Continue to Protect Yourself and Your App State Community

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. 10 message to campus, Chancellor Sheri Everts shared information about today’s commencement ceremonies and the Dec. 18 Boca Bowl football game, bonuses for employees that will be in the Dec. 21, 2021 payroll and the across-the-board salary increases that will be in the Jan. 31, 2022 payroll.

Key upcoming dates:

• Dec. 10: Fall 2021 Commencement
• Dec. 13: Final grades due 1 p.m.; final day to submit incomplete grades from spring and summer 2021
• 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.

Preparing for Winter Break

This is the final COVID-19 update for 2021. These updates will resume on Jan. 7, 2022. The App State COVID-19 dashboard updates will resume on Jan. 18, 2022. 

Continue to check your App State email regularly over the break for information about returning to campus, scholarship applications, operations updates and other important news and reminders.

Preparing for winter break 

• Students, if you have not done so already, submit proof of full COVID-19 vaccination by Dec. 15 to be eligible to win a $1,000 scholarship. Students received a reminder email with instructions on Dec. 7. Winners will be notified by Dec. 17 via their student MedPortal accounts.
  
  
• The last on-campus testing clinic for 2021 is Dec. 22 from noon to 4 p.m. at Legends.
  
  
• From Dec. 22 - Jan. 2, temperatures in most academic and support buildings will be lowered to maximize energy and cost savings — review Facilities Operations’ Winter Break Heating Schedule for details and additional information.
  
  
• Unvaccinated students and employees are required to submit COVID-19 test results if they are on campus at any time leading up to and/or during the winter break.

Campus operations reminders

Visit area websites for adjusted winter break hours of operation.

• The Student Health Service clinic will close Dec. 23 and reopen on Jan. 3. The after-hours nurse line will remain 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 be closed Dec. 11-Jan. 2 — view the Spring 2022 Opening Schedule for more information.  
  
  
• University Recreation will operate an amended schedule through Dec. 17 and will be closed Dec. 18-Jan. 6. 

During Winter Break

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

• The Office of Human Resources will share information soon about alternative work and leave options available during this year’s university winter break closure.
  
  
• Reminder: Unvaccinated students and employees are required to submit COVID-19 test results if they are on campus at any time. This applies to the winter break, as well during the spring semester.

Protect yourself and your loved ones!

According to CDC, vaccines remain the best public health measure to protect against COVID-19, slow transmission and reduce the likelihood of new variants emerging. 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.

Review CDC’s Travel page and Holiday Celebrations page for guidance to prepare for holiday travel and gatherings, and layer your protections to protect yourself and others:

• Get a flu vaccine!
  
  
• Get a COVID-19 vaccine, booster or additional dose! 
  
  
• CDC recommends everyone 16 and older receive a booster shot.
  
  
• The university continues to offer Pfizer-BioNTech (Comirnaty), Moderna and Johnson and Johnson’s Janssen vaccines and boosters by appointment.
  
  
• Get tested for COVID-19 if you exhibit symptoms, even if you are fully vaccinated, and consider getting tested prior to and after holiday travel.
  
  
• 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.

Resources:
Flu vaccine finder • COVID-19 Vaccines • Get your COVID-19 vaccination record

Spring 2022 Reminders

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 resume on Jan. 4. 
  
  
• All unvaccinated students and employees will continue to be required to submit COVID-19 test results each week.
  
  
• Reminder: 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.

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 • North Carolina’s COVID-19 Information Hub