Last Thursday, we celebrated 32 mini-Mountaineer graduates of App State’s Academy at Middle Fork, who have reached a defining milestone in their educational journeys. Reich College of Education Dean Melba Spooner, third from right, awarded each student their diploma as they crossed the stage. Thank you to Chase Reynolds in University Communications for capturing this special moment of Dean Spooner congratulating Middle Fork Academy graduate Logan Allison as he received his diploma.
Message from Chancellor Heather Norris: May 29, 2026
Summer Session I is underway at App State, and we are pleased to see our students and faculty hard at work in Boone, in Hickory and online. The flexibility of our summer offerings — particularly online courses — allows many students to accelerate their path toward graduation while also engaging in valuable internships and jobs that further their professional growth.
Last week, I had the opportunity to meet with state legislators to advocate for the University of North Carolina System’s legislative agenda and to express our gratitude for the General Assembly’s continued investment in higher education. As the House and Senate work toward a state budget proposal, the System continues to prioritize recurring enrollment growth funding — a priority that underscores our shared commitment to expanding educational opportunity for more North Carolinians.
During the UNC Board of Governors meetings in Raleigh last week, several initiatives were highlighted that will help drive our future, including the UNC System AI Foundational Skills and Literacy Initiative. Developed by a cross-institutional team of faculty, librarians and instructional designers, the initiative’s AI Foundational Skills Course will provide students with a practical foundation in the ethical and professional application of artificial intelligence and ensure our graduates are prepared for an AI-augmented workforce.
The board’s Strategic Initiatives Committee heard an overview from the Carolina Population Center about the state’s shifting demographics. With a population of nearly 11.2 million as of 2025, North Carolina is the ninth most populous state in the nation, according to the center, and, from 2020 to 2025, the state experienced the third largest population gain in the country — a trend that is projected to continue for at least the next decade. And at the same time, North Carolina’s population is aging rapidly.
These factors will have implications for enrollment planning and state workforce planning across the System, and App State is proactively incorporating these insights — as well as information from the System’s latest Facilities Inventory and Space Utilization Study — into our strategic planning and master planning processes. The annual study, which details the utilization of space, as well as room and building characteristics at the System’s 16 constituent universities, helps us manage our physical assets effectively to serve current and future Mountaineers and will be considered in our requests for prospective App State capital projects.
Last Thursday, we celebrated the graduation of 32 fifth graders at the Appalachian State University Academy at Middle Fork. It is a privilege to witness the growth of these bright young scholars, and I look forward to following their continued progress into middle school and beyond. We are grateful to the families and friends, academy educators and the school’s advisory board for their unwavering support of these mini-Mountaineers every step of the way. This video provides highlights of the Middle Fork Academy graduation ceremony.
The arts are a vibrant part of the summer experience at App State, and this tradition continues with the recent installation of 10 new sculptures on the Boone campus as part of the 40th annual Martin and Doris Rosen Outdoor Sculpture Competition and Exhibition. Showcasing works by distinguished national artists, the exhibition — on display through May 2027 — increases the profile of public art both on campus and in the town of Boone, offering an engaging experience for High Country residents and visitors alike. Winners of the competition will be announced during the July 11 sculpture walk along Rivers Street — one of several events in the upcoming An Appalachian Summer Festival.
This spring, Mountaineer student-athletes extended their streak of earning a cumulative GPA over 3.0 to 28 consecutive semesters, or 14 academic years. All 17 App State Athletics programs finished the semester above that mark, with a 3.32 semester GPA — the highest since spring 2020 — and an overall cumulative GPA of 3.36 for all student-athletes. Additionally, 206 student-athletes were recognized on the Dean’s and Chancellor’s Lists. These academic achievements are a testament to the discipline and focus that drive our student-athletes to excel both on and off the field.
As we move into June, the summer season offers a valuable opportunity for focused work and intentional progress across our campuses in Boone and Hickory. To all who are joining us on campus or connecting with us from afar, I hope the week ahead is both productive and rewarding.
Heather Norris
Chancellor
From left to right: Summer Session I is underway in Boone, Hickory and online, providing students the flexibility to advance their academic goals while pursuing summer internships and professional opportunities; Last week, 10 sculptures were installed on the Boone campus, along Rivers Street, as part of the 40th annual Martin and Doris Rosen Outdoor Sculpture Competition and Exhibition. These pieces further enrich our campus landscape of public art, offering fresh perspectives and creative inspiration for our community. Pictured in the foreground is the cast aluminum piece “Kuiper Belt” by Hanna Jubran; Hugging her diploma, App State Academy at Middle Fork graduate Jourdyn McEachin, shown in the foreground, shared a smile with her loved ones in attendance at the academy’s May 21 graduation ceremony. Thank you to Chase Reynolds and Troy Tuttle in University Communications for capturing these images.
