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:

  • Twitter @AppChancellor
  • Facebook

Messages

• Answering your COVID-19 questions: an open letter to faculty from Chancellor Everts and Interim Provost Norris

  Thursday, July 2, 2020

  Dear Members of the Faculty,

  Over the past few days, we have heard from many of you– in the form of several Faculty Senate resolutions as well as in response to the direct messages to faculty and the broad-based messages sent to campus. Please know we appreciate your passion about the myriad issues you have raised with us as well as your messages of support. We also appreciate and understand the concerns you have shared with us.

  Learn more
• Remarks from the June 26, 2020 Meeting of the Board of Trustees

  Friday, June 26, 2020

  My March update to this board took place two weeks after we were forced by the global COVID-19 pandemic to make an abrupt move from teaching a majority of our classes face-to-face to teaching all of them online. Since that time, we completed the Spring 2020 semester, provided a flexible grading policy as an option for those students who suffered the most significant disruption and held a virtual commencement for more than 3,600 graduates that was virtually attended by a record-setting 27,000+ people from all 50 states.

  Learn more
• Broad cultural change takes all of us

  Monday, June 1, 2020

  I pledge continued, critical resources to the many areas across campus that are coming together and helping our community chart a path for continued change. We are becoming a stronger, more mindful, and more inclusive community of people who, individually and together, can make real and powerful changes in communities well beyond our campus.

   

  Learn more