Message from Interim Chancellor Heather Norris
Last week, we celebrated the many accomplishments of those who have helped shape the university into the institution it is today. This annual celebration is a universitywide effort, with participants from every division of App State. Thank you to the many alumni, staff, faculty and students who participated and helped make the event a perfect Appalachian State University reunion.
Some exciting news about our academic endeavors:
- On Wednesday, the University of North Carolina System announced the expansion of nursing education programs across the state. The System recognizes this critical shortage in our state and has a goal to increase its output of nursing degrees by 50% over the next 10 years.
App State will receive nearly $2.2 million in the next two years — funded by the North Carolina General Assembly as part of last year’s state budget — to help grow the Beaver College of Health Sciences’ nursing programs. Our Bachelor of Science in Nursing program, along with our online RN to BSN program and Master of Science in Nursing program, is helping address the deficit of practicing nurses, nursing educators, and additional career growth opportunities for working registered nurses.
We embrace the challenge to increase access to quality health care in the rural areas of our state, and we appreciate the support from the North Carolina legislature and the UNC System, as well as the trust placed in us by the taxpayers of the state. Our outstanding students and faculty are already improving the health of communities in our region, and we welcome this opportunity to continue our contributions to North Carolina’s workforce development and economic well-being.
- Our solar vehicle team, Team Sunergy, is in Bowling Green, Kentucky, preparing for the 2024 Electrek American Solar Challenge — where they are once again competing against some of the nation’s best engineering programs. Our team earned another podium finish — taking second place and far exceeding the performances of MIT and Georgia Tech, clocking more than 636 miles in the three-day, qualifying track competition. Tomorrow, they will join some of the world’s best solar vehicle teams in a 1,550-mile, cross-country rally race from Nashville, Tennessee, to Casper, Wyoming.
- Many of you know the team’s story about how a military veteran turned his class project into a student-led, interdisciplinary, national championship team. Since 2016, our team has secured podium finishes in every competition in which they have participated, many of which last up to two weeks. We’ll be following our 2024 team and cheering them on with great pride.
As we prepare for the fall 2024 semester, I want to be sure you are aware of some key initiatives ongoing and underway:
- For several years, the university has partnered with emergency response teams in the High Country to ensure we are trained and prepared for large events planned in the area, as well as for unexpected emergencies. This Campus Public Safety Partners group includes representatives from App State’s police, emergency management/medics, public health AmeriCorps and communications teams, as well as town and county law enforcement and emergency management representatives. Earlier this month, I attended a Campus Public Safety Partners meeting and was impressed by the level of cross-agency and cross-functional planning, as well as the sharp and collaborative focus on the safety of our university and broader community. I am so grateful to these dedicated professionals, and look forward to opportunities to build on and strengthen the established partnerships between the university and our emergency response partners in the High Country. On behalf of the entire university community, I extend my sincere gratitude to our campus and community public safety professionals for your dedication to the security of our community.
- This week began an intensive planning and professional development session for the department chairs in Academic Affairs. This 10-day summer institute, now in its fifth year, provides opportunities for department chairs to discuss topics that include student success, the state budgeting process, critical and crisis communications, building departmental capacity, goal setting and action plans, and leadership development, among many more strategic and tactical topics. I had the privilege of joining this group, along with members of the Chancellor’s Council, for a panel discussion and presentation on Monday. I really enjoyed this significant engagement with our academic department chairs and came away with a renewed appreciation for their leadership and dedication to the success of our faculty, staff, students and the institution.
- As we work toward full compliance with the UNC System’s new Equality Within the University of North Carolina policy, we will share updates on a new website, which provides background information and resources, including the guidance issued by the UNC System.
- We are also putting significant resources and attention into a universitywide Civic Literacy Initiative, with a goal of supporting our students, faculty and staff — in line with our foundational commitment to non-partisanship and institutional neutrality. The initiative includes a strong focus on helping students develop skills to effectively build constructive dialogue around difficult topics and discuss challenging societal issues. These key skills and abilities will serve our students well in their academic and professional careers, and I’d like to thank the divisions of Academic Affairs and Student Affairs for their collaboration in launching this important initiative. I look forward to sharing more information about this in the coming weeks.
For those of you who have attended any of the 2024 An Appalachian Summer Festival events, I’m sure you’ll agree it’s been a terrific 40th season so far. I look forward to hosting a reception for the festival’s patrons on Sunday and spending more time with them.
I wish a wonderful weekend to all.
Heather Norris
Interim Chancellor
The UNC System awarded App State nearly $2.2 million in grant funding to expand our nursing degree programs. We are excited to be among the 12 public universities and North Carolina’s Area Health Education Centers who were awarded expansion grants. In this photo, senior nursing majors Emma Cheek, from Yadkinville, and Scarlett Jobe, from McLeansville, are pictured with Karen Norris, a faculty member in App State’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing program, during a clinical rotation at Boone’s Watauga Medical Center. This photo was taken by Chase Reynolds in University Communications.
At right: App State’s solar vehicle team, Team Sunergy, earned a second-place finish at the 2024 Electrek Formula Sun Grand Prix this week — and enjoyed a celebratory (and refreshing!) moment when John Diekmann, far back, and Ethan Collias, far right, poured ice water over ROSE driver Zach Howard after he finished the final lap of the Formula Sun Grand Prix. At center: The year’s Chancellor’s Chair Summer Institute is off to a great start, with academic department chairs engaging in important discussions around student success and other key strategic priorities for the university’s academic departments. Thank you to the Academic Affairs leadership team and the department chairs for their commitment to this important leadership development opportunity. At left: It was my honor to be part of the recognition ceremony for the 2024 Alumni Awards. Learn more about these inspirational alumni and watch the videos for the Distinguished and Outstanding Service awards here. These photos were taken by Kyla Willoughby and Chase Reynolds and in University Communications.
