App State purchases 6-story building, 15-plus acres to establish Hickory campus

HICKORY, N.C. — Today Appalachian State University announced the purchase of a 225,800-square-foot building to establish the App State Hickory Campus in the state’s largest metro area without a public university.

The former Corning Optical Communications building at 800 17th St. NW in Hickory is six stories and is larger than any building on App State’s Boone campus. The building sits on 15.7 acres of land and features large open spaces, a cafeteria and nearly 700 parking spaces.

“Hickory is a vibrant, growing city, just a short drive from Boone, that offers opportunities for App State to continue the mission we have had since 1899 — to increase access to education,” Chancellor Sheri Everts said at an event announcing the purchase.

Recognizing that App State’s growth potential in Boone is limited, the university has been looking for areas that have growth capacity and market potential for both on-campus and online programs. The Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton Metro Area — with a population of more than 370,000 — was identified as the largest metro area in North Carolina without a state university presence.

The future App State Hickory Campus has frontage along U.S. Highway 321 and is located less than 2 miles from the Hickory Regional Airport and 4 miles from Interstate 40. The campus is close to downtown Hickory and two regional hospitals and is only a short drive from the second North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics campus, which is slated to open next fall in Morganton.

“We are extremely excited — we’re ecstatic — today that Appalachian State University is expanding its presence in Hickory and taking advantage of the former Corning headquarters building to increase educational opportunities in Hickory and to equip our workforce with the skills needed to meet the demands of today’s employers,” said City of Hickory Mayor Hank Guess, who spoke at the announcement event and presented Everts with a key to the city.

Also giving remarks at the event was Scott Millar, president of the Catawba County Economic Development Corporation.

“Education plus economic development are the fundamental drivers in opportunity in today’s marketplace,” Millar said. “They’re quickly becoming synonymous. If you don’t have an educational opportunity for people, you certainly won’t have economic development.”

Positioning an App State campus in the Greater Hickory area aligns with University of North Carolina System Strategic Plan priorities and with the myFutureNC goal of ensuring that 2 million North Carolinians have a high-quality credential or postsecondary degree by 2030.

“App State is a proud partner in achieving this goal for our state,” Everts said, noting that the university consistently receives national recognition for academic excellence and overall value. “For those who want an App State education but choose to live and work in the Hickory area; for those who may have begun but not completed their undergraduate degrees — App State is here for you.”

Catawba Valley Community College in Hickory, Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute in Hudson and Western Piedmont Community College in Morganton are all within a 30-minute drive of the App State Hickory Campus, and all three are partners in the Aspire Appalachian Co-Admission Program, which provides a seamless pathway for students enrolled at partner community colleges to complete their degrees at App State.

Prior to the announcement, the university’s deans toured the building with the chancellor and Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor Heather Hulburt Norris. In the coming weeks and months, Everts will continue conversations with the Hickory community and will seek additional input from the university’s academic leaders to determine best options for program offerings and utilization of this much-needed space.

In addition, an audit of the building will be performed to assess energy and efficiency needs, as well as opportunities to advance the university’s sustainability mission.

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Appalachian’s Future: App State Hickory

Read about Appalachian State University’s Hickory, NC, campus that will offer new opportunities for students and the region.

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About Appalachian State University

As the premier public undergraduate institution in the Southeast, Appalachian State University prepares students to lead purposeful lives as global citizens who understand and engage their responsibilities in creating a sustainable future for all. The Appalachian Experience promotes a spirit of inclusion that brings people together in inspiring ways to acquire and create knowledge, to grow holistically, to act with passion and determination, and to embrace diversity and difference. Located in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Appalachian is one of 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina System. Appalachian enrolls nearly 21,000 students, has a low student-to-faculty ratio and offers more than 150 undergraduate and graduate majors.