Fall 2021: Stay Vigilant. Be Resilient.

As the university continues to monitor the COVID-19 situation, please be sure to carefully and regularly review messages from App State — especially over the break — for information about returning to campus, operations updates and other important news and reminders.

In her Dec. 3 message to campus, Chancellor Sheri Everts shared highlights from this week’s Board of Trustees meetings. Highlights included the future App State Hickory Campus, updates on the recent state budget and capital projects, and the influential work of App State faculty and staff. She also provided a COVID update that included active case counts and vaccination rates.

Final exams began yesterday and continue through Dec. 8. The university will celebrate graduates at our Fall Commencement ceremonies on Dec. 10. 

• Dec. 2-8: Exam period — view exam schedule
• Dec. 9-13: Faculty grading period
• Dec. 10: Fall 2021 Commencement
• Dec. 23-31: Winter break closure
• Jan. 10: First day of classes for the spring 2022 semester

Keep reading for full details on COVID-19-related updates and information.

Resources:
App State's Coronavirus site • App State’s Fall 2021 Guide to Campus Operations • North Carolina’s COVID-19 Information Hub

COVID-19 Update

Vaccination continues to be encouraged and boosters are recommended for all adults 18 years old and older

In a Nov. 30 press release, Gov. Roy Cooper urged all North Carolinians to get vaccinated this holiday season and encouraged boosters for everyone 18 years and older to strengthen and extend protections against COVID-19-related serious illness, hospitalization or death. 

The bottom line: Vaccines are our best defense against COVID-19 — including new variants. What you need to know about variants:

• New variants are expected and vaccines are the best way to prevent the emergence of new variants, in addition to protecting you and your loved ones from getting sick, being hospitalized or dying from COVID-19.
  
  
• According to CDC, the recent emergence of the Omicron variant emphasizes the importance of vaccination, boosters and general prevention strategies. The university offers Pfizer-BioNTech (Comirnaty), Moderna and Johnson and Johnson’s Janssen vaccines and boosters.
  
  
• Visit NCDHHS’ COVID-19 Vaccine Additional Doses and Boosters web page and find out more about boosters. Talk with your healthcare provider if you have questions.
  
  
• CDC recommends that everyone 5 years and older get vaccinated and boosters are recommended for everyone 18 years and older.
  
  
• CDC also recommends that you get vaccinated even if you already had COVID-19 because vaccination is a safer way to prevent reinfection. 

App State continues to encourage vaccination for all students and employees, and ahead of spring 2022 tuition bills, the university is awarding $1,000 scholarships to 50 fully vaccinated students. Students must be enrolled for the spring 2022 semester and have submitted proof of full COVID-19 vaccination by Dec. 15 to be eligible. Students received an email with instructions on Dec. 2.

COVID-19 vaccine resources:
COVID-19 Vaccines • Get your COVID-19 vaccination record (NCDHHS) • Vaccines for COVID-19 (CDC) • COVID-19 Vaccine Information (NCDHHS)

Preparing for the End of the Semester and Winter Break

Final exam resources

Final exams continue through Wednesday, Dec. 8 — view the exam schedule here. 

• The University Libraries will have extended hours during exams — see hours of operation.
  
  
• The Student Learning Center offers academic resources for students, including study and test prep strategies.
  
  
• Academic coaching, workshops and more resources for students are available on the Office of Student Success' Services for Students page.
  
  
• The student Counseling Center offers a variety of counseling services, including Emergency Counseling Services, and has resources to support students heading into the final days of the semester. 

Additional resources for students:
Case Management • Academic Affairs • Mountaineer Food Hub & Free Store • Career Development Center • Wellness and Prevention Services

Preparing for winter break

• Remember: Residence halls will close for the winter break on Dec. 9 at noon — review University Housing’s winter break closing instructions for more information.
  
  
• On campus testing clinics continue, with the last testing clinic for 2021 taking place at Legends on Dec. 22 from noon to 4 p.m. The January schedule will be posted soon.
  
  
• Unvaccinated students and employees will be required to submit COVID-19 test results if they are on campus at any time leading up to and/or during the winter break.

Operations updates

• The Student Health Service clinic will close Dec. 23 and reopen on Jan. 4. The after-hours nurse line will be available at 828-262-3100 during the closure.
  
  
• The Counseling Center will be closed from Dec. 23-31. Regular hours resume Jan. 3. Remember: Emergency services are always available — call 828-262-3180 and select the option to speak with the counselor on-call.
  
  
• Campus Dining will operate an amended schedule through Dec. 10 and will be closed Dec. 11-Jan. 2.
  
  
• University Recreation will operate an amended schedule Dec. 4-17 and will be closed Dec. 18-Jan. 6.

COVID-19 testing resources:
COVID-19 Testing • Submit Your COVID-19 Test Results • Reporting COVID-19 Cases

Winter Break and Holiday Travel and Gatherings

The university will be closed for winter break Dec. 23-31 — view the 2021-22 holiday schedule.

During winter break

If you have not done so already, to protect yourself and your loved ones ahead of holiday travel and gatherings:

• Get a flu vaccine! CDC and NCDHHS continue to urge everyone to get vaccinated against the flu as well as COVID-19.
  
  
• Get a COVID-19 vaccine, booster or additional dose!
  
  
• Get tested for COVID-19 if you exhibit symptoms, even if you are fully vaccinated.
  
  
• If you test positive, self report your positive result to the university and seek treatment early. Treatment is not a substitute for vaccination against COVID-19.
  
  
• If you are vaccinated, talk with family and friends who are still unvaccinated about the benefits of the vaccine and consider taking them to get vaccinated over the break.

In preparation for Winter Break, Facilities Operations will share instructions with faculty and staff soon to help prepare university offices and property for energy savings. 

• Temperatures in most academic and support buildings will be lowered to maximize energy and cost savings.

In addition, to prepare for holiday travel and gatherings — review CDC’s Travel page and Holiday Celebrations page for guidance. Consider getting tested for COVID-19 prior to and after holiday travel.

Travel Resources:
Travel (CDC) • Holiday Celebrations (CDC) •  Small and Large Gatherings (CDC)

Flu vaccine resources:
Flu vaccine finder • Flu vaccine guidance (CDC) • Flu vaccine guidance (NCDHHS)

COVID-19 vaccine resources: 
COVID-19 Vaccines • Get your COVID-19 vaccination record (NCDHHS) • Vaccines for COVID-19 (CDC) • COVID-19 Vaccine Information (NCDHHS) • Get your COVID-19 vaccination record (NCDHHS)

Looking Ahead to Spring 2022

Spring 2022 semester classes begin Monday, Jan. 10.

Spring move-in for students living in residence halls

• Reminder: Residence halls will reopen for the spring 2022 semester on Jan. 7 at 8 a.m. University Housing has shared spring move-in instructions with students living in residence halls.

Spring 2022 COVID-19 testing

• On-campus testing clinics will continue during the spring 2022 semester. Additional information about testing locations and dates will be shared soon.
  
  
• All unvaccinated students and employees will continue to be required to submit COVID-19 test results each week.
  
  
• If you become fully vaccinated over the winter break, upload proof of full COVID-19 vaccination status to be removed from the required testing pool.

COVID-19 Testing resources:
COVID-19 Testing • Submit Your COVID-19 Test Results • Reporting COVID-19 Cases

Additional Information

Please remember to continue checking your App State email regularly prior to the Spring semester — these updates are also posted to App State’s Coronavirus site.

• The university adjusts COVID-19 safety protocols, procedure and policy according to the latest federal, state, local and UNC System guidance.
  
  
• Following CDC guidance, App State uses county-based community spread data to determine when requirements, such as wearing face coverings on campus, can be lessened or lifted.  

Additional resources:
Latest Updates • Face Coverings • COVID-19 Vaccines • Reporting COVID-19 Cases • COVID-19 Testing