App State has earned a Research 2 designation through the Carnegie Classification system for high research activity and doctorate production. App State’s research expenditures in fiscal year 2023 were more than $8.4 million and, in 2022–23, the university awarded 20 doctoral degrees.
The latest college rankings and recognitions of six national publications — including U.S. News & World Report, The Princeton Review and Forbes magazine — have one thing in common: All place App State among the best schools in the nation, and the Southeast, for 2024–25.
In fall 2026, App State will launch a new Doctor of Nursing Practice program, designed to educate family practice nurse practitioners and respond to health care provider shortages, especially in rural areas. The program has been approved by the UNC System Board of Governors.
On Feb. 27, 2025, the UNC Board of Governors elected Dr. Heather Hulburt Norris as the next leader of Appalachian State University. Norris has served as interim chancellor since April 2024. Her career has been characterized by her strong, collaborative leadership and service to both App State and the greater community, and she brings more than two decades of academic leadership, vision and expertise to her role as chancellor.
Sustainability and resilience are guiding principles at App State and institutionally interwoven into our strategic plan, academic mission, engagement locally and globally and day-to-day best practices. We are recognized as a national leader for our endeavors.
We're enhancing the App State Experience with a stronger physical infrastructure and five-year goals that further empower human potential. Get the full picture by visiting the App State's Future website, which details our growth and change.
Join a diverse and dynamic community that elevates your dreams and champions your capacity for real impact with life-changing opportunities for research and exploration.
Staff from Sustainability and Energy Management will be working alongside App State’s Office of Human Resources to host this year's staff appreciation event as a zero-waste program. Attendees will have the opportunity to interact with Sustainability and Energy Management staff with the chance to learn more about composting on campus.
The Department of Accounting is hosting a free tax help lab for App State students, faculty and staff. Through April 15, get started online, then drop in for assistance on Monday and Wednesday evenings in Peacock Hall Room 2013.
The Office of Sustainability’s Free Store hits the road! Come learn about the Office of Sustainability’s Food Pantry and Free Store. Help divert landfill waste by getting free clothes and learn about how you can donate your old clothes to help the environment and your community. If there is rainy weather, we will move inside the Plemmons Student Unions in the International Hallway!
Dr. Christopher Bartel, professor of philosophy, will give a talk titled “The Wrongness of Abusing Replika.” Dr. Randall Reed, professor of religious studies, will give a talk titled “The Changing of the Gods: AI, Religion and Chatbots.”
The story of a rural community in the American South that inspired the international environmental justice movement and articulated the concept of environmental racism by fighting the state of North Carolina's toxic landfill. Panelists will include Ms. Dollie Burwell, Rev. William Kearney, Ms. Jenny Labalme and John Rash.
Pelto’s paintings incorporate data about environmental change - from local to global. Her goal is to engage more people around science in ways that are emotionally relevant and thought-provoking. Pelto’s work has been featured on the cover of TIME, at the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, Massachusetts, and as a cover for the North Cascade Conservation Council journal.
Explore sustainable organizations on and off campus and connect with groups representing each of the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Students can take on a challenge from Sustainability and Energy Management—learn about at least 10 of the 17 goals to earn a free, limited-edition Earth Day T-shirt !Sponsored by Sustainability and Energy Management.
This event is a fundraiser for the New Dawn Middle School in Copal AA, Guatemala, where handmade textiles from Copal AA and hand-me-down clothes will be sold. There will also be materials to create sustainable crafts like terrariums. New Dawn is a middle school that focuses on the education and implementation of sustainable agricultural practices, displaying a deep appreciation for the Earth as a community experiencing the first-hand effects of climate change.
The Climate Stories Showcase is an opportunity to give artistic expression to the complex, often daunting, sometimes awe-inspiring ways the changing climate impacts our local and global communities. The showcase will exhibit works of artistic expression related to climate change by students and—for the first time this year—faculty. The showcase will feature creative works in a variety of media, including 2-D, 3-D, digital video, sound, performance, creative writing, short theatrical works, and book/ zine projects.
Open House is your opportunity to learn more about App State. Meet faculty and current students, tour campus, and learn more about financial aid, scholarships, the admissions process, and what student life at App State is really like.
Danielle Eady is the Program Director at the Oak Spring Garden Foundation (OSGF). Her professional experiences are in in curatorial and educational departments; she is passionate about supporting the places that give creative people the time and space to work and experiment. At OSGF, Danielle facilitates and administers all things related to the foundation’s artist programs, residencies, and fellowships.
Commencement is the ultimate celebration of one of the most significant accomplishments of our students' lifetimes. We are proud to honor your achievement.
April 15, 20255:30 pm - 7:00 pm
April 26, 2025
May 9 - 10, 2025