Supported by a $7.2 million grant from Ascendium Education Group, the Alliance for Research on Regional Colleges, housed at App State, will work to advance higher education and workforce development in rural communities over the next four years as part of its Rural Talent Lab project.

At the App State Academy at Middle Fork, instead of a single teacher handling all responsibilities for one classroom for one grade, a collaborative team of academy educators supports student learning across two combined grade levels.

Tommy Guy ’07 said the out-of-the-box thinking he learned as a Mountaineer has been fundamental to his success since graduating from the university. Now Guy — who works at Microsoft as a principal architect for Copilot AI — remains an engaged member of the App State Community, investing in students and programs across the university.

Dr. Heather Hulburt Norris has been named App State’s next chancellor, effective March 1. University of North Carolina System President Peter Hans made the announcement upon election by the UNC Board of Governors of the 17-campus University of North Carolina System on Feb. 27.

A new UNC System policy, to be implemented by spring 2026, will help create a streamlined process that shortens a transfer student’s wait period for transcript review — ensuring accelerated access for students seeking to transfer to UNC System schools.

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.

App State’s New River Light has partnered with Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute to establish the NRLP Lineworker Scholarship, which supports graduating seniors from Watauga High School and Watauga Innovation Academy who take part in the college’s Electrical Lineworker Institute.

Watauga County native and veteran App State Police Officer Johnny Brown has been named director of public safety and chief of police at Appalachian State University, after having served in the interim capacity of the role since September 2024. His new role became effective Jan. 20.

App State ranks among the nation’s top schools for online education, with its App State Online bachelor’s and master’s programs recognized in U.S. News & World Report’s “2025 Best Online Programs” rankings. App State has experienced five consecutive years of online student enrollment growth.