January 12, 2024
Estimated read time: 4 minutes.

App State Operations: Spring 2024 beginning-of-semester Update

App State sends periodic operational updates that include information about key university operations, health and safety protocols, and other important campus information for students and employees. 

Chancellor Sheri Everts sends weekly messages covering university progress on key initiatives and items of importance for the university community. Read these messages here.

Keep reading for helpful resources and the latest campus operations updates for students and employees as the university prepares for the first day of spring 2024 semester classes on Tuesday, Jan. 16.

Classes for the spring 2024 semester begin Tuesday, Jan. 16

App State will be closed on Monday, Jan. 15, in observance of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. The university’s annual MLK Day programming will take place in January and February this year. 

Review the 2023-24 Academic Calendar for key, upcoming academic dates. 

See below for operations information and reminders for the Boone and Hickory campuses.

Information for Key Areas

• Library operations:
  
  
• Boone campus: Belk Library and Information Commons is open with limited hours — regular schedule begins Tuesday, Jan. 16.
  
  
• Hickory campus: Hickory Library and Information Commons is open with limited service desk hours — regular schedule begins Tuesday, Jan. 16.

• Campus Dining operations:
  
  
• Boone campus: Open with limited hours — regular schedules for most facilities begin Tuesday, Jan. 16. 
  
  
• University Recreation operations:
  
  
• Boone campus: Open with limited hours — regular schedule begins Tuesday, Jan. 16. 
  
  
• Hickory campus: Hickory Recreation Center is open Monday–Friday, and will return to regular operating hours on Tuesday, Jan. 16 after the holiday.
  
  
• Student Health Service operations:
  
  
• Boone campus: Regular schedule resumed today, Friday, Jan. 12. Consistent with the university’s closure, it will be closed Monday, Jan. 15 in observance of the holiday. 
  
  
• Hickory campus: Open Tuesdays from 8 a.m.–5 p.m. beginning Jan. 16.
  
  
• Telehealth options are also available to all students. Call 828-262-3100 to make an appointment.
  
  
• Any student with health-related questions and concerns after normal clinic hours, may call 828-262-3100 and press "1" to be connected with an after-hours nurse.

• Construction updates are available at the university’s App State’s Future website.
  
  
• The university map, which includes the Boone and Hickory campuses, is regularly updated. View the map here. 
  
  
• Visit the Campus Services Express Desk for assistance with AppCards, meal plans, parking and more.

Resources for Students

• The Office of the Dean of Students provides individualized support and case management for all students, including support for parents and families, off-campus student resources and student veteran services.
  
  
• The Student Success team offers learning resources for all students, including academic advising and support, career readiness programming and the University Writing Center. 
  
  
• Wellness and Prevention Services serves all students through the promotion of healthy behaviors, risk behavior modification services and advocacy for campus-wide health. 
  
  
• Appointments in Boone are available Monday–Friday, 8 a.m–5 p.m excluding observed holidays. Call 828-262-3148 for more information.
  
  
• Drop-in appointments in Hickory are facilitated by a licensed counselor on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Call 828-262-3148.
  
  
• Counseling and Psychological Services offers regular and after-hours emergency support for urgent mental health concerns for all students. 
  
  
• Call 828-262-3180 and select the option to speak with the counselor on call.
  
  
• Visit the Counseling and Psychological Services Emergency Services page for more regular and after-hours resources.
  
  
• All students are automatically enrolled in App State’s textbook rental program. Visit the Campus Store’s Student Textbook Resources page to review your textbooks and course materials and/or order physical textbooks and course materials.

Additional resources for all students:
Academic Affairs • AppCares Resources • Campus Dining • Career Development Center  Case Management • Counseling Center • Mountaineer Food Hub and Free Store  Off-Campus Student Services • Office of Access and Equity: Disability Resources  Student Health Service • Student Learning Center • University Housing • University Libraries • University Recreation • Wellness and Prevention Services

Campus Safety

App State Police Department

• In an emergency, call 911 or App State Police at 828-262-8000 for the fastest, most reliable means of getting emergency assistance.
  
  
• The App State Police non-emergency phone number is: 828-262-2150.

If you have not already done so, add App State Police to your mobile phone contacts.

Mountaineer Safe Walk, Boone campus

Mountaineer Safe Walk, operated by App State Police, is a free and secure safety escort service for Boone campus students who may feel uncomfortable walking alone after dark. Services for spring 2024 begin Monday, Jan. 15.

• The service area is limited to Boone area university properties only (parking lots, residence halls and academic buildings) and is offered during the fall and spring semesters from 9:45 p.m.–2:45 a.m., seven days a week, excluding university holidays and both summer sessions. If you are on the Hickory campus and would like an escort to your vehicle in the parking lot after dark, please ask at the Student Information Desk.
  
  
• The service also offers secure transport to and from the following campus properties to main campus in Boone:
  
  
• Mountain Laurel Hall (formerly Appalachian Panhellenic Hall)
  
  
• Leon Levine Hall
  
  
• 105 Parking Lot
  
  
• State Farm Parking Lot

View the Safe Walk map layer for transport service locations (select a location from the menu for details).

• App State Police also provide non-emergency, courtesy medical transports for students year-round, seven days a week on the Boone campus, from 8 a.m.–3 a.m., excluding holidays and scheduled academic breaks.

Emergency Preparedness

App State’s Environmental Health, Safety and Emergency Management team works in coordination with other departments across campus to build a safe and prepared campus. Review App State’s Emergency Preparedness page for tips on how you can prepare for and respond to specific types of emergencies.

• AppState-ALERT is the university’s 24/7 emergency messaging system that uses texts, voice messaging, the siren warning system, desktop alerts, email and web alerts.
  
  
• This system is designed to provide App State students and employees with timely information in the event of a campus emergency.
  
  
• Voice and text alerts are opt-in. Register for AppState-ALERT text and/or voice messaging.

• The RAVE Guardian mobile safety app is available to students and employees free of charge.
  
  
• Access the AppCares, App State Police and App State Emergency Preparedness websites from the app.
  
  
• Learn more and download the Rave Guardian mobile safety app.

Winter Weather Update Reminders

In cases when adverse weather affects the university’s regular operations, decisions about universitywide changes to class or work schedules will be communicated via:

• The university homepage and appstatealert.com website.
  
  
• Emails to student and employee App State email accounts.
  
  
• The university’s telephone snow line: 828-262-SNOW (7669).
  
  
• Posts to App State’s Facebook and X pages.

Additionally, the university notifies campus and local media outlets.

Adverse weather may not change operations at all campus locations. Messaging will specify which campus areas are affected. Learn more about how the university communicates concerning winter weather closures and delays.

Under the campus Adverse Weather and Emergency Closing Policy, all public safety operations and essential campus operations, including but not limited to App State Police, University Housing, Campus Dining and the university’s Student Health Service will continue regardless of weather delays or cancellations.

General Health and Wellness Reminders

Stay Home if You Feel Sick

Respiratory viruses commonly cause illnesses such as flu, COVID-19, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), especially during colder seasons.

• If you have respiratory virus symptoms, stay home and seek treatment from your healthcare provider.
  
  
• Students who feel sick may schedule sick visits at Student Health Service. 
  
  
• Flu, COVID-19 and other vaccines are also available for students through Student Health Service. Call 828-262-3100 for more information or to make an appointment.
  
  
• Campus Dining offers Wellness Meal Pick-ups for students living in residence halls with meal plans who are ill and/or isolating.

Public health resources:
AppHealthCare • Catawba County Public Health • CDC • Find COVID-19 Vaccines • Find Flu Vaccines • NCDHHS • Vaccines.gov