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.
Grammy-nominated Art Lande is an internationally known pianist, composer, improviser, drummer and educator who has performed throughout the US, Europe and Australia with a long list of the Who's Who in jazz. Alex Heitlinger is a forward-thinking jazz composer and trombonist with a deep love of the jazz tradition and a passion for exploring musical boundaries. Alan Hall has been a professional drummer for over 45 years and has performed and/or recorded with international jazz artists Lee Konitz, Paul McCandless, Art Lande, Ed Simon, and more.
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.
On Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Memorial Day), Appalachian State University's Center for Judaic, Holocaust and Peace Studies (CJHPS) will hold a public reading of the names of Jews murdered during the Holocaust. The reading will take place in the outdoor square between Appalachian’s Belk Library and Information Commons and the Campus Store in the Plemmons Student Union. If there is inclement weather, the event will occur inside the Belk Library and Information Commons.
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.
When Agnes loses her younger, teenage sister Tilly in an accident, she joins Tilly’s Dungeons & Dragons campaign to try and connect with her lost sibling. But instead of simply playing a game, she finds herself catapulted into an action-packed D&D world. In this high-octane dramatic comedy laden with homicidal fairies, nasty ogres, and 90s pop culture, acclaimed playwright Qui Nguyen offers a heart-pounding homage to the geek and warrior within us all. It is presented by special arrangement with Concord Theatricals.
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.
Join the Appalachian Symphony Orchestra for a fun-filled, family-friendly concert of movie music! Come dressed as your favorite movie character and hear hits from films including Up, Pirates of the Caribbean, The Incredibles, Indiana Jones, E.T., and The Wizard of Oz. Dr. Alexandra Dee conducts the orchestra. Children, students, and adults are welcome - all ages will find something familiar and fun. Admission and parking are free. No ticket needed.
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.
App State’s High Country Humanities — with support from North Carolina Humanities and the Watauga Arts Council — is pleased to present a public listening workshop, followed by a free concert. The listening workshop celebrates the 80th anniversary of the “Asheville Concerto” (“Piano Concerto No. 3”) by Béla Bartók (1881-1945). After a fifteen-minute intermission, there will be a free public concert, sponsored by a Grassroots Grant from the Watauga Arts Council.
Commencement is the ultimate celebration of one of the most significant accomplishments of our students' lifetimes. We are proud to honor your achievement.
April 24 - 27, 2025
April 26, 2025
April 27, 20252:00 pm - 3:15 pm
May 9 - 10, 2025