Message from Interim Chancellor Heather Norris
On Wednesday, the UNC Board of Governors held its July meeting.
A few items of note from that meeting:
- The UNC System will continue to operate on the biennial budget.
The biennial budget includes a 3% across-the-board legislative salary increase for most university employees, effective July 1. As I shared with faculty this spring, we have identified internal funds for merit-based, faculty raises, should we be granted authority to award them during the annual raise process.
- The Governors reviewed the results of the UNC System’s latest Employee Engagement Survey, administered in March and April of 2024. The Employee Engagement Survey is administered every two years and provides a point-in-time snapshot of several metrics related to job satisfaction at each UNC System institution. In my current role, I’ve been able to speak with many faculty and staff about your workplace experiences. I want you to know that I care about the members of our university community. As your leader, colleague and fellow member of this community, I embrace the opportunity to listen and support you. I will continue to work with campus partners to understand and improve workplace satisfaction.
- As nationwide trends begin to impact our state, two of our sister institutions received approval to employ program discontinuations and curtailment to address enrollment declines and budget shortfalls.
At App State, we are maintaining strong enrollment and positive return on investment for every North Carolina student. We continue our proactive efforts to prepare for changes in enrollment demand in the future, including our partnership with Project Kitty Hawk and the introduction and expansion of programs in response to workforce demand in our state. Additionally, persistent and thorough budget review is a practice I employed as dean and provost to ensure strategic allocations and operational efficiencies, and I'm continuing this practice in my interim chancellor role. I appreciate the dedication of the many faculty and staff who are also dedicated to ensuring our long-term success.
Some highlights of the week:
- This week, App State hosted the North Carolina School of Banking at our Boone campus for its 88th annual session. The North Carolina Bankers Association has chosen our university as its new headquarters for the oldest state association banking school in the nation, in an effort to enhance collaboration between the banking industry and higher education in the state of North Carolina. More than 200 financial professionals — the school’s largest enrollment in 15 years — took part in the 2024 session. App State’s own Dr. Harry Davis, a celebrated faculty member in the Walker College of Business’ Department of Finance, Banking and Insurance, is also dean of the School of Banking. I thank him for his commitment to student success and his leadership in the field.
- Also this week, the Beaver College of Health Sciences’ Communication Disorders Clinics welcomed 10 young people, aged 12 to 16, to its Camp Jean Rankin, North Carolina’s only residential, intensive summer camp for children and teens who stutter. Among the week’s activities, campers had an opportunity to simulate coaching App State football players. This camp is an important resource for the participants and their families, as it offers tools and resources that can prevent negative impacts on the campers’ personal and academic performance and achievements, and it's just one of several important services provided by the Beaver College of Health Sciences in the Boone and Hickory areas.
- Yesterday, my leadership team and I joined the academic department chairs as they celebrated the final day of their two-week summer institute. I enjoyed hearing about their experiences at the end of this intensive leadership development opportunity and am especially gratified to see the connections they made with one another, which will be invaluable to them as they work to support the students, faculty and staff in their departments. The role of chair for an academic department is uniquely challenging, and we are incredibly fortunate to have this group of dedicated and accomplished professionals in these critical roles for our institution. Thank you to Acting Provost Neva Specht and Acting Senior Vice Provost of Faculty Policies, Development and Training Jamie Parson for leading this year’s institute.
- Tomorrow, An Appalachian Summer Festival will partner with App State Athletics to present an outdoor concert at Kidd Brewer Stadium featuring Brad Paisley. This final event of the festival’s 40th season promises to be a fun evening with great entertainment, and I can’t wait to see all the App State cowboy hats in the audience! Thank you to the staff and students, as well as the dozens of volunteers, who ensure that more than 28,000 patrons enjoy an exemplary arts experience through the festival each year. Thank you, also, to all those who support this program each and every year in its mission to elevate the arts in the High Country. I am already looking forward to next summer’s festival.
There are no lazy days of summer at Appalachian State University! As we close out July, we’re also looking forward to the start of the 2024 fall semester, which is right around the corner!
Heather Norris
Interim Chancellor
I had the pleasure of welcoming attendees of the North Carolina School of Banking to the Boone campus — for the first time — for the school’s 2024 session. Dr. Harry Davis, App State professor in the Department of Finance, Banking and Insurance, left, has provided expert leadership for the School of Banking, serving as the school’s dean for more than 20 years. Chase Reynolds in University Communications caught this moment I shared with Harry during the Welcome Lunch for the school’s opening.
From left to right: Participants in App State’s Camp Jean Rankin — an intensive summer camp for children and teens who stutter — “coached” App State football players this week. Here, App State graduate student and wide receiver Kaedin Robinson ’23, from Asheville, far left, is ready for the next play. The university’s academic department chairs gathered to celebrate the conclusion of their two-week summer institute with a social event, some reflections on their leadership development sessions and a group photo with my leadership team and me. Renowned actor and baritone Norm Lewis performed in the Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts during the 40th season of An Appalachian Summer Festival. Thank you to University Communications photographer Chase Reynolds for capturing these outstanding moments.
