Dear Faculty and Staff,
Following a June 12 memo from UNC System President Peter Hans to the chancellors of the state’s public universities regarding caps on salary expenditures and the number of administrative positions, we would like to provide additional information and guidance on how Appalachian State University is implementing these new requirements.
- Please know that these caps and our processes are not intended to impact our staff and faculty presently employed in any way.
- For those responsible for hiring requests, please continue to follow the Office of Human Resources’ standard process or your unit's process for requesting positions. All submissions will be reviewed weekly by the Executive Vice Chancellors and Interim CFO, with final decisions reviewed by the Chancellor. Reviews will follow a consistent process, with decisions guided by institutional priorities and long-term planning.
How App State is reviewing and implementing these requirements
The UNC System’s directive is based on App State's actual payroll and administrative headcount as of the end of April 2025. For clarity, "actual payroll" refers to the total salary paid to permanent employees in April, regardless of funding source, not the university's full personnel budget, which includes authorized but currently vacant positions.
To ensure compliance with the system caps, we’ve been working to stay aware of our status each week relative to the administrative headcount cap and the salary cap.
The Executive Vice Chancellors, J.J. Brown and Neva Specht, and Interim CFO, Greg Lovins, are meeting weekly to review these requests:
- All requests to recruit for permanent positions
- All permanent salary actions
While we recognize that every position is important in supporting our students and advancing our mission, we are prioritizing those roles that are legally required, strategically critical, or essential to our operations.
Each request will be carefully evaluated to ensure we make the most responsible and mission-focused decisions for the university and its employees. Although this is not without its challenges, we are undertaking it in a way that’s thoughtful, deliberate, and aligned with our long-term goals.
Next steps and additional considerations
The UNC System Office has not provided a projected end date for the caps, so we will continue to follow our process until we are notified that these have been lifted.
App State leadership has been proactive in addressing budget challenges in recent years, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, we're well-positioned to address these uncertain times. Please be assured that your leadership continues to advocate for our university.
I know that times like these can lead to feelings of uncertainty and stress. However, we will continue to work across the university to do all we can to support our students and our university community.
Thank you for your support and understanding.
Neva J. Specht, Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost
J.J. Brown, Executive Vice Chancellor and Chief Operating Officer
Jim Westerman, Chair, Faculty Senate
Samantha Williams and Kathryn Leslie, Co-Chairs, Staff Senate