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Appalachian welcomes more than 3,900 Mountaineers to campus

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Mark Marin, a first-year accounting major from Matthews, left, with his mother outside Coltrane Hall. Marin was one of more than 3,900 students who moved into residence halls at Appalachian State University Aug. 10–13. Photo by Chase Reynolds

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Allie Dotson, a first-year political science major from Asheville, left, checks into Appalachian State University’s Coltrane Hall with the help of Melissa Vanover, an administrative support associate in Campus Dining. Appalachian staff were on hand to greet students and their families and assist with any needs throughout the move-in experience. Photo by Chase Reynolds

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Sara Martinez, a first-year middle grades education major from Hamptonville, left, and her father, Louis Martinez, move items into Appalachian State University’s Eggers Hall. Students were provided a rolling cart, which was sanitized between uses, to help move their belongings. Photo by Chase Reynolds

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Skylar Chappell, a first-year commercial photography major from Fuquay Varina, left, moves her belongings into Appalachian State University’s Bowie Hall with the help of her mother, Marilyn Chapel. Face coverings are required on Appalachian’s campus due to the novel coronavirus. Photo by Chase Reynolds

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Chloe Tate, a sophomore nursing major from Cherryville, right in foreground, is one of the first residents of Raven Rocks Hall — one of two newly completed residence halls at Appalachian State University. Her mother, Rhonda Tate, left in foreground, helps her carry in her belongings. Photo by Chase Reynolds

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Father and son — Jimmy Cilone, left, and Johnathan Cilone — work together to carry a minifridge during move-in. Johnathan, a junior finance and banking major from Spindale, was one of more than 3,900 students who moved into residence halls at Appalachian State University Aug. 10–13. Photo by Chase Reynolds

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Thomas Dixon Jr., a first-year dance studies major from Louisburg, left, with his mother, center, and his father during Appalachian State University’s fall 2020 move-in week. Dixon is one of the first residents of Thunder Hill Hall — one of two newly completed residence halls at Appalachian. Photo by Chase Reynolds

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Caden Felts, a first-year music education major from Lowgap, right, and his father, Teddy Felts, move a couch into Appalachian State University’s East Hall. Photo by Chase Reynolds

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Jackson Keys, a first-year communication, journalism major from Durham, left in foreground, carries a laundry hamper filled with his belongings into Appalachian State University’s Gardner Hall during move-in week Aug. 10–13. Photo by Chase Reynolds

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“It was great to see campus come back to life after many months away, and parents, students and staff were all happy to be back.”

Dr. Alicia Vest, Appalachian’s associate director of university housing

Welcome to App
Welcome to App

Our goal during Welcome to App is for you to become more comfortable at Appalachian, to make new friends, to have fun, and to start weaving yourself into the fabric of student life at Appalachian. Welcome to App activities serve as an extension to your Summer Orientation. Take advantage of all of the Welcome to App events to ensure a great start at Appalachian!

Learn more
By Megan Bruffy
Posted Aug. 19, 2020 at 12 p.m.

BOONE, N.C. — Appalachian State University’s campus was alive with activity Aug. 10–13 as more than 3,900 first-year and transfer students moved into residence halls across campus.

“It was great to see campus come back to life after many months away, and parents, students and staff were all happy to be back.”

Dr. Alicia Vest, Appalachian’s associate director of university housing

Similar sights and sounds took place outside each location — vehicles filled with clothes, toiletries, bookcases and couches; roommates meeting in person for the first time; and students and their families sharing bittersweet goodbyes.

“It was great to see campus come back to life after many months away, and parents, students and staff were all happy to be back,” said Dr. Alicia Vest, Appalachian’s associate director of university housing.

This year’s move-in experience also included a variety of new safety precautions due to the novel coronavirus. Vest said many university departments worked hard to make move-in a positive, exciting experience for Appalachian students.

For instance, she said, University Housing staff were on hand to greet students, and University Housing Facilities staff frequently cleaned high-touch areas and made requested adjustments to rooms such as raising and lowering beds.

Additionally, representatives from the Appalachian Police Department and the Department of Parking and Transportation helped keep the parking lots and roads moving efficiently, and resident assistants in the residence halls hosted virtual meetings to bring students together.

Appalachian’s University Housing staff assessed and adjusted every step of the experience to keep students and their families as safe as possible.

Here are a few of the safety precautions that were in place during the fall 2020 move-in, several of which remain in place:

  • Students were assigned a specific date and time for their move-in.
  • Only one person was allowed to accompany each student in the residence halls.
  • Common areas of the building are equipped with navigation signs to allow for physical distancing.
  • All common areas, including lounges, kitchens, lobbies and elevators, have occupancy limits.
  • Face coverings are required on Appalachian’s campus.

Vest said with the many changes to the move-in process, the Trailhead Experience and Appol Corps (Appalachian Orientation Leader Corps) were vital to helping students engage with the Appalachian Community in their first days on campus.

During Aug. 14–16, more than 1,300 returning students moved into residence halls, and the fall 2020 semester began Monday, Aug. 17.

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Welcome to App
Welcome to App

Our goal during Welcome to App is for you to become more comfortable at Appalachian, to make new friends, to have fun, and to start weaving yourself into the fabric of student life at Appalachian. Welcome to App activities serve as an extension to your Summer Orientation. Take advantage of all of the Welcome to App events to ensure a great start at Appalachian!

Learn more
Food trucks, Grubhub and more — App State’s Campus Dining adjusts for COVID-19
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Aug. 14, 2020

This fall, as Appalachian manages safety issues around COVID-19, Campus Dining operations will be different.

Read the story
Health and safety at forefront for fall semester at App State
Health and safety at forefront for fall semester at App State
Aug. 13, 2020

What will it be like at Appalachian State University this fall? This is the question on the minds of Mountaineers everywhere, with the fall 2020 semester set to start Aug. 17. Read on for a look at the changes that have taken place on campus.

Read the story
At the Trailhead: App State’s first-year students participate in reimagined orientation and leadership development program
At the Trailhead: App State’s first-year students participate in reimagined orientation and leadership development program
Aug. 18, 2020

First-year App State students started their journeys as Mountaineers through the Trailhead Experience orientation and leadership development program. More than 2,400 students worked with upper-level student leaders to create connections, build community and navigate the many changes to university life necessitated by COVID-19.

Read the story

About the Division of Student Affairs

The Division of Student Affairs at Appalachian State University is committed to the development of lifelong learners and leaders by engaging and challenging students within a culture of care and inclusion. The division consists of 16 units that offer activities and services to help students develop more fully by becoming global learners, fostering healthy relationships, appreciating diversity and different perspectives, understanding community responsibility, enhancing self-awareness, developing autonomy and living ethically. These units include the Career Development Center, Campus Activities, Office of Community-Engaged Leadership, Wellness and Prevention Services, Counseling and Psychological Services, Student Health Service, Parent and Family Services, University Housing, Student Conduct, University Recreation, Intercultural Student Affairs, Student Legal Clinic and Off-Campus Student Services, Electronic Student Services, Child Development Center, and Staff Development and Strategic Initiatives. Learn more at https://studentaffairs.appstate.edu.

About Appalachian State University

As a premier public institution, Appalachian State University prepares students to lead purposeful lives. App State is one of 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina System, with a national reputation for innovative teaching and opening access to a high-quality, affordable education for all. The university enrolls more than 21,000 students, has a low student-to-faculty ratio and offers more than 150 undergraduate and 80 graduate majors at its Boone and Hickory campuses and through App State Online. Learn more at https://www.appstate.edu.

“It was great to see campus come back to life after many months away, and parents, students and staff were all happy to be back.”

Dr. Alicia Vest, Appalachian’s associate director of university housing

Welcome to App
Welcome to App

Our goal during Welcome to App is for you to become more comfortable at Appalachian, to make new friends, to have fun, and to start weaving yourself into the fabric of student life at Appalachian. Welcome to App activities serve as an extension to your Summer Orientation. Take advantage of all of the Welcome to App events to ensure a great start at Appalachian!

Learn more
Food trucks, Grubhub and more — App State’s Campus Dining adjusts for COVID-19
Food trucks, Grubhub and more — App State’s Campus Dining adjusts for COVID-19
Aug. 14, 2020

This fall, as Appalachian manages safety issues around COVID-19, Campus Dining operations will be different.

Read the story
Health and safety at forefront for fall semester at App State
Health and safety at forefront for fall semester at App State
Aug. 13, 2020

What will it be like at Appalachian State University this fall? This is the question on the minds of Mountaineers everywhere, with the fall 2020 semester set to start Aug. 17. Read on for a look at the changes that have taken place on campus.

Read the story
At the Trailhead: App State’s first-year students participate in reimagined orientation and leadership development program
At the Trailhead: App State’s first-year students participate in reimagined orientation and leadership development program
Aug. 18, 2020

First-year App State students started their journeys as Mountaineers through the Trailhead Experience orientation and leadership development program. More than 2,400 students worked with upper-level student leaders to create connections, build community and navigate the many changes to university life necessitated by COVID-19.

Read the story

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Appalachian Today is an online publication of Appalachian State University. This website consolidates university news, feature stories, events, photo galleries, videos and podcasts.

If you cannot find what you're looking for here, please refer to the following sources:

  • Podcasts may be found at Appalachian State University Podcasts
  • Stories and press releases published prior to Jan. 1, 2015 may be found in University Communications Records at the Special Collections Research Center.
  • A university-wide Google Calendar may be found at Events at Appalachian

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Archives

Appalachian Today is an online publication of Appalachian State University. This website consolidates university news, feature stories, events, photo galleries, videos and podcasts.

If you cannot find what you're looking for here, please refer to the following sources:

  • Podcasts may be found at Appalachian State University Podcasts
  • Stories and press releases published prior to Jan. 1, 2015 may be found in University Communications Records at the Special Collections Research Center.
  • A university-wide Google Calendar may be found at Events at Appalachian
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