App State’s newly launched Office of Rural Promise fosters regional connections and supports growing programs that advance the success of students and educators in North Carolina schools. It serves as a strategic driver supporting the university’s research and innovation enterprise.

App State has been recognized among the nation’s top higher education institutions for military service members and veterans, ranking as a top five school named to Military Times’ 2025 “Best for Vets: Colleges” rankings list.

App State’s annual Veterans Day Ceremony, held Nov. 11 on the Boone campus, honors the men and women who have served in the nation’s armed forces. This year’s ceremony featured remarks from Chancellor Heather Norris and alumnus Dan Blakeley ’15 ’18, a former U.S. Army Special Operations Ranger.

Using nearly nine million images from 20,000 camera traps, global research co-led by App State faculty member Dr. Zach Farris shows many wild mammals are behaving differently than previously thought and may be misclassified.

For the 2025–26 academic year, 11 first-year App State students are Chancellor’s Scholars. The Chancellor’s Scholarship — App State’s oldest and most academically competitive merit-based scholarship — is one of several academically competitive scholarships offered by the university. For fall 2026, prospective students should apply by Nov. 15 and submit all materials by Nov. 30 to guarantee consideration for most first-year university scholarships.

Following a $26 million renovation, App State reopened Wey Hall for classes this fall, followed by the opening of the facility’s new Cathy P. Walling Student Art Gallery in late September. The newly renovated and modernized Wey Hall provides state-of-the-art facilities, cutting-edge technology and essential resources for App State students, faculty and staff.

App State celebrated its eighth annual Founders Day on Oct. 2 to commemorate its founders, B.B., D.D. and Lillie Shull Dougherty, and the first day of classes held at Watauga Academy in 1899. Seven new members were inducted into the university’s Bell Ringers Society as part of the day’s events.

App State research assistant professor Jennifer Schroeder Tyson ’07 has been named the 2025 Sun Belt Conference Faculty Member of the Year. The award recognizes Schroeder Tyson for her ability to inspire, promote and sustain the academic and athletic development of Mountaineer student-athletes.

On Oct. 3, Dr. Heather H. Norris was formally installed as the eighth chancellor in App State’s 126-year history. UNC System President Peter Hans presided over the installation ceremony, which was held on the Boone campus and attended by hundreds of Mountaineers and community members, as well as state education and community leaders.