachian gear, staff members work with incoming students, explaining how to order books and outlining our book rental program — which, incidentally, is nearly eight decades old!

  Between June and August, the Office of Conference and Camp Services expects around 8,000 elementary through high school students and visiting adults on campus. These guests come for a range of activities — from academic and athletic camps to the annual Appalachian Energy Summit. These individuals benefit from the expertise of our faculty and staff who lead and teach these conferences and camps throughout the summer, while also enjoying our facilities and logistics provided with the highest level of quality by our capable staff.

  Monday is Memorial Day, a day of recollection and a reminder of the immense sacrifice men and women in uniform have made for our country. On Tuesday, faculty, staff and students will begin summer classes. As you all prepare for a new session, I extend my deepest appreciation to each of you who makes up the Appalachian Community for your hard work and dedication — all year long!

  

  Sheri Everts, Chancellor

  Learn more
• 

  What a Year!

  2018 – 2019

  Thursday, May 16, 2019

  Almost 4,000 students crossed the stage last Friday and Saturday during commencement. This is an exciting and memorable time for these scholars and their families. I want to especially thank the members of our excellent faculty and staff for your passion and dedication, and for your mentorship that helped our students reach this important juncture.

  How quickly this academic year passed! In August, students in the Beaver College of Health Sciences moved into Levine Hall, our newest and largest academic facility to date and the first project funded by the Connect NC Bond to be completed.

  We celebrated Founders Day and the dedication of the National Pan-Hellenic Council Plots and Garden. The Appalachian Community pulled together to assist as across the state, we coped with hurricanes Florence and Michael. When a record-breaking and beautiful snowstorm blanketed the High Country, our campus again rose to the challenge, supporting one another and managing with Mountaineer resiliency.

  We traveled to New Orleans and left as the Sun Belt Conference Champion, securing our fourth win in four straight bowl appearances for an undefeated bowl record.

  The Appalachian Academy at Middle Fork welcomed its first group of mini-Mountaineers and this spring reported excellent end-of-year grades. The academy’s fifth graders achieved an 81% increase from their fourth grade scores on their “winter check-in” pre-assessments for the North Carolina End-of-Grade Reading Comprehension Test.

  In March, a pivotal visit from the University of North Carolina Board of Governors gave us the opportunity to showcase the exciting construction and concepts developing on our campus, and illustrate the many ways we are helping shape education in our state — from kindergarten through college.

  The May 2 #iBackAPP event again exemplified the lifelong support and commitment our alumni have for Appalachian, generating more than $180,000 with solid participation from our faculty, staff and students. Thank you to each member of the Appalachian Community who made the day such a tremendous success.

  Whatever your summer brings — summer studies, internships, sabbaticals, new jobs or new landscapes — I wish you all the best. Thank you for another terrific year.

  

  Sheri Everts, Chancellor

  April in review

  • Full STEAM Ahead
    Posted April 20, 2019
  • Tomorrow’s Mountaineers Today
    Posted April 6, 2019

  Highlights from my Twitter

  • 04.24 – Our mini-Mountaineers from the Academy at Middle Fork had a big visit to campus. It was a treat having the Academy Ambassadors at the Appalachian House.
  • 04.25 – The Durham Award went to Dr. Martha McCaughey this year for her advocacy of first-year students. Thank you, Martha, for your hard work and dedication.
  • 04.25 – Staff Connect drew a great crowd. I was pleased to see so many of you enjoying time with your peers.
  • 04.26 – The Folk and Dagger band added a festive dimension to Faculty Club.
  • 04.28 – The softball team’s Senior Day game is always a great way to kick off the season.
  • 04.29 – As we close an impressive academic year, it was my pleasure to host a Faculty Senate reception.
  • 05.07 – Horse Helpers of the High Country are supportive members of Appalachian’s sustainability community. I was glad to be part of their solar barn ribbon-cutting.
  • 05.08 – We celebrated the terrific partnership between Appalachian and the greater Boone community. With community support, our students were able to participate in more than 17,000 hours of service-learning off campus!
  • 05.11 – It is always my sincere pleasure to congratulate the newest members of the Class of 2019.

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• Standing with UNCC

  Wednesday, May 1, 2019

  Our hearts are broken and our thoughts are with our friends, loved ones and colleagues at UNC Charlotte. We grieve for the victims of this tragedy and their families, as well as the entire Niner Nation. Today, and in the challenging days ahead, Mountaineers are in solidarity with UNC Charlotte and those affected by this devastating violence.

  Sadly, campus shootings are too frequent, and when they take place, especially so close to home, they expose the vulnerability we all feel, and can cause anxiety that adds to end-of-semester pressures. Members of our university leadership have reached out to our colleagues in Charlotte to offer support and assistance and there is support for Mountaineers at home if needed.

  I would like to remind you of some key resources that are available to you. I encourage you to utilize them if you need to talk, need help, and/or would like further information:

  • Student Counseling Services offers services 24 hours a day
  • Counseling for Faculty and Staff offers free and confidential counseling, consultation, seminars and guidance for making referrals to colleagues or employees
  • Appalachian’s Emergency Management team provides information, resources and workshops to help you respond more quickly and effectively should the need arise.

  On this sad day for our university system and state, please know that there are many people at Appalachian who are here for you.

  

  Sheri Everts, Chancellor

  Learn more

April 2019

• 

  Full STEAM Ahead

  Engagement in science, technology, engineering, art and math

  Saturday, April 20, 2019

  Outreach and community engagement are key to The Appalachian Experience. They are also central to our efforts to increase enrollment and achievement for low-income and rural students. Our science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics (STEAM) initiatives also bolster interest in critical workforce programs in these fields.

  I am proud to highlight below just a few of your many efforts — as volunteers, teachers and mentors — that speak to your dedication and the broad impact you are having in these important areas:

  • Saturday, April 6,149 teams of adults and K–12 students gathered in Holmes Convocation Center for the Appalachian SumoBot Competition. Dr. Eric Marland organized this event with support from the Department of Mathematical Sciences, the Department of Physics and Astronomy, the North Carolina Science Festival and ECR Software. Additionally, students from many departments helped run the competition. The robots are built by contestants and must be programmed to act independently of humans.
  • Appalachian’s STEAM Expo will be held at Holmes Convocation Center Tuesday, April 30. More than 2,500 students and teachers will visit over 40 STEAM-related booths, including an interactive “In Search of Earth’s Secrets” exhibit from the Joint Oceanographic Institutions for Deep Earth Sampling (JOIDES).
  • Team Sunergy’s first solar car, Apperion, is on exhibit at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences as part of the 2019 Triangle SciTech Expo. Almost 4,000 visitors attended the expo Saturday, April 13. The car will be on display at the museum for the next year.
  • In June, as part of the Smoky Mountain STEM Collaborative, Appalachian will offer a series of graduate courses designed to prepare faculty in community colleges for teaching astronomy, and will also provide summer research experiences for community college students in mathematics and physics. This project will ultimately lead to an increase in community awareness of NASA-developed science content and will improve student learning across grade levels in science and mathematics.

  These events and initiatives are but a small sampling of your community outreach promoting STEAM involvement and interest. Appalachian faculty, staff and students are engaging broadly with community members in the surrounding counties and across the state. Building these relationships is one more way you are ensuring our place as the premier, public undergraduate institution in North Carolina.

  

  Sheri Everts, Chancellor

  Highlights from my week

  • 04.06 – The Alumni Council was on campus Saturday, April 6. It was my pleasure to give them an update on our university. They are great ambassadors in their communities and across the state.
  • 04.06 – The Henderson Springs LGBT Friendraiser was a great event. I had the pleasure of celebrating afterward with supporters Bo Henderson and Ed Springs.
  • 04.08 – Sen. Ballard, Rep. Russell and I had the opportunity to spend a morning with eighth graders from Mabel and Bethel schools. What an impressive group of students!
  • 04.09 – It was fun being in Charlotte with the 2019 Athletics Spring Tour. We have a loyal contingent of fans and alumni.
  • 04.10 – It was my pleasure to host a reception for the Women’s Cross-Country Team at the Appalachian House and to celebrate their incredible season as the 2018 Sun Belt Conference Champions.
  • 04.13 – Esther and Jonathan Feather have been devoted leaders for the Parents and Family Association. I appreciate their hard work and dedication.
  • 04.15 – The student-athletes on the Women’s Tennis Team have had a terrific season. Congratulations on being top seed for the Sun Belt Tournament and for all of your other accomplishments — on and off the court.

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• 

  Tomorrow's Mountaineers Today

  Collaboration is key to success at Appalachian’s lab school

  Saturday, April 6, 2019

  Our youngest Mountaineers — those who attend our lab school in Walkertown — are doing very well. The Appalachian Academy at Middle Fork is one of nine schools in North Carolina selected to partner with a state university to advance literacy. The academy is approaching the close of its first full year with positive reports all around.

  Dr. Robin Groce, our director of planning and implementation for the lab school, reports the academy’s fifth-graders achieved an 81% increase from their fourth-grade scores on their “winter check-in” pre-assessments for the North Carolina End-of-Grade Reading Comprehension Test.

  The support and engagement of the students’ families, the surrounding community and the academy’s staff are major factors for these impressive outcomes. Kudos to every individual who touches the lives of these young learners.

  From the outset, parents and families have been visibly supportive — high attendance at the August 2018 Open House has continued through the First Academy Curriculum Night in October 2018, the Fall Festival in November 2018, Parent Night in February and a Family Literacy Night in March that included storytelling, read alouds and student presentations.

  The academy features a full faculty of 29, including eight Appalachian graduates — seven of whom hold master’s degrees. Additionally, one faculty member holds a Ph.D. in educational leadership and 15 are currently enrolled or are enrolling in advanced degree programs at Appalachian. The academy also receives expertise and guidance from an on-campus team and advisory board.

  Collaboration with the Winston-Salem community includes partnerships with Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Old Salem Museums and Gardens, Winston-Salem State University, and many community churches, banks and businesses.

  The collective enthusiasm for learning at the academy is evident in this short video. These mini-Mountaineers are tomorrow’s leaders, and many of them have their eyes on Appalachian.

  

  Sheri Everts, Chancellor

  Highlights from my week

  • 04.04 – Coach Angel Elderkin and her team have gone the distance! Congratulations to our WBI champions — the Appalachian women’s basketball team.
  • 03.30 – Appalachian represented! What a terrific showing of support at the Walk to Defeat ALS!

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March 2019

• 

  An Opportunity to Shine

  Hosting our Board of Governors

  Friday, March 29, 2019

  Our university made a very positive impression on an important group of visitors last week.

  Members of the UNC System Board of Governors were our guests for their two-day meeting. This was the first time the board, which holds every other meeting on one of the system campuses, has met on our campus since 1999 — a time when our enrollment was 12,000. This visit allowed us to showcase how we have changed — not only in numbers, but also in the ways we teach the leaders of tomorrow and serve the state of North Carolina today.

  During the visit, the governors had time to interact with individual students; deans, along with students, faculty and staff, shared accomplishments from their colleges as well as updates on their research and special projects. You can watch the video we prepared for them, which shows how Appalachian is helping shape the education of young people in our state — from kindergarten through college.

  We were sure to share our enrollment numbers, our retention rates and other accolades that support our position as the premier, public undergraduate institution in the state. We also advocated for funding appropriate for a university of our size and stature.

  With help from Student Ambassadors, we took members of the board — as well as colleagues from other system campuses — on a campus tour. We showed them Sanford and Wey halls and their level of disrepair. We took them to Levine Hall so they can see how we deliver a building on time and on budget when given state resources, and we showed them the site of the Innovation Campus so they can envision what is in our future.

  There are two important takeaways from this experience.

  The first is how very proud we can be of this institution and the people who were most visible: the young cadets and police officers who provided the necessary security; all of the Mountaineers who provided extraordinary service throughout the visit; the deans, faculty, staff and students who helped showcase the important work taking place in our colleges and divisions; and each of you who helped us extend an Appalachian welcome to the governors during their stay.

  Second, we placed our university on the map for many of these individuals — individuals who make critically important decisions about our future. They now have a key frame of reference for making these decisions.

  It’s a great time to be a Mountaineer. We were able to share that message loud and clear.

  

  Sheri Everts, Chancellor

  March in review

  • Voter ID Update
    Posted March 14, 2019
  • Innovation and Opportunity
    Posted March 22, 2019

  Highlights from my week

  • 03.26 – The Community Leaders Breakfast is always a great networking and sharing opportunity. Great to see so many of you at App House.
  • 03.25 – I’m so proud of our Women’s Basketball team. I’ve enjoyed watching them advance to the postseason WBI Final Four. Come cheer them on as they go up against Campbell on Saturday!
  • 03.25 – They took their time, but the ducks are in the house. It’s nice to see they are settling in.
  • 03.25 – Saturday is the App State Walk to Defeat ALS. I hope to see many of you at the starting line.
  • 03.25 – Owens Field House is coming down — a big step forward at The Rock.
  • 03.25 – Dr. Andrew Koricich’s research on recruiting rural students is vital to our ability to engage and increase access for North Carolina students.
  • 03.22 – It is a great pleasure to announce the 2018–19 Chancellor’s Innovation Scholars. I am proud of all the teams who applied.

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• 

  Innovation and Opportunity

  Collaborative research, critical thinking and workplace readiness

  Friday, March 22, 2019

  This week we announced the 2018–19 Chancellor’s Innovation Scholars — six multidisciplinary teams were awarded close to $10,000 each to support their proposed research. The winning projects demonstrate diverse perspectives on issues important to our campus and community — and important to the world. It is rewarding to see faculty and staff work collaboratively and involve students in projects that promise positive, impactful social and economic outcomes.

  Providing our students with the opportunity for meaningful, hands-on research is beneficial for those seeking higher academic degrees and also for those beginning a career. In a recently published article on Appalachian's website, representatives from IBM, Western Youth Network, SkyLine and more give testimony to the value of hiring Appalachian graduates.

  Research projects and achievements are regularly highlighted on our news and events website Today.appstate.edu. Three of recent note:

  • Research by Dr. Howie Neufeld and three collaborators — one a former graduate student — reveals smog (ozone) has dropped over the past several years to its lowest levels in Great Smoky Mountains National Park since measurements began in the mid-1980s.
  • “From the Appalachians to the Andes” follows two groups of students led by Appalachian professors Dr. Baker Perry and Dr. Jeremy Ferrell on a Peru study abroad expedition; an impressive video gallery lets you trek with the students at 18,000 feet.
  • Research fairs and symposia provide faculty and students with the opportunity to present research and network with colleagues from other institutions. We represented well at the 2018 American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting, with students presenting research on topics including water quality, volcanic destruction and glacier recession.

  The first copies of the 2019 Appalachian Magazine have arrived and will soon be available in racks on campus. You may read the digital version here. Our largest edition ever, this year’s compendium of articles, college updates and key initiatives reflects the excellence and achievements of our faculty, staff and students, and is a fitting tribute to each of you and your hard work.

  

  Sheri Everts, Chancellor

  Highlights from my week

  • 03.12 – Congratulations to New River Light and Power Co. for being awarded a 2018 Public Power Award of Excellence.
  • 03.13 – What a win at the SunBelt tournament for the women’s basketball team! It was great fun cheering them on in New Orleans.
  • 03.16 – I arrived back on the mountain in time to judge some terrific floats in Boone’s St. Patrick’s Day parade. My fellow judges and I had some hard choices to make.
  • 03.21 – The Mountaineers advanced to the second round of the Women's Basketball Invitational. Good luck against Marshall next week!

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• Voter ID Update

  Thursday, March 14, 2019

  I’d like to dedicate this week’s newsletter to update you on our campus’ current status in regard to North Carolina’s voter identification law. This law requires photo identification to vote in person in North Carolina and, upon approval from the state's Board of Elections, allows North Carolina students and employees to use their institution-issued identity cards as valid voter identification.

  Pursuant to Session Law 2018-144, Appalachian State University submitted letters of attestation March 13 to the North Carolina State Board of Elections (SBOE) seeking approval of the university’s employee and student IDs as Voter IDs. The letters may be viewed using the links below.

  Letters of attestation sent to SBOE on March 13, 2019:

  • Request approval to use Appalachian State University employee identification cards as voter identification (PDF 241K)
  • Request approval to use Appalachian State University student identification cards as voter identification (PDF 145K)

  The Appalachian Community places enormous value on the civic engagement of our faculty, staff and students. I appreciate the hard work of our campus staff who have been diligently working on this process. We will continue working closely with the county and state boards of elections to ensure the members of our community have the knowledge and resources to exercise their legal right to vote.

  

  Sheri Everts, Chancellor

  Learn more

February 2019

• 

  Finding Balance

  Take time to refresh, recharge and renew

  Thursday, February 28, 2019

  Appalachian students are about to take a short breather and it is well deserved. All of us utilize this time in different ways: Some will remain in the area and work or use the quiet time for research and regrouping; some will give their time and talents to an Alternative Service Experience project; some will catch a few rays, catch up with loved ones or simply catch up on sleep.

  However you spend this time, I want to remind our students, especially, that faculty and staff are here for you. We fill our days thinking of ways to be better teachers and mentors; to make this campus safe, clean and beautiful; to purchase, prepare and provide good food to keep you healthy and feeling at home; and to envision and build new classrooms, more efficient residence halls, and spaces for study and quiet reflection.

  A dedicated group of faculty, staff and students ensure the well-being of the Appalachian Community as a whole. Your mental and physical health and your academic success are paramount. Many of you can recount instances when you’ve reached out and found the support and help you need — I hear those stories regularly. For those of you who aren’t familiar with the services at hand, many of the myriad resources available can be found here.

  Faculty and staff, your dedication is seen in the success of our students and the support you give one another. This is truly a caring, concerned community and I am thankful to be part of it.

  Have a safe Spring Break and return refreshed and recharged — there’s so much more to come!

  

  Sheri Everts, Chancellor

  Feburary in Review

  • Leading the Way
    Posted Feb. 9, 2019
  • Academic Excellence and Opportunity
    Posted Feb. 5, 2019

  February Highlights

  • 02.26 – The Boone Area Chamber of Commerce excels at developing strong leaders for the community. I appreciate being invited to speak at their most recent session.
  • 02.25 – We are fortunate to share such a strong relationship with the greater Boone and Watauga communities. Town and Gown meetings are positive and forward thinking.
  • 02.22 – Our Appalachian Ambassadors represent us to prospective students. The opportunity to hear from university leadership was invaluable. Thanks to the students and leadership for your participation.
  • 02.22 – As we work to recruit and retain underrepresented students, this group’s input is so important. Thanks to the Chancellor’s Student Advisory Board for Diversity Recruitment.
  • 02.20 – The Asheville Alumni Chapter is very connected and active. I enjoyed a great evening with them in Asheville.
  • 02.20 – Our Student Government Association senators are an engaged and engaging group. I enjoyed our working lunch.
  • 02.14 – On Valentine’s Day, I welcomed Sen. Ballard and Reps. Horn and Fraley to our lab school in Winston-Salem. Our young Mountaineers loved their new App State T-shirts.
  • 02.14 – It’s official! New resident halls are underway. I signed the final paperwork with RISE for the largest building project in our university’s history.
  • 02.13 – The director of our building sciences program spoke on radio station WFDD about his student project — building a living space for adults with autism. Our faculty, staff and students are making a real difference in Western North Carolina.

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• The Right to Vote

  Education and encouragement for civic engagement

  Friday, February 22, 2019

  A new voter identification law in North Carolina would allow the state’s students to use their institution-issued identity cards as valid voter identification.

  At Appalachian, we have been both proactive and transparent as we continue our work to understand the many aspects of this state law. Many staff members are engaged in these efforts — our goal is to assure our students have legally recognized identification in order to vote.

  I have engaged in many discussions — with legal counsel, members of the Student Government Association, faculty, staff and my colleagues in the system — about the legal aspects and responsibilities presented by this law. The exchange of ideas and issues is the very basis of critical thinking and discovery cherished by this university.

  Our institution places enormous value on the civic engagement of our faculty, staff and students. Our focus during this process is and will continue to be on learning everything we can about this new law, and the ongoing education of our students and the greater Appalachian Community. We will work closely with the county and state boards of elections to be certain we educate and enable our students to assert their legal right to vote.

  We will continue to explore, to evaluate and to educate. We will look to all constituents to inform our actions, and we will promote civic engagement at every level.

  

  Sheri Everts, Chancellor

  Learn more
• Acknowledging our Past

  Informing the future

  Monday, February 18, 2019

  Many colleges and universities across the country have audited or are in the process of auditing the content of their yearbooks in order to be transparent about images and language that are inappropriate and offensive. Appalachian staff members began this process in early February and completed it late last week.

  Our yearbook, The Rhododendron, was published by members of the senior class almost every year from 1922 to 2006.

  As early as 1930, the yearbook contains racist images and photos of students wearing blackface as late as 1985. No instances of anyone in Ku Klux Klan costumes were found.

  The cultural appropriation and blatant prejudice and insensitivity displayed in these instances are hurtful and offensive. They will remain as historical documents — not reflective of our values, but reminders to be vigilant in our efforts to be both inclusive and transparent. We have added language to our yearbook website to be clear on this point.

  This examination of our history, both our shortcomings and our accomplishments, will inform our path forward. We will continue to develop and allocate resources to build and sustain a diverse campus culture, and we will be diligent in our efforts to understand, respect and accept a broad spectrum of cultures and viewpoints.

  

  Sheri Everts, Chancellor

  Learn more
• 

  Leading the Way

  Setting the bar for rural-serving institutions

  Saturday, February 9, 2019

  On Thursday, along with Dr. Andrew Koricich — an assistant professor in the higher education program in our Reich College of Education — I addressed the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU) pre-conference meeting of provosts and other campus representatives.

  We were asked to lead the discussion on rural-serving institutions, sharing challenges and best practices for regional stewardship.

  Rural service is not a new concept for our university: Watauga Academy was founded to improve access to education for the rural residents of Western North Carolina.

  In 2017, Appalachian entered into an agreement with the UNC System to continue prioritizing recruitment and retention of low-income and rural students. Doing so requires both strategic planning and tactical execution.

  Both Andrew and I grew up in rural communities and are keenly aware of the particular challenges first-generation, small-town and rurally located students encounter when attending postsecondary institutions. Appalachian’s student demographics are revealing. In the 2017–18 academic year:

  • 68 percent of Appalachian students received some type of aid.
  • 30 percent of undergraduates were recipients of Pell Grants.
  • 2,405 students (around 12 percent) were at or below the federal poverty guidelines.

  As we fulfill our promise to recruit higher percentages of rural and first-generation college students, I am proud of our efforts to ease the transition to college for these students. Data show that, once enrolled, these students thrive academically, taking the courses they need to graduate and passing classes at high rates. As a group, they stay on track for excellent four- and five-year completion rates.

  We have strong support systems and initiatives in place. Contributions from each of you — faculty, staff and students — factor greatly in our leading role as a rural-serving institution. Your ideas are key as we develop strategies and tactics for improvement. Our staff excels at advising, preparation and early intervention, and our faculty understand the importance of the rural context in which we live and work. Student peer support bolsters resiliency and retention.

  Rural service also includes service to our community, state and region. Appalachian contributes positively to quality of life in the High Country and beyond; prepares professionals for positions in critical job categories; and adds to the economic well-being of the region and state. In 2012, economists in Appalachian’s Center for Economic Research and Policy Analysis estimated that the university’s annual economic impact was worth $560 million to the local economy and supported approximately $36 million in additional taxes to local governments.

  Of the nearly 127,000 App State alumni, more than 75 percent live and work in North Carolina, contributing to our state’s growing economy. While these numbers are critical to the local economy, they do not begin to capture the broader impacts to society at large that arise from the academic mission of the university. Our new Innovation Campus will allow us to foster collaborative opportunities for students, investors and businesses throughout the region with an emphasis on creative and innovative thought and research.

  Rural service is not a trend for Appalachian. It is our legacy from our founders, the Dougherty brothers and Lillie Shull Dougherty. It was the underlying purpose of Watauga Academy, of Appalachian Training School, of Appalachian State Teachers College. We are leading by example.

  

  Sheri Everts, Chancellor

  Highlights from my week

  • 02.01 – Our Faculty Senate Chair, Dr. Barbara Howard, shared great examples of our faculty's accomplishments with us today.
  • 02.01 – I'm proud Appalachian has earned Gold as a Military Friendly® School. We are honored to serve those who serve for us.
  • 02.06 – The Beaver Scholars program will support our students with a commitment to health care careers and will bolster the health care services throughout the state for years to come. Thank you, Don and Vickie Beaver!
  • 02.07 – It was an honor to share our experience as a rural-serving institution with colleagues at AASCU's 2019 Academic Affairs Winter Meeting.

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• 

  Academic Excellence and Opportunity

  Students, faculty, staff and alumni stand up, stand out

  Tuesday, February 5, 2019

  Because of the dedication of faculty and staff and the quality of our students, Appalachian is consistently lauded by U.S. News & World Report, The Princeton Review and many other national publications and guides.

  Appalachian offers small classes; innovative, interdisciplinary and integrative curriculum; and mentorship from faculty, staff and fellow students. Opportunities abound for active learning, outreach and professional advancement.

  I hear so many stories of your achievements and of alumni engagement. Some recent examples of how many of you are making a difference and contributing in this community and around the world include:

  • Two interior design students from the College of Fine and Applied Arts were recently recognized by PAVE in New York City for a retail display design.
  • Cara Hagan, assistant professor in Appalachian’s Department of Theatre and Dance, has won Best Southern States documentary at the Southern States Indie Fan Film Fest.
  • Assistant Director Ben Asma and the team in the Department of Wellness and Prevention Services have established a Collegiate Recovery Community that supports continued recovery and overall holistic well-being while in college.
  • Salisbury city manager Lane Bailey ’87 ’89 is an international volunteer, setting an example at home and in Israel, China, Denmark and Tanzania.

  There are countless examples of your hard work and dedication. You are the reason we are the premier, public undergraduate institution in North Carolina. We have much to be proud of as we continue to excel in 2019.

  

  Sheri Everts, Chancellor

  Montly highlights

  • 01.15 – Lunch with SkyLine’s CEO and executive director of competitive operations was an opportunity to share ideas with some of our partners committed to improving quality of life in the High Country.
  • 01.16 – Our students regularly share their Appalachian Experience through the university’s Instagram account — a wonderful way to see the university through their eyes.
  • 01.24 – One of our alumni, Pritzker Fellow Crystal Kelly, is building a model for improved early childhood care in Watauga County that could be used as a national model.
  • 01.25 – I enjoy collaboration and discussion with our N.C. Sens. Ballard and Berger and other key players in education about preparing tomorrow’s workforce.
  • 01.28 – Service is a proud tradition for the Appalachian Community and our contributions to the area and state are significant.
  • 02.01 – I visited our Academy at Middle Fork with members of the Student Government Association. It is so promising to see the work our educators are doing to prepare these young, future leaders.

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January 2019

• 

  Making a difference in our community

  Volunteers, service and outreach

  Saturday, January 26, 2019

  Service in and for the community and surrounding counties is a proud tradition for our students, staff and faculty. Appalachian and the Community Together (ACT) calculates volunteers from Appalachian donated more than 1.1 million hours between the 2004–05 and 2016–17 academic years. This month:

  • Staff Senate is coordinating a coat and blanket drive to stock our free store and benefit families in the High County. Locations for donations can be found here. This is one of many Staff Senate activities that make a difference in our rural communities.
  • More than 200 students, faculty and staff participated in Appalachian’s 20th annual MLK Challenge — a model that has been adopted throughout the state and nation.

  Appalachian’s impact on the communities we touch is significant: We teach, learn and volunteer in our schools; intern and collaborate with our health care centers; buy local food and products; and support and staff our nonprofit organizations, all the while developing a workforce of critical thinkers who go on to contribute locally and globally.

  Each of you contributes to the Appalachian Experience. You provide the impact stories I share as I advocate for our university across the state and beyond. Thank you for fostering the Mountaineer spirit.

  

  Sheri Everts, Chancellor

  Building infrastructure update

  As the premier, public, undergraduate institution in North Carolina, we are building our infrastructure so our physical spaces keep pace with our slow but steady growth, innovative pedagogy and research. Keep abreast of our progress on a number of projects here.

  The $191 million residential hall project that will provide close to 2,200 additional beds is moving along at a steady pace. Beginning this week, updates will be posted each week here.

  Highlights from My Week

  • 01.19 – Our women’s basketball season is in full swing. I loved cheering them on — you can catch the game against Little Rock, Saturday, Jan. 26, at 2:00 p.m.
  • 01.21 – Did you know an Appalachian staffer created the model for the MLK Challenge 20 years ago? On Monday, 200-plus volunteers made a difference, despite plunging temperatures.
  • 01.24 – Quality child care is crucial for our community. Pritzker Fellow Crystal Kelly and her team are developing early childhood programs for our county that may serve as models nationwide.
  • 01.25 – I enjoy collaboration and discussion with our N.C. Sens. Ballard and Berger and other key players in education about preparing tomorrow’s workforce.

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• 

  Success in the New Year

  Academic excellence, self care and preparation are key

  Saturday, January 19, 2019

  January at Appalachian brings with it new class schedules, New Year's resolutions... and snow and ice. Keeping up with academic obligations and staying safe and healthy can require some support. This is a good time to familiarize - or re-familiarize ourselves with the many resources in place for students, faculty and staff.

  If winter weather is on your mind, our Emergency Management team has assembled emergency preparedness resources you can use to plan and prepare. During times in which the university is not operating under normal conditions, you can find the latest information, including weather-related class and work schedule changes, at www.appstatealert.com and on the university homepage.

  You can read more about how we make inclement weather-related decisions here.

  As we balance academic, work and life challenges, many resources are available:

  For students:

  • The Appalachian Cares website offers a clearinghouse of wellness, health and safety resources. Key resources include: Wellness and Prevention Services, Student Health Services and Counseling and Psychological Services. The Dean of Students Office also serves as an important resource for providing students with assistance.
  • Academic resources include the Office of Student Success and the Disco Student Learning Center, which offer assistance for students who need a intermittent or regular assistance in meeting their academic goals.

  For faculty and staff:

  • A wide variety of resources can be found on the Health Promotion, Counseling for Faculty and Staff and Human Resources websites.
  • For those who wish to improve job performance or prepare for career advancement at Appalachian, Human Resources also offers professional development workshops and assistance.

  The Center for Academic Excellence also offers teaching and learning resources for the entire Appalachian Community, including professional development, best practices and events that support equity and inclusiveness for faculty, staff and students.

  Through these and many other resources, the Appalachian Community builds resilience while providing support - an excellent approach to begin a new year.

  Best wishes for the holiday weekend, and to those of you participating in Monday's day of service, reflection and education honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., I look forward to learning about and sharing your experiences with campus next week.

  

  Sheri Everts, Chancellor

  Highlights from My Week

  • 01.14 – I was pleased to share plans for expanding the Child Development Center — so critical for our Appalachian Community.
  • 01.15 – Lunch with Skyline’s CEO and Executive Director of Competitive Operations was an opportunity to share ideas with some of our partners committed to improving quality of life in the High Country.
  • 01.15 – It was my pleasure to welcome everyone to a new semester. It’s going to be a great year!
  • 01.16 – Our students regularly share their Appalachian Experience through the university’s Instagram account - a wonderful way to see the university through their eyes.

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• 

  Welcome Back!

  It’s going to be a great year

  Saturday, January 12, 2019

  This is going to be a great year!

  More than 550 new students will be joining classmates, faculty and staff for the first day of classes Monday. Welcome! At the same time, our December graduates are starting anew and, if history proves, will successfully land at their first destination in 2019 — be it a new job or postsecondary education.

  We have much to anticipate in 2019. A few of the projects that are top of mind:

  • Conservatory for Biodiversity Education and Research — A final report from the feasibility study is expected to be complete by the end of January. A variety of stakeholders have been interviewed to determine the best mix of labs, conservatory, meeting space and gardens.
  • Kidd Brewer Stadium north end zone project — Demolition of Owens Field House is expected to begin in mid-to-late February. Construction for the new parking deck at the site of the old Winkler building, now underway, is expected to be completed in early fall 2019.
  • New residence halls — Work will continue on this project to replace seven residence halls. The first phase is expected to begin at the Winkler site in February, with 912 beds ready for occupancy in the fall of 2020.
  • The Academy at Middle Fork — Our teaching team reports a successful and impactful first semester. Students are excited to participate in the upcoming second Hiker's Harvest — an innovative group play day that helps set schoolwide behavior expectations.
  • Child Development Center — Plans are underway to more than double the capacity of the Child Development Center that serves Appalachian faculty, staff and students. A project feasibility study, which is expected to be complete in May 2019, will pave the way for additional expansion.

  Each of these projects ensures a better future for Appalachian and the best possible Appalachian Experience for our faculty, staff and students. The reward for temporary construction obstruction will be much needed parking and enhanced facilities.

  As we begin a new year, I am excited about these projects and will continue advocating for Appalachian’s faculty, students and staff. In my conversations with legislators, donors, alumni and members of the Board of Governors, I continue to share the extraordinary stories of your successes and to advocate for the additional resources necessary to support a university of our size and caliber.

  We are the premier, public undergraduate institution in the state of North Carolina. We are more than 19,000 students strong, our faculty and staff are extraordinary and our alumni are making a difference around the world.

  It is going to be a great year!

  

  Sheri Everts, Chancellor

  Learn more

December 2018

• 

  Resiliency

  The Mountaineer spirit that sustains

  Friday, December 14, 2018

  Tomorrow, about 1,600 graduates will cross the stage at commencement. I am confident their Mountaineer spirit will sustain them — at home, at work and in their communities.

  As we look toward 2019, I appreciate what each of you contributes to the Appalachian Experience.

  To faculty: You work 24/7 to offer our students opportunities for career-building, life-changing, hands-on research. You inspire critical thinking and provide exposure to cultural and intellectual diversity. I am proud of the caliber of education and individual attention you provide our students, and for your diligence and determination.

  To staff: Your support is unparalleled and critical to our mission. Your inventiveness and spirited engagement are especially evident when there is more than 15 inches of snow blanketing the campus. Thank you.

  To students: You are making real and powerful differences in the world and are following in the footsteps of the alumni who have come before you — who have been doing so for nearly 120 years.

  And to our graduates who tomorrow will join the more than 126,000 alumni who are living, working and contributing to their communities across the world, remember you will always be a part of an ever-growing Appalachian Community.

  Commencement ceremonies begin at 10 a.m. tomorrow in the Holmes Convocation Center. You can watch them livestreamed here and on AppTV’s Facebook page.

  Have a safe and restful holiday.

  

  Sheri Everts, Chancellor

  Highlights from My Week

  • 12.12 – Our collaboration with CCC&TI is opening access and making it easier for students to transition seamlessly to our university.
  • 12.11 – We celebrated the close of fall semester Tuesday with all of our faculty and staff at a holiday reception. You have all earned a relaxing and renewing break.
  • 12.08 – Winter storm Diego dumped more than 15 inches of snow on our campus and surrounding area. While it was beautiful to see, it presented a challenge for exam week — but one we met head-on! Thanks to all.

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• 

  Preparing for major snow event

  The safety of the Appalachian Community is our first concern

  Friday, December 7, 2018

  With the possibility of a significant winter weather event on the horizon, preparations are underway on campus. We are accustomed to winter weather, and while it presents challenges, we prepare so we can manage safely, expertly and efficiently.

  The safety of our faculty, staff and students is our top priority. We have been preparing since last week for this event and putting into place safety protocols we have developed and practiced. As standard practice, we work with numerous agencies, including the National Weather Service and response agencies across the region, to determine the best course of action for our university community.

  Across our university, staff from Emergency Management, Physical Plant, Food Services, Housing, Parking & Traffic and many other areas are preparing for the potential impacts of this storm.

  Earlier today, you received a message from Emergency Management Director Jason Marshburn detailing many of the preparations our campus has underway, sharing important information about how to prepare for possible severe weather and about how to stay informed regarding schedule changes for exams and upcoming university events.

  Exams originally scheduled for next Monday were moved up or are being offered online. I recognize the challenges this has caused, particularly for students and faculty, and appreciate the “can-do” spirit of the Appalachian Community.

  As we watch the weather forecast closely, please monitor appstatealert.com and check your email for updates from our Emergency Management team. If you are traveling, please check forecasts and travel conditions along your route.

  We will keep you informed as the situation develops.

  

  Sheri Everts, Chancellor

  Learn more

November 2018

• 

  Traditions of Excellence

  Chancellor's Innovation Scholars and Appalachian Mountaineers

  Friday, November 30, 2018

  We have a longstanding tradition of excellence in the classroom and in athletics. I am proud to celebrate the entire Appalachian Experience.

  Applications are open for the Chancellor's Innovation Scholars Program. I am pleased to share that, since 2016, this program has funded 10 projects at $10,000 each. You can read more about the previous awardees and their impressive projects here.

  The program supports teams of faculty and staff thought leaders who are working creatively and entrepreneurially to:

  • Address challenges facing higher education.
  • Create lasting institutional change.
  • Provide community and societal benefits.
  • Establish opportunities that increase student engagement.
  • Promote broad-based sustainability.

  More details about the program and the application process can be found here. I look forward to reading all of your creative and engaging ideas.

  Because of the Mountaineers’ top spot in the Sun Belt East Division, we have the distinct honor of hosting the inaugural Sun Belt Conference Football Championship Game on Saturday. We are proud to be the home team for this historic athletic event. I hope to see many of you there sporting your Black and Gold as we go up against the West Division champions, Louisiana’s Ragin’ Cajuns.

  Our Student Government Association is sponsoring a Pack the Rock Poster Contest. The game will be broadcast live at noon on ESPN, so this is a great opportunity to show our Mountaineer pride.

  As the end of the semester nears, I wish everyone a safe and productive week, and Go App!

  

  Sheri Everts, Chancellor

  In review

  • An Appalachian Fall
    Posted Oct. 17, 2018
  • Appalachian Autumn
    Posted Oct. 25, 2018
  • The Value of Community
    Posted Nov. 2, 2018
  • Freedom
    Posted Nov. 9, 2018
  • Supporting Success
    Posted Nov. 21, 2018

  Highlights from My Week

  • 11.24 – Friends from the General Assembly joined us for our win over Troy (21-10) to take the Sun Belt East Division Championship.
  • 11.26 – I was honored to speak in Dr. Andrew Koricich’s American Higher Education class. These students will make a difference for education in the future.
  • 11.27 – Rankin Science West flood mitigation was the topic for this meeting with some of the Faculty Senate members. Great problem solvers!
  • 11.28 – Preparation for the inaugural Sun Belt Football Championship Game is underway. Let’s get out our Black and Gold.

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• 

  Supporting Success

  Sharing your perspectives and advocating for our campus

  Wednesday, November 21, 2018

  As Chancellor, one of my chief roles is to share your stories and advocate for our campus. This month, I spent time with the UNC Board of Governors and had the opportunity to speak on behalf of Appalachian’s students, faculty and staff.

  In my capacity serving on the Board of Governors’ Committee on Military and Veterans Affairs, I had the privilege of hearing from student veterans across the state earlier this month. Our coordinator of student veteran services, Eric Gormly, brought information about a peer support network for military individuals transitioning to a campus environment to the attention of the committee, which is chaired by Judge William Webb. Eric is working with me to explore what it takes to launch this program successfully on our campus and across the UNC System.

  For veterans who are raising families, day care options are vitally important and a priority as we progress on plans for improved and expanded facilities. Forty-six percent of post 9/11 veterans are 18–34 years of age. This group is a major consideration as we continue to bolster our student veteran resources, which have earned Appalachian its Military Friendly® School status. On average, these veterans achieve higher educational attainment than earlier generations and the general U.S. population. We are committed to making this campus a welcoming one for them.

  I am working to share other initiatives important to Appalachian statewide. I shared the critical value of opening doors to higher education for all qualified students in a recent blog post.

  I serve as co-chair of the Postsecondary Committee for My Future NC — an organization committed to building a statewide education plan, uniting stakeholders to best allocate resources, and building public awareness and engagement around key educational issues. While we continue to promote slow and steady growth at Appalachian, we are committed to increasing enrollments and retention for rural, first-generation students.

  First-generation, legacy, veteran, international — however you have found your way to Appalachian, it is my honor to advocate for you every day. My best wishes to each of you, as well as our faculty and staff, for a safe and happy Thanksgiving.

  

  Sheri Everts, Chancellor

  Highlights from My Week

  • 11.16 – Our win over Georgia State on Saturday advanced our Bowl Game opportunities! Our last home ballgame, which will determine our post-season fate, will be against Troy on Nov. 24. To leverage our home team advantage, we want lots of Mountaineer support! Please attend if you can.
  • 11.16 – The “Paint Your Peace” event sponsored by our Student Government Association was a great chance to see our students express their positivity and talent.
  • 11.15 – The Watauga Women in Leadership event was extremely well attended and an enthusiastic crowd welcomed speaker and Appalachian alumna Kim Shepherd, CEO of SkyLine/SkyBest.
  • 11.15 – Lunch with our Student Government Association senators was rewarding and productive. This is an energetic and passionate group of students.
  • 11.14 – The Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts does an incredible job of programming. The Ballet Forklórico’s performance was outstanding. I enjoyed seeing some members of the Hispanic Student Association there.

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• 

  Freedom

  To speak up, to serve, to teach

  Friday, November 9, 2018

  With Veterans Day on the horizon, I am aware of the many freedoms we are afforded: Our right to express our opinions; our privilege to vote; our choice to serve; and our opportunity to change lives. I’d like to share a few events and examples of human service that celebrate these freedoms:

  • Many of our graduates have or do serve in the military. About 300 of our students and many of our alumni are veterans. Fifteen of our student veterans were called to action in preparation of Hurricane Florence, when Gov. Roy Cooper declared a state of emergency. We count among our alumni the esteemed Maj. Gen. Edward Reeder Jr. ’81, for whom our Student Veteran Resource Center is named; founder and four-year leader of Team Sunergy Dan Blakeley ’15 ’18, who spent six years serving in the 2nd Ranger Battalion of the U.S. Army Special Operations; and this year’s Distinguished Alumnus, Lt. Gen. Robert Ashley ’84, director of the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA). We will celebrate their, and others’, service at the Veterans Day commemoration on Monday, Nov. 12.
  • Next week, Appalachian continues its “Say What?” series with a weeklong schedule of events designed to explore challenging issues around freedom of speech. Members of Appalachian’s Student Government Association, faculty and staff have put together a program that includes conversations, panel discussions, speeches and forums on topics from activism, to constitutional law, to the civic engagement of our students. You can add your voice to the discussion by submitting topics for discussion here.
  • An update on the dedicated work taking place at our laboratory school in Winston-Salem, the Academy at Middle Fork: The first quarter of our first year at the school is complete, and the teachers who are leading this transformative project — many of them Appalachian graduates — could not be more enthusiastic.

  Best of all, a regular chorus from the children is they want to go to “the college up the Mountain.”

  “I want to be a Mountaineer!” they say.

  

  Sheri Everts, Chancellor

  Highlights from My Week

  • 11.06 – Our Appalachian Ambassadors seemed to be right at home playing with my dogs, Pearl and Olive, at a dinner at Appalachian House. A pleasure for all involved!
  • 11.07 – Student Veteran Resource Center Director Eric Gormly and incoming Student Veterans Association President Grayson Farmer joined me at the Board of Governors meeting this week. I am proud to serve with Gov. William Webb, who chairs the Military and Veterans Affairs Committee and does so much to support student veterans.
  • 11.09 – We are so proud of our student veterans and all of those who serve. It’s an honor to recognize them on Veterans Day.

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• 

  The Value of Community

  Accolades for Appalachian, solidarity

  Friday, November 2, 2018

  The value of our university’s educational environment and community engagement is in large sum the reason Appalachian has been recognized by a number of national publications and ranking programs recently. U.S. News and World Report, MONEY magazine, Forbes magazine and The Princeton Review have recognized Appalachian for its academics, value, innovation and veteran services, to name a few distinctions:

  • Forbes magazine named Appalachian in its third annual “America’s Best Value Colleges 2018” list.
  • Appalachian is among schools chosen by The Princeton Review for its “Best in the Southeast” section of its website feature “2019 Best Colleges: Region by Region,” which was announced in August. The schools were unranked.
  • Appalachian took top spots in U.S. News and World Report’s “2019 Best Colleges Rankings,” released in September. The university was recognized for its academics, value and innovation, placing second in the Most Innovative Schools category among Southern regional universities, in terms of curriculum, faculty, students, campus life, technology or facilities.

  We have much to be proud of, including the people and values of our community at large.

  I was honored to participate in a community gathering to decry violence and mourn the loss of lives in Pittsburgh over the past weekend. This was a communitywide show of solidarity against violence and hate. As we mourn the loss — in Pittsburgh and across our nation and world — we can all determine to be proactive promoters of peace and discourse that close cultural gaps rather than broaden them.

  

  Sheri Everts, Chancellor

  Highlights from My Week

  • 11.01 – Lunch yesterday with Appalachian's Black Faculty and Staff Association was a great opportunity for discussion and exchange about inclusion initiatives for our campus. The group's hard work is helping us move in the right direction.
  • 10.30 – I enjoy hosting the breakfasts for community leaders at Appalachian House. We are a group bound by our goals for the High Country and our commitment to quality of life in the region.
  • 10.26 – Faculty Club is a terrific opportunity to network, share ideas and gather socially. My goal for these events is to provide a venue and a time for faculty to take time out of their busy schedules for this purpose.
  • 10.26 – Lunch with the Hispanic/Latino Faculty and Staff Association was both insightful and fun. Love the mug they gave me that reads “Siempre aqui para ayudarte.” (Always here to help you!)
  • 10.24 – The Academic Leadership Development Program (ALDP) is an example of human empowerment on our campus. It was a pleasure meeting with Walker College of Business Dean Heather Hulburt Norris and this year’s ADLP participants.

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October 2018

• 

  Appalachian Autumn

  FEaST, families and alumni returning home

  Thursday, October 25, 2018

  Family Weekend was a reminder of how far our Appalachian Community extends. It was wonderful to see so many visitors on our campus, including our Family of the Year, and the Alumni Council and past presidents who gathered for a meeting Saturday morning. The council members are ardent ambassadors of Appalachian and share our stories proudly across the state and beyond. I appreciate their dedication to their alma mater.

  On Monday, I joined chancellors from the other University of North Carolina System institutions for lunch with Gov. Cooper in Raleigh. I had the opportunity to share details with him about our changing physical infrastructure and five-year goals to empower human potential. We are documenting both on a new website called Appalachian’s Future, where you can find the latest updates on construction and details about our growth and change.

  Food, engagement and storytelling were the order of the day for the FEaST banquet on Sanford Mall. It was gratifying to see so many participate. This free, zero waste, locally sourced meal is an annual effort to raise awareness about sustainable food and action. Thanks to the team at AppalFRESH for organizing this event.

  Last week was National Transfer Student Week. One-third of our undergraduate students enter as transfers from another four-year university, a community college or the military. Thanks in large part to the Office of Transfer Services, we are recognized nationally for the support we provide our transfers. The completion rate for transfer graduates coming to us from community colleges is more than 20 percent above the national average. In light of our efforts to make a four-year college education accessible to all, I am particularly proud of the work of our faculty and staff to support student success.

  

  Sheri Everts, Chancellor

  Highlights from My Week

  • 10.22 – We’re so proud of our student-athletes. Appalachian was ranked 25th in the nation by AP for college football. Go Mountaineers!
  • 10.16 – The new Watauga County Community Recreation Center, slated to open in 2020, is testimony to the county’s commitment to health and wellness. It was a pleasure to attend the groundbreaking of such a great investment in our community’s quality of life.

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• 

  An Appalachian Fall

  Between two storms, the Appalachian Community comes together

  Wednesday, October 17, 2018

  The homecoming events last month engaged a broad spectrum of the Appalachian Community. There was much to celebrate: an epic win over the South Alabama Jaguars, four inspiring Alumni Award winners, a celebration of the new National Pan-Hellenic Council Plots and Garden and the 50th Anniversary of Collegiate Athletics for Women at our university. A huge thank you to the hundreds of staff and faculty whose planning and performance made this celebration one of the most memorable.

  Thanks to each of you for your patience and citizenship during the last two storms. Hurricane Florence passed us by, but we are still reaching out to our sister universities who did not fare as well. Two storm stories about our student veterans and a student-athlete who stepped up are inspiring and indicative of the community engagement we have come to expect from our fellow Mountaineers.

  The rain and wind from Hurricane Michael were a short-lived threat to some in our state and community, but again, we were spared major destruction and our community is safe. The potential for flooding last week was tremendous. Thanks to the research and hard work of our landscape/grounds and maintenance crews. Their planning and preparation averted flooding in some of the most vulnerable campus sites.

  I am looking forward to the fall colors. Professor Howie Neufeld, Appalachian’s “Fall Color Guy,” is frequently sought out by media for his predictions. He says the warm weather has delayed the fall color change. I hope the best is yet to come!

  

  Sheri Everts, Chancellor

  In review

  • Preparing for Hurricane Florence
    Posted September 12, 2018
  • Florence, a New Facility & Recognizing our Finest
    Posted September 25, 2018
  • Keeping our focus on inclusiveness
    Posted October 2, 2018

  Highlights from My Week

  • 10.05 – This Faculty Club event might have been our last outside. It’s always great to catch up with the educators who make such a positive impact on our @Appstate students.
  • 10.05 – Beautiful day for another successful Class Cab with members of @AppStateSAAC! Giving our students an unexpected lift between classes gives me a chance to hear about what they’re thinking.
  • 09.29 – Congratulations to the 48 student-athlete alumni representing nine different sports who earned a Scholar Athlete Ring for academic excellence. Since its 2014–15 transition to the Sun Belt Conference in all but two sports, Appalachian has paced the league in academic performance among its student-athletes.

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• Keeping our focus on inclusiveness

  Tuesday, October 2, 2018

  Last month, we celebrated two key milestones for Appalachian: the 50th Anniversary of Women’s Sports on our campus, and the ribbon cutting for the National Panhellenic Plots and Garden. This month, we will commemorate the 10-year anniversary of the university’s LGBT Center.

  These events celebrate just a few important events in Appalachian’s history of inclusivity. On our campus, we have an intentional, institutional commitment to inclusive excellence. This work is sometimes easier than at other times, but because we do intentional work across our campus every day, we can rise to the challenge to lead from where we are – no matter where we are – as members of the Appalachian Community.

  As we strive for inclusive excellence of all members of Appalachian’s Community, the unfortunate reality is our university regularly manages instances of hatred, bigotry and ignorance that attempt to stoke fear and anxiety and divide and factionalize our community. You may be aware of some of them and you may not. These incidents are, unfortunately, all too common on college campuses.

  Our institutional commitment first and foremost is to the safety and security of our students.

  With this in mind, I want to take a moment to let you know the university response process when expressions are made on our campus that target any group who are members of the Appalachian Community:

  • We investigate.
  • We put together a response team.
  • We evaluate risk to our community. All decisions are made with safety considerations top of mind.
  • We reach out immediately to find and assist students who might be in need of support. If necessary, we expand this to faculty and staff as well.
  • We communicate. Initially we do this through small meetings, one-on-one conversations and responses to inquiries. We broaden communications as necessary, sometimes widening messages to include our entire campus community. We are very intentional about communications in order not to lend legitimacy and publicity to acts or speech that might intensify. College campuses are often targets for outside groups that seek a broader venue.

  Most importantly, we educate – proactively. Both in and beyond the classroom, we provide opportunities that break down barriers that divide our community and other communities.

  Our Appalachian Community comes together to support one another every day.

  Here’s what you can do:

  • If you feel unsafe, contact App State Police.
  • If you are aware of any students who may be affected who have not reached out for support, please help us by encouraging them to reach out to the Dean of Students Office in room 324, Plemmons Student Union. They can go in person, call 828-262-8284 or email dos@appstate.edu.
  • Report instances of bias.
  • Reach out to our Chief Diversity Officer, Dr. Willie Fleming, who can provide guidance, support, referrals and educational resources.
  • Take advantage of educational opportunities and programs and engage in class discussions.

  Together, we can all learn more, do more and be more.

  

  Sheri Everts, Chancellor

  Learn more

September 2018

• 

  Florence, a New Facility & Recognizing our Finest

  Appalachian days — before and after the storm

  Tuesday, September 25, 2018

  After a brief hiatus for Hurricane Florence, we are back on schedule.

  Some of our students and their families are still suffering in the wake of the storm and several of our sister universities remain closed. Our entire campus is keeping those who are working to recover from the aftermath of the storm in our thoughts. Some guidelines for assisting those less fortunate than we can be found here.

  We were extremely fortunate to weather Florence with little impact. Many thanks to our Emergency Management team, App State Police, Physical Plant workers and those employees who are required to keep the university going during even the direst of emergencies. The foresight and continuous training of those who assume the enormous responsibility during such events are greatly appreciated.

  On Friday, we celebrated the ribbon-cutting for the new Levine Hall of Health Sciences, our university’s newest and largest academic facility. This state-of-the-art facility was funded in large part by the Connect NC Bond, which was supported by a 2-to-1 margin by the citizens of our state. This was a vote of trust and we are pleased to be able to rise to this challenge by facilitating a response to the critical health care needs in the rural areas of our state.

  Our official enrollment numbers show we welcomed 19,108 students overall and our largest incoming class. We have increased our total underrepresented student population by 35.4 percent since 2014. Among the first-year population, that increase has been 56.2 percent. We are balancing our strategy of slow and steady growth with access for all who are prepared to succeed, and ensuring the highest quality educational setting by developing both our physical infrastructure and empowering human potential. We have launched a new website that details both of those initiatives.

  The work of our faculty and staff is exemplary. I was pleased to be part of honoring several faculty and staff at the Fall Semester Faculty and Staff Meeting. These individuals represent the more than 3,000 faculty and staff who share a dedication to teaching, mentoring and supporting our students. Thank you for your work, your dedication and your commitment.

  We are beginning a week of homecoming activities and I look forward to seeing many of you on our campus.

  

  Sheri Everts, Chancellor

  Highlights from My Week

  • 09.13 – A tour of campus confirmed preparations for the potential storm. I also had a chance to visit with some of our faculty about the environmental challenges Florence might present. We were well prepared and able to provide the necessities for the 3,000-plus students who stayed on campus and for those off-campus residents who sought shelter.
  • 09.19 – Meetings with Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs J.J. Brown and Student Government Association President DeJon Milbourne provide insight and often generate action on student ideas and concerns.
  • 09.20 – We kicked off the ceremonies around the official ribbon-cutting of the new Levine Hall with a reception in the facility’s beautiful grand hall. It was a great opportunity to visit with so many of the people who made this project a reality.

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  • Twitter @AppChancellor
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• Preparing for Hurricane Florence

  The safety of the Appalachian Community is paramount

  Wednesday, September 12, 2018

  Like most of the Eastern seaboard, we are closely monitoring the development of Hurricane Florence and putting into place safety protocols we have developed and practiced.

  While it is not yet clear we will experience severe weather in our area, across our university, Emergency Management, Physical Plant, Food Services, Housing, Parking & Traffic and many other areas are preparing for the potential impacts of very severe winds and rain.

  We recognize many of our students are from areas that are likely to experience more significant impact from the storm than we are likely to feel in Boone. This was the impetus for this week's class cancellation. We are working with numerous agencies, including the National Weather Service, as well as response agencies across the region, to determine the best course of action for our university community, and to provide shelter for those in need.

  Yesterday, you received a message from Emergency Management detailing many of the preparations our campus has underway, providing extensive information about how to prepare for possible severe weather, and sharing important information about how to stay informed about schedule changes for classes and university events this week.

  The safety of our campus community is our highest priority. Please monitor appstatealert.com and check your email for updates from our Emergency Management team.

  We will be sure to keep you informed as the situation develops.

  

  Sheri Everts, Chancellor

  Learn more

August 2018

• 

  Celebrating Three Academies

  Honoring the past, valuing the present and preparing for the future

  Friday, August 31, 2018

  Dr. Dougherty’s statue is in place, the landscaping complete and the final brick has been laid. Wednesday, Sept. 5, we celebrate Appalachian’s inaugural Founders Day on the new plaza in Durham Park.

  One hundred and nineteen years ago on that day, B.B. Dougherty, his brother D.D. and D.D’s wife, Lillie Shull Dougherty, opened the Watauga Academy with a dream of providing an education for the children of North Carolina’s lost provinces.

  As the Academy, Appalachian State Teachers College and ultimately Appalachian State University, we have weathered a depression, two world wars, a flu epidemic, the 1940 flood and Hurricane Hugo. Throughout, our institution has never wavered in its mission to provide the opportunity for students to further their education.

  Monday of this week, we began a partnership with an elementary school in Winston-Salem: the Appalachian Academy at Middle Fork. Our youngest students — grades K– five — started classes led by a principal and staff of predominately Appalachian graduates, and a number of student teachers will hone their skills at the academy over the course of the next five years.

  Last weekend, our first Appalachian State University Police Academy — featured in my Aug. 3 newsletter — graduated 21 new cadets. This endeavor will place a number of college-educated and experienced cadets into the state’s law enforcement ranks for years to come.

  The Doughertys’ dedication to education thrives at Appalachian and that is what we celebrate next week. I hope to see you there.

  

  Sheri Everts, Chancellor

  Highlights from My Week

  • 08.28 – Great lunch with our friends in the Center for Judaic, Holocaust & Peace studies and the guest speaker, recent graduate Megan Holtkamp.
  • 08.30 – I was so touched yesterday when the students at Middle Fork Academy gave me Jo Witek's book "In My Heart," signed by every student and teacher. What an incredible day!
  • 08.30 – Back on the mountain, it was a pleasure to host the new Student Government Association cabinet and their advisors for dinner at AppHouse.

  August in review

  • Officers for Tomorrow
    Posted August 3, 2018
  • Community Partners
    Posted August 10, 2018
  • Becoming a Mountaineer
    Posted August 17, 2018
  • Pathways to Diversity
    Posted August 26, 2018

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  • Twitter @AppChancellor
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• 

  Pathways to Diversity

  Inclusive excellence and change

  Sunday, August 26, 2018

  This week we welcomed more than 19,000 Mountaineers to campus — a body of students reflective of our greater society, alike in their desire to achieve and diverse in their opinions, beliefs and backgrounds.

  Developing a more diverse and inclusive campus is not a new concept at Appalachian. The university has worked formally since the mid-90s to bring attention and respect to previously marginalized groups. At 16 percent ethnically diverse, we have seen a steady increase in the diversity of our student population over the past 10 years.

  I would especially invite students, staff and faculty new to our campus to visit the Multicultural Center in Appalachian’s Plemmons Student Union. A few diversity and inclusion initiatives you might find of interest:

  • The Homecoming weekend dedication of the National Pan-Hellenic Council Plots and Gardens, a long-anticipated gathering space for our African-American sororities and fraternities.
  • The Chancellor’s Student Advisory Board for Diversity Recruitment.
  • The Inclusive Excellence team that is part of our Center for Academic Excellence (CAS), which supports faculty as they incorporate diversity and inclusion into curricula and personal interactions.

  You will find more information, resources and opportunities to participate on the Diversity and Inclusion website.

  Monday, Aug. 27, one of the nation’s recognized experts in strategic diversity leadership, youth development, corporate responsibility and organizational change, Dr. Damon Williams, will give a public, TED Talk-style presentation on Appalachian’s campus.

  Dr. Williams’ public talk will be followed by private sessions with a variety of university groups designed to explore pathways to diversity, equity, inclusion and change. The CAS has arranged for special Inclusive Excellence Institute open-door sessions with Dr. Williams for students, staff and faculty during his time on campus.

  Your university is deeply committed to increasing the diversity of our students, faculty and staff — an inclusive campus, diverse in thoughts, perspectives and cultures, is crucial to our abilities to learn, think and grow. I am proud to lead an institution where all Mountaineers are valued, respected and supported.

  

  Sheri Everts, Chancellor

  Learn more
• 

  Becoming a Mountaineer

  Community, communication and service

  Friday, August 17, 2018

  Over this weekend, approximately 3,700 new students will settle in at Appalachian for the first time. Welcome! We’ve been waiting for you! This is an important step in your lives and we are eager to be part of it.

  Those of you who are new to Appalachian: Your returning classmates, staff and faculty will tell you, becoming a Mountaineer is more than moving in and attending class. We share a deep appreciation for this community — and each other — that is palpable. You’ll discover it in a number of ways: a door held open, a concerned email, an unexpected invitation. I hope you embrace the community and find ways to enjoy the beautiful surroundings and opportunities to serve.

  During the year, I regularly communicate with students, staff and faculty, and monthly with all of our alumni, friends and fans. I invite staff and faculty to join me at their respective monthly gatherings, and when students choose to share their thoughts and ideas, I know they will find doors — and minds — open across campus.

  Two upcoming events clearly reflect the Mountaineer values we celebrate:

  • Our speaker at the Black and Gold Convocation on Monday is the mother of Matthew Shepard — the victim of a hate crime in 1998. She has used her personal tragedy to advocate compassion, inclusion and understanding.
  • The 18th Big Sale opens at 8 a.m. tomorrow. The evolution of a student’s ‘big idea,’ the sale is a way to re-source residence hall items collected each spring. The Big Sale has donated more than $230,000 in scholarships and minigrants to nonprofits since it began in 2001.

  Our newest students will have fresh ideas to contribute to the Appalachian Community as they learn from those of you returning what it means to be a Mountaineer.

  

  Sheri Everts, Chancellor

  Learn more
• 

  Community Partners

  Shared values, common goals

  Friday, August 10, 2018

  At its 69th annual meeting Aug. 2, the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce honored Appalachian’s solar vehicle team with its everGREEN Award for Sustainability. This is one of many examples of positive exchange between ‘town and gown.’ We are fortunate to share common values with the chamber, local business and the greater Boone community.

  • The Boone Town Council and the Watauga County Board of Commissioners have adopted resolutions calling for 100 percent clean energy and green jobs for the state of North Carolina and the United States by the year 2050.
  • The Chamber of Commerce’s strategic plan prioritizes enhancing the quality of education in our community and building links between educational institutions and employers.

  In turn, Appalachian is committed to this community. Through community outreach efforts such as Appalachian and the Community Together and our Civic Engagement Program, our students, faculty and staff work with community partners in a myriad of ways.

  Our volunteer and educational efforts positively impact area schools, health care, agriculture, the elderly and quality of life.

  We also are supportive of the area’s economic mission. In 2017 alone, Appalachian’s Small Business Technology Development Center provided almost 3,500 hours of free counseling, assisted clients in starting 14 new businesses and obtained over $10 million in loans and equity investments.

  Together, through collaboration and partnership, we have created a close-knit community of Mountaineers that embraces and nurtures residents, faculty, staff and students.

  

  Sheri Everts, Chancellor

  Learn more
• 

  Officers for Tomorrow</