Student Affairs

Orientation 2025/Welcome to App

🌟Orientation 2025: Welcoming Our Newest Mountaineers and Their Families🌟

Orientation season is in the ‘neer future, and we're excited to welcome new students and their families to App State! Whether you're directly involved or want to stay informed, here's what to know about the upcoming summer!

📅 Key Orientation Dates:

• First-Year (Boone Campus – 1-Day Sessions): June 2, 6, 9, 10, 12, 16, 17, 19, 20, 23, 24, 26
• Transfer (Boone Campus – 1-Day Sessions): May 30, June 13, June 27, August 11
• Overnight Orientation (Special Populations – First-Year & Transfer): July 10–11, July 14–15, July 17–18. Note: These include Day 1 programming by New Mountaineer and Family Engagement (NMFE) and a traditional campus-wide Orientation on Day 2.
• Hickory Campus Sessions: June 3, August 6, August 12
• App State Online Orientation: Asynchronous AsULearn Course available May 9 – August 8

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Parent & Family Orientation: Family Orientation provides family members with insights into student success, campus life, and current student experiences, led by university administrators, faculty, and current students. Family Orientation takes place on the same dates as the student sessions. Participation is optional, and families must register separately after their student has registered for orientation. Limit 2 guests per student.

💬 We'll be reaching out to individual departments soon to explore opportunities for involvement. Your support - whether through direct participation or by helping create a welcoming environment - greatly contributes to the success of these programs.

🔗 Learn more or check session details: orientation.appstate.edu and families.appstate.edu/family-orientation

📍 Welcome to App Programming: Don’t forget—our Welcome to App programs! From community events to academic workshops, these experiences will help students build connections, explore campus, and start their Mountaineer journey strong. Welcome to App Committee Meetings will start soon (get Yosef ready!)

💛 Thank you for all you do to support our incoming Mountaineers and their families. Let's make Orientation 2025 a memorable experience for our new Mountaineers and their families!

With Mountaineer Pride,

-The NMFE Team! 

University Housing's Spring Closing Plans

University Housing has finalized its Spring closing plan for the residence halls! Here is a quick layout of important dates and information for the end of the Spring semester.

• Move-out deadlines:
• Residents must check out within 24 hours of their last final unless extenuating circumstances apply. Residents may email their hall supervisor about an extension for an extenuating circumstance.
• Non-graduating students must move out by noon on Friday, May 9.
• Graduating students must move out by noon on Sunday, May 11.

• Move-out and traffic considerations:
• Residents moving out on the morning of Friday, May 9 should expect significant traffic, and are being encouraged to move out before May 9 or before 7:30 a.m. on May 9.
• To avoid significant traffic, graduating students are being encouraged to move out before 7:30 a.m. or after 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 10, or anytime Sunday morning.

In the residence halls, 24-Hour Quiet Hours start at 10 PM on Tuesday, April 29th and continue until Friday, May 9th at noon. Residence Hall staff will be sitting at the RA desk in each hall to check out students between 10 AM and 10 PM, May 1st through 8th, as well as 10 AM through noon on Friday, May 9th. If a student needs to check out of their on-campus housing outside of these dates and hours, they may return their key to the express checkout boxes in the lobby of their residence hall, in a fully completed express checkout envelope.

If students have any questions about Spring closing, please encourage them to reach out to their hall supervisor, or the University Housing main office at [email protected].

Water Safety

10 Safety Tips for Enjoying the Pool, Lake, and Beach This Summer

Cheryl J. Eddins UREC Assistant Director Aquatics and Safety

As the weather gets warmer, more people love to enjoy the coolness of the water. Unfortunately, the CDC reports that the number one cause of accidental preventable deaths for ages 1-4 is drowning.

Please take a few moments and read these important tips to keep your family and friends safe this season.

Tip # 1 Swim Lessons Save Lives

Tip # 2 Adult Supervision is Required even in Lifeguarded Pools

Lifeguards are there to keep everyone safe, but your child’s safety is your responsibility.  Recent studies show that the number one distraction is cell phones. It takes 20-26 seconds for a child to drown and most drownings are silent.

Tip # 3 Never Swim Alone

Always use a buddy system in open water so help or a call is available immediately.

Tip # 4 Use a Coast Guard Approved PFD in the Pool or Open Water

PFDs are useful in a pool for weak swimmers in a pool. They are necessary in case of a boating accident in a lake or ocean. A person is not likely to drown with this useful device on, so don’t forget to Wear It not just Pack It.

Tip # 5 No Breath Holding Games or Underwater Swimming

Underwater Hypoxic Breathing (UHB) occurs when you hold your breath resulting in oxygen deprivation to the brain potentially causing fainting underwater. This is preventable by simply avoiding breath holding water activities.

Tip # 6 Alcohol and Water Don’t Mix

Alcohol impairs your motor skills as well as judgement and more water accidents occur when drinking and participating in water activities.

Tip # 7 Be Aware of Dangers in Waterfalls, Lakes, Rivers, and Oceans

Dangers include rip currents, underwater fallen trees, slippery rocks, and other hidden hazards.  Diving into ocean waves and unknown depths are especially dangerous.

Tip # 8 Never Swim during Thunderstorms Indoors or Outdoors

The National Safety Lightening Institute recommends no swimming during a storm when the storm is within 10 miles.

Tip # 9 Don’t Drive through Flooded Areas

During Hurricane Helene, in North Carolina, there were over 200 flood water rescues by the National Guard and local teams. Turn around and don’t drive through flooded waters.

Tip # 10 Learn CPR

If a near drowning occurs, knowing CPR and being that first responder gives that individual a higher chance of survival. Remember to start rescue breaths first in drowning cases.

Black & Gold Leadership Awards

The purpose of the Black & Gold Leadership Awards is to recognize the outstanding leadership and achievements of Appalachian State University’s student organizations, student leaders, and club advisors. The awards ceremony was hosted by Campus Activities and Club Council, the governing and advocacy body for student clubs and organizations. This event took place on Wednesday, April 9th in the Plemmons Student Union.

Congratulations again to all our Black & Gold Leadership Award winners!  We had a wonderful time celebrating students, faculty and staff this past Wednesday!  Pictures from the event can be found HERE!!  The award winners are listed below:

Collaboration Award

• CEL Civic Literacy Team, SGA, APPS, Club Council for Part at the Polls

Community Impact Award

• Alpha Tau Omega
• Ice Hockey Club

Outstanding Educational Program

• Japanese Culture Club

Membership Development Award

• Forensic Science Club

Outside the Box Award

• Graduate Student Government Association

Appalachian Image Award

• App Builds a Home

Leaders in Action Award

• College Democrats of Appalachian State

Best New Student Organization Award

• Global Medical Brigades

Outstanding Organization Award - Club Sport

• Women's Ultimate Club

Outstanding Organization Award - FSL

• Zeta Tau Alpha

Outstanding Organization Award - General Clubs

• App State Geek Guild

Outstanding Organization Award - Department Affiliated Org

• Residence Hall Association (RHA)

Student Organization of the Year

• Gamma Iota Sigma

Unsung Champion Award

• Zac Moreno (Appalachian Popular Programming Society)

Rising Star Award

• Jesus Sisniega-Serrano (Latin Hispanic Alliance)

Outstanding Achievement Award

• Mia Acosta-Nicholson (Latin Hispanic Alliance)
• Kaylee Taylor (Kappa Alpha Pi, Pre-Law and Government Fraternity)

Commitment to Justice Award

• Nicole Tran (Student Government Association)

Spirit of Service Award

• Shane Johnson (National Residence Hall Honorary)

Dr. Jim Street Award for Outstanding Presidential Leadership

• Ethan Wittig (Student Builders Association)

Outstanding Advisor Award

• Danni Capps (Hospitality & Tourism Management)
• Kayla Engel (Residence Hall Association)

Gregory S. Blimling Award for Outstanding Graduate Student

• Natalee Jamerson, Campus Activities
• Kaleigh Del Greco, Community-Engaged Leadership

Bobby L. Dunnigan Outstanding Service Award

• Megan Taylor, University Recreation
• Megan Gilmore, Plemmons Student Union

Ronny L. Brooks Leadership Award

• Jake Jenson
• Margaret-Ann Littauer
• Kam Smith
• Jaden Hatcher
• Kaylee Greene

W.H. Plemmons Leadership Medallion

• JP Neri
• Kathryn Long
• Amarah Din
• Savannah Raley
• Misty Mayfield - staff
• Dr. Rita Joyner - faculty
• Dr. Heather Jo Mashburn - SA educator