App Strong. App Resilient.

With a little over three full weeks remaining before Thanksgiving break and the start of the Remote Learning/Teaching Period (Nov. 25 - Dec. 14), we begin looking ahead to the spring semester. The Oct. 23 update to campus included important information about changes to Withdrawal and Grade Forgiveness policies as well as spring registration and on-campus housing updates. 

Wearing a face covering continues to be one of the most effective ways to help slow the spread of COVID-19.  You can also protect yourself and others at App State and in the greater community by remaining vigilant, following the 3Ws (Wear, Wait, Wash) and adhering to campus safety protocols. Together, we can continue to be strong and resilient. 

Students, check out these ways to have fun while staying safe:

Spooky Duke Virtual 1K, 5K, 10K
Through Oct. 31
The 10th annual Spooky Duke Race and Costume Contest is virtual for 2020. Register online and complete the race - run, walk, ride, swim, row, mummy shuffle, or thriller dance. The event benefits Parent to Parent Family Support Network™-High Country. 

Dracula: A Radio Play
Oct. 31 and Nov. 1, 8 p.m. on WASU RADIO 90.5
Relive the thrills of 1930s radio dramas as Appalachian’s Department of Theatre and Dance and Department of Communication present a radio broadcast of “Dracula.” Based on the 1897 Gothic horror novel by Bram Stoker, this new adaptation by Derek Gagnier features the vocal talents of App State students and will keep you on the edge of your seat and glued to your radio! 

App State at ULM
Oct. 31, 4 p.m. on ESPNU
The Mountaineers travel to ULM for their first Sun Belt road game of 2020 in a matchup that doubles as the 1,000th overall game in App State Football history.

Virtual Paint Night 
Nov. 5, 6 - 8 p.m. 
The Turchin Center for the Visual Arts hosts recurring virtual paint night events for App State students. Materials provided with registration. 

More Events and Activities:
Engage • Campus Activities • University Recreation

Key Takeaways:

• Two additional Greek organizations suspended: The university gave interim suspensions to Sigma Nu and Delta Sigma Phi on Oct. 26 for COVID-19 policy violations. A third organization, Delta Chi, was suspended on Aug. 14 for COVID-19 policy violations.

• Halloween celebration guidance: According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “many traditional Halloween activities can be high-risk for spreading viruses.”

• The CDC has published lists of Lower risk activities, Moderate risk activities and Higher risk activities and a Trick or Treating and Other Halloween Activities guide. There are also printable PDFs: Steps to Take When Trick or Treating and Steps to Take for Other Halloween Activities.

• Students received a Halloween and COVID-19 safety message from Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs JJ Brown on Oct. 29, thanking them for remaining vigilant in their commitment to keeping each other, the campus and the community safe and encouraging them to continue taking appropriate precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19 through this weekend and beyond.

Key Response Measures:

We continue to add new response tactics as we build upon those we have had in place for several months, which include:

• Campus Dining reminder: Campus Dining continues to offer the most popular dining items from its recently closed venues in other campus locations. In addition, they have opened additional dining space in Roess Dining Hall to ensure adequate space for maintaining distance while eating. Visit Campus Dining’s Fall 2020 Continuity of Operations page for the latest information. For those parents who have asked about ordering treats for their students, fall seasonal baked goods are available from the App Bakery. 

• Targeted COVID-19 testing: This week AppHealthCare, our local public health agency, conducted on-campus targeted testing at Gardner, Coltrane, Doughton and (formerly named) Lovill residence halls. In addition, AppHealthCare will conduct targeted testing at Cottages of Boone and Villages of Meadowview next week. Questions? Contact either App State’s Student Health Service at 828-262-6957 or AppHealthCare’s COVID-19 call center at 828-795-1970.

• Weekly COVID-19 testing events: On-campus COVID-19 testing events are held each week on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.

• On-going briefings and strategy and tactical meetings: Chancellor Everts meets regularly with UNC System leadership and daily with her vice chancellors and emergency management team. University representatives meet daily with local public health Monday-Friday and on weekends as needed, and every Tuesday and Thursday with the NCDHHS COVID-19 response team.

Key Metrics

Communications and updates

• Get tested: Free COVID-19 testing events for students, faculty and staff will be held every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday in October and November (through Nov. 23) in the Rivers Street Parking Deck from noon - 5 p.m. Visit the university’s COVID-19 Testing page for all upcoming testing events. 

  • No appointments are required; however, you will be asked for your Banner ID and to show your AppCard. Walk-up and drive-up testing will be available. If you drive up, you will remain in your vehicle and a technician will conduct your test there.

  • Students can also contact Student Health Service for an appointment. Tests are conducted weekdays during clinic hours Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Wednesday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

• Download the free SlowCOVIDNC exposure notification app: This free app sends a notification if you have been in close contact with someone who has shared a positive COVID-19 test result. SlowCOVIDNC protects your identity and privacy while empowering you to protect yourself, your family and your community.

• On-campus voting: One-stop early voting in the Plemmons Student Union for voters registered in Watauga County ends Saturday, Oct. 31. On election day Tuesday, Nov. 3, the Plemmons Student Union site will be used for precinct voting from 6:30 a.m. until 7:30 p.m. During these times, the East Howard Street parking lot is reserved for voters and/or for individuals who have COVID-19 testing appointments at Student Health Service. Visit Watauga County Board of Elections for more information. Visit North Carolina State Board of Elections’ Voting and Coronavirus page for information about safeguards at voting sites.

• Additional campus updates and information:

  • Messages from Chancellor Everts. Weekly updates affecting campus planning, preparations and responses to the pandemic.

  • Read the previous COVID-19 update from App State. Key campus operations information, including safety and community expectations.

  • App State’s coronavirus clearinghouse website, which includes the university's COVID-19 Dashboard. 

Information coming soon:

• Information about COVID-19 testing prior to the end of the fall semester and beginning of spring semester.

• Additional information about building access and climate control during the Remote Learning/Teaching Period (Nov. 25 - Dec. 14) and between fall and spring semesters (Dec. 15 - Jan. 18, 2021).