Fellow Mountaineers:

As we all work to process and make sense of the ways Coronavirus is changing and evolving our world and the Appalachian Community, we are facing more questions than answers right now.

Please be assured the App State faculty, staff and administration are working around the clock to find solutions and support you. There are many people working at the university to navigate the transition to on-line classes and services, all the while keeping our campus clean and safe. No one knows how long we will be operating under these new circumstances, but we are committed to supporting you along the way.

Here are a few key resources to keep in mind:

• Our staff in Student Affairs are here to assist you. We will continue to provide services in-person, but are also transitioning to an on-line format for appointments in all of our departments. The full list of services can be found at studentaffairs.appstate.edu and will also be linked from the App State Coronavirus and AppCares websites.
• If you have questions about your classes or academic progress we encourage you to reach out to your faculty members and advisor. As you begin the transition to online courses, we encourage you to look at our Keep Learning page that contains resources on how to be successful in online courses as well as how to access support and library resources virtually. If you have questions on an academic issue and you aren’t sure who to ask you can reach out to studentsuccess@appstate.edu and we will either answer your question or pass it along to the appropriate person or office.
• The App State Coronavirus website is a great resource for you to find the most up-to-date information. Please share this site with your families and loved ones so they can stay informed as well: appstate.edu/coronavirus. This website is updated every time we have new information or operational changes. We are also emailing updates about significant changes to the campus community.
• There are also a number of other resources that are available to you with everything from food resources to physical and mental wellness.

Please also note some important changes to the academic calendar:

• Last day to drop a full semester course or withdraw from the university – March 30.
• Early registration period begins for currently enrolled students – April 8. Updated registration information can be found at registrar.appstate.edu.
• Last day to drop a second half semester class and use a career drop or drop the pass-fail option on a second half semester course - April 14.
• Refer to the entire academic calendar (PDF) for further updates and other important deadlines.
• Many of you have questions about the May Commencement ceremonies. We will have an update to share with you about that soon.

As we increase our physical distance, staying connected in other ways will become increasingly important. The Division of Student Affairs is continuing to explore ways in which we as a community might connect through events and programs in a digital way. Expect to see more about that soon. On an individual level, I encourage you to keep checking in on one another, stay connected, use your resources, and be patient with the different ways people respond to changing circumstances.

I’ll leave you with a quote by Mother Teresa that has helped me stay grounded at many challenging times in my life: “We can do no great things, only small things with great love.”

You matter and our community matters. Please take care of yourself and those you love, and reach out to us for help if you need it.

J.J. Brown
Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs