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

• Remarks from the September 16, 2022 Meeting of the Board of Trustees

  Friday, September 16, 2022

  Good morning and welcome to a very exciting weekend on App State’s Boone campus!

  Sunday night, I returned from College Station, Texas, after our football team won a tremendously important game for App State, beating Texas A&M, who was, at the time, ranked sixth in the nation. This week, College GameDay, ESPN’s popular college football pregame show, is broadcasting from App State’s campus for the very first time. The national publicity for our university earned by these student-athletes and their coaches is unparalleled in our university’s history, and it brings with it prestige and recognition for the entire App State campus. We will be able to put an actual dollar value on it once the weekend’s shows have aired, but we can confidently say that the earned media from this national spotlight on App State multiplies our advertising budget by hundreds of millions of dollars. We expect to see increases in enrollment, fundraising and additional media interest in the work of our faculty, students and staff as a result.

  Learn more
• Remarks from the September 12, 2022 Faculty Senate Meeting

  Monday, September 12, 2022

  Good afternoon.

  It is my pleasure to address this group today. The beginning of the academic year is always an exciting time full of promise, and I know we are all looking forward to the year ahead.

  Last night, I returned from College Station, Texas, after our football team won a tremendously important game for App State, beating Texas A&M, which was ranked sixth in the nation. This week, College GameDay, ESPN's popular college football pregame show, will broadcast from App State's campus for the first time ever. The national publicity for our university earned by these student-athletes and their coaches is unparalleled in our university's history, and it brings with it prestige and recognition for the entire App State campus. Given the logistics related to ESPN coming to campus, we will need to re-schedule Friday's Faculty Club reception. My apologies for this – it can't be helped, but I am looking forward to the reception this afternoon.

  Many of the faculty I have spoken with this academic year have commented on the energy and excitement on campus. This year has a new feel to it, after five semesters of COVID precautions that inhibited our interactions and adversely affected the mental health of so many members of our university community.

  Learn more
• State of the University Address

  Friday, August 26, 2022

  Good afternoon, and thank you, Provost.

  I appreciate the opportunity to speak to all of you and provide an update on the state of the university during this first convening of faculty and staff for the academic year.

  Isn't it a gorgeous day? Our campus is vibrant and more beautiful than ever thanks to the work of our staff, who help prepare and support our faculty and students, supporting our academic mission in countless ways and with numerous and diverse talents. Faculty are in full swing, bringing life, energy and enthusiasm to classrooms, laboratories and learning spaces, and our students are engaged and eager to begin a new semester and enjoy the full college experience.

  Learn more