Thank you, Jacqui, and good afternoon, everyone.
I want to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to Jacqui for her empathetic, pragmatic and graceful leadership of the Faculty Senate over the last year.
Thank you, Jacqui, and I look forward to working with Jim in his new role.
Today, I will cover several items, beginning with updates on UNC System Policy 300.8.5. I’ll also share:
- research and innovation updates;
- information about the Common Reading Program and its new book selection;
- a QEP update; and
- a few quick reminders about some key, upcoming events.
I want to begin by acknowledging the election of Dr. Heather Norris as chancellor of Appalachian State University by the Board of Governors on Thursday. I think we are all happy to see a permanent leader in place after nearly a year of interim leadership. Our university and the greater community has benefited from her steady leadership over the last 10 months, and based on Chancellor Norris’ remarks last week, I think we can expect to see an emphasis on continuing to support the research and creative endeavors of the faculty, a comprehensive campaign and a master plan that involves faculty, staff and student participation.
UNC System Policy 300.8.5:
Some of you have expressed concerns about changes to university websites, particularly regarding diversity, equity and inclusion language. I want to clarify that these updates are part of our efforts to comply with the UNC System’s revised policy, which replaced Policy 300.8.5 with Equality Within the University of North Carolina.
You may recall this policy was adopted in late May 2024, and a little over a month later, UNC System institutions were provided guidance related to compliance with the policy. Each university was charged with certifying — by Sept. 1, 2024, and on or before Sept. 1 annually thereafter — full compliance with the commitment to institutional neutrality and nondiscrimination required by law and this policy.
Immediately upon receiving the guidance, Chancellor Norris convened a working group that began meeting regularly in late June last year to ensure compliance. Compliance actions included:
- eliminating and realigning several positions;
- content and programmatic changes, including closing the Intercultural Student Affairs Office and establishing a new Center for Student Success and Community;
- removing dedicated space within the new Center for Student Success and Community for identity-based student organizations;
- moving to a single funding model for clubs and organizations that is limited to supporting club membership and organizational development, rather than programmatic content;
- working with donors to ensure the application of all scholarships and gift agreements conform to the policy and state law; and
- a comprehensive review of university webpages and social media sites to remove content it has that endorses specific political or social viewpoints, and focus on providing factual information about programs, services and events without implying institutional endorsement of specific viewpoints.
As you know, this work has been underway since the adoption of the policy. Regarding the websites, we conducted a comprehensive website audit to align with the policy’s requirements, which included more that 1,200 different webpages. Most updates have been completed, with only a few remaining.
As part of this work, we created and shared a website (campuswide on July 10), which has a review of the timeline of actions related to this policy, and the annual certification and report on the university’s website. As we submit each annual certification, we’ll add this information to the website.
A Google search of “App State + Equality Policy” will pull it up, and we’ve also added a link from the Academic Affairs website. Tomorrow, we’ll add this update to both webpages, for easy reference.
Research and innovation updates:
I’ll take a moment now to highlight some points from the Office of Research and Innovation:
- Research expenditures are already up 33% from this time last year, to $11.3 million (This is according to the Higher Education Research and Development Survey of research expenditures annual report in late January).
- Christine Hendren is hosting two open Zoom calls with the Office of Research and Innovation to provide updates to researchers about the strategic development of our campus research identity, based on faculty-submitted areas of excellence. These meetings will offer an opportunity for interactive discussion about research and innovation developments — including App State’s recent R2 designation. These will take place this Wednesday and next Tuesday, March 5 and March 11. More information has been shared through the Research Google Group and recent App State Announcements, but please reach out to the ORI office if you’d like more information.
- With regard to the current administration’s recent executive orders and their impacts on our research activities:
- First off, no “stop work” orders have been issued. We are aware of one project for which our funding may not be reimbursed, and the Sponsored Programs division of the Office of Research and Innovation is reaching out to those involved to discuss how that will play out.
- As previously shared by Christine Hendren, the Sponsored Programs division of the Office of Research and Innovation will continue to reach out individually to any affected project principal investigators, department chairs and college deans to work on alternative options.
- Charna Howson and Panda Powell of Contracts and Grants Accounting need to be looped into any and all conversations with program officers.
- Some of the grant opportunities researchers were anticipating working on have closed. This is different from grants that we already won being terminated, but it means we can no longer apply. These are being watched by the Office of Research and Innovation and we’re communicating directly to those who may be impacted — we're trying to get ahead of those to avoid wasting faculty time.
- Later this spring, a Western North Carolina Research for Recovery and Resilience multi-stakeholder workshop will explore how our research strengths regionally can help address community needs in response to Hurricane Helene.
QEP events upcoming:
Last fall, App State began implementing our Quality Enhancement Plan — or QEP — titled Pathways to Resilience. Under this plan, we look to grow our students’ climate literacy and action. To do so, Director Shea Tuberty has worked with many groups across campus to host programs and presentations that support the QEP. I’ll highlight three taking place this month:
- March 19 — Climate Connection with Expressive Arts Therapy featuring Dr. Katie Biddle and her graduate students.
- March 24 — “An Archeology and Environmental Justice Symposium” will be held in Belk Library.
- March 26 — Climate Connection with Music Therapy with Dr. Melody Schwantes and her graduate students.
Another key project the QEP team is supporting is the Hurricane Helene Archive — a digital collection dedicated to preserving the experiences, stories and images related to Hurricane Helene. The archive serves as both a historical record and a resource for understanding the storm’s lasting impact on the High Country. I hope you’ll take a moment to visit the Hurricane Helene Archive website. This is a great opportunity to review or donate any materials to capture the resilience of our community and our neighbors.
Common Reading Program:
Also, I want to remind everyone about the new book for this year’s incoming first-year students as part of our Common Reading Program. The Common Reading program is designed to help students establish a shared experience with other new students and develop a sense of community. Since 1997, we have asked students to read a book as part of orientation and it’s incorporated into events throughout the year, as well as First Year Seminar. This year’s book is “Callings: The Purpose and Passion of Work” by Dave Isay. The book is based on oral history interviews with people from across the United States, and shares the inspirational journeys people have traveled to find the jobs they are meant to do.
A few calendar items I’d like to make sure are on your radar:
- As you know, next week will be the university’s Spring Break — beginning Monday, March 10. While I am sure you have been tracking this calendar event, I wanted to make sure you were aware that the Appalachian State University Board of Trustees will meet at the end of the week on Thursday, March 13, and Friday, March 14. These meetings are livestreamed and archived at bot.appstate.edu. I encourage you to take the opportunity to watch these livestream meetings. The information shared, particularly during the committee meetings on Thursday, is always helpful context, and the chancellor provides a report during the full board meeting on Friday.
- Also, please mark your calendars for the Annual Budget Presentations, which will take place on April 22. At these presentations, college deans and college leaders provide their goals and plans for the upcoming fiscal year. In addition, Chancellor Norris will be speaking as well. I will remind you of that date at next month’s meeting and I look forward to seeing you there.
Weather policy:
Finally, I know you’ll hear from Mark Ginn later in this meeting about our weather policy — particularly the winter weather portion and how conditions are set and when. I want to thank all of you and your constituency for your flexibility during these uncertain winter weather events. They are an inconvenience — I know, and we do work hard to minimize the disruption as much as possible.
Thank you all for your time and attention. Chair Bergman, this concludes my remarks.