I love seeing students and faculty filling our classrooms, laboratories and studios during the first week of fall semester classes, bringing renewed energy to our campus communities. Here’s to a year of fresh perspectives, shared innovations and an extraordinary journey of learning together. Thank you to Chase Reynolds in University Communications for capturing this photo.
Message from Chancellor Heather Norris: August 21, 2026
There is nothing quite like the first week of classes at App State! Across our Boone, Hickory and App State Online communities, thousands of Mountaineers are settling into campus life and jumping headfirst into the fall semester. This brief video, created by our University Communications team, showcases highlights from the start of our new academic year.
The start of the fall semester coincided with a major milestone for our campus infrastructure — the official reopening of Duncan Hall. Following a nearly $32 million renovation, the updated facility features revamped building and safety systems, exterior repairs, upgraded elevators, more technologically advanced classrooms and six STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) laboratories. We are deeply grateful to our legislators for their vital state support and ongoing partnership, which made this transformative investment in our campus and our students possible. Visit the App State’s Future site to learn more about Duncan Hall’s renovation as well as other capital infrastructure projects taking place at App State.
The strength of our community, the confidence of our supporters and a collective commitment to the university’s future have helped App State achieve the two most successful fundraising years in university history. Building on a record $64 million secured in fiscal year 2025, the university received more than $51 million in private contributions in fiscal year 2026. This historic generosity propelled comprehensive support across the university, with significant contributions made to both academics and athletics. And $5.5 million in scholarship grants were awarded to students in the past year, through support from the Appalachian State University Foundation. Every dollar donated represents a meaningful investment in our students, and I am deeply grateful to all of our donors and supporters for your steadfast commitment to elevating App State’s future.
Empowering our campus community also means prioritizing students’ comprehensive well-being. Organized by App State’s Wellness and Prevention Services team, next week’s annual Health, Wellness and Safety Festival will put new and returning App State students in direct contact with vital resources, guidance and tools to support their health and wellness throughout their time at App State. I express my sincere thanks to our dedicated Wellness and Prevention Services team and all participating partners — including the App State Police Department, Office of Environmental Health, Safety and Emergency Management, Mountaineer Medics, and the Boone Fire Department — for their continued commitment to keeping our App State Community safe, healthy and supported.
Our commitment to practical, career-focused learning continues to create valuable opportunities for our students. This summer, 14 App State students in our Appalachian Police Officer Development Program graduated from the inaugural UNC System Police Academy, gaining the hands-on training necessary to work part time with the Appalachian Police Department (APD) at the Boone campus while completing their degrees. Building on this commitment to experiential learning is App State’s regional partnership with the City of Hickory, Hickory Police Department (HPD) and Catawba Valley Community College for the launch of the Hickory Police Department Cadet Program this fall. The program will provide App State Hickory students with paid, in-the-field experience and professional mentorship with HPD, creating a structured pathway into law enforcement while helping strengthen the region’s workforce.
Enriching the cultural landscape of our campus and surrounding region, the newly announced 2026–27 Appalachian Arts series promises an extraordinary season of live performance at the Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts. This year's lineup celebrates the power of creativity across genres, featuring performances by the North Carolina Symphony, MOMIX, Grammy Award-winning artist Chris Botti, Cirque Mechanics and many more. Complementing these mainstage events, our APPlause! K–12 Performing Arts Series enters its 14th season, connecting thousands of local students, teachers and homeschool families to the magic of live theater, music and dance through weekday matinees and curriculum-aligned study guides.
On Monday evening, I had the pleasure of joining App State Athletics Director Doug Gillin, Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost Neva Specht, Student Body President Elizabeth Ford and our coaches and athletics staff to welcome our student-athletes to the fall semester. As Mountaineer student-athletes prepare for their seasons ahead, we remain committed to supporting them as students first, and we look forward to celebrating their victories both on and off the field. I also want to again congratulate Doug on his recent appointment to the College Football Playoff Selection Committee, where he will help evaluate and select the nation’s top collegiate teams. Our campus community looks forward to the national impact his strategic leadership will make in this role.
And tomorrow evening, App State Night with the Hickory Crawdads will feature an exciting game of baseball for Crawdads fans, as the team takes on the Delmarva Shorebirds at L.P. Frans Stadium — right down the road from our App State Hickory campus. Gear up in your Black and Gold and be sure to come out early, as App State is giving away Hawaiian shirts to the first 1,000 fans. Here's to a fantastic turnout from the campus and local community — and cheering the Crawdads on to victory!
Heather Norris
Chancellor
Clockwise from top left: The first week of fall classes at App State’s Boone campus brought renewed energy to our newly renovated Edwin Duncan Hall, which has reopened to students, faculty and staff; Pictured, from left to right, top row to bottom row, are the graduates of the inaugural UNC System Police Academy: Jack Martin, Jonathan Hess, Cody Holt, Jacob Hess, Jaylin Ward, Christopher Officer, Samuel Hoskins, Gavin Thomas, Adison Singleton, Mark Moore, Gianna De La Cruz, Cadence Wittman, Angelina Margaria, Amy Escobar, Siena Healy and Ella Arndt. We are so proud of these dedicated students, who represent the future of law enforcement; MOMIX, an internationally renowned dance and visual illusion company, is one of several incredible artists scheduled to take part in this year’s Appalachian Arts series at the Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts; and App State Athletics Director Doug Gillin, who was recently appointed to serve on the College Football Playoff Selection Committee, is pictured speaking at the Student-Athlete Welcome Back event Monday evening. Thank you to Chase Reynolds, Wes Craig and Kyla Willoughby in University Communications, as well as Lawrence Smith and App State’s Office of Arts Engagement and Cultural Resources for these photos.
