/ Announcements

Announcements

Messages from the Chief Diversity Officer

Honoring Veterans, Celebrating Native American Heritage

This month, App State will honor veterans and other members of our military community during Heroes Week Nov. 3-10, 2023 Military Mountaineer Homecoming Nov. 3-4 and Veterans Day on Nov. 10. The Office of Diversity is committed to supporting this valued population of Mountaineers by helping them transition from military service to civilian life — or balance the two. In addition, November is National Native American Heritage Month, and there is a variety of programming planned for those who wish to participate.

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Introducing the Campus Climate Support Program

In 2021, in response to student and employee feedback through surveys and other channels, Chancellor Sheri Everts charged an App State working group to study the need for a formal process to report bias-related incidents and hate incidents that do not rise to the level of policy or code violations. After assessing campus feedback, analyzing our current campus environments and studying reporting processes at peer institutions, the working group developed a protocol for our university: App State’s Campus Climate Support Program.

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Be Here. Be You.

I was excited by the enrollment news Chancellor Everts shared on Sept. 8, as App State’s enrollment broke records for first-year, online and underrepresented students. While the population of full-time students living in Boone remains essentially the same, our most diverse student body ever includes 19% racially and/or ethnically diverse students, 31% first-generation students and 31% rural students.

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Supporting one another with inclusive practices, celebrating Black History Month

On behalf of the App State leadership and community, I would like to express my support to our Jewish community following last night’s incident at the Temple of the High Country, where a Nazi flag was draped over the Temple’s sign. While the flag was not displayed on campus, such an expression of hatred and anti-semitism impacts the wellbeing and sense of safety and belonging that all members of our campus community deserve.

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Commemorating MLK with a focus on health equity, service to others

As we begin a new semester and a new year. I’m pleased to provide you with an update on App State’s universitywide diversity and inclusion initiatives. Next month, App State will continue a longstanding tradition of celebrating the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with two signature events that continue key aspects of his legacy: a day of service and a distinguished speaker focused on changing our world for the better.

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Affirming Native American heritage and recognizing veterans in November

November is Native American Heritage Month, when our country recognizes the significant contributions of America’s Indigenous peoples. App State has planned several activities this month to celebrate our nation’s Native American heritage, building upon the Oct. 24 Gadugi Fall Speaker Series event “Voting in Indian Country: The View from the Trenches” and the Nov. 2 showing of “Powerlands” (part of the American Indian Film Series).

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