Dec 05, 2024  
2024-2025 Graduate Bulletin 
    
2024-2025 Graduate Bulletin

Graduate Student Life



Appalachian Police Department

police.appstate.edu

The Appalachian State University Police Department supports the university’s academic mission by working in partnership with the campus community to prevent crime, solve problems and improve the quality of life on campus. The department’s philosophy is one of proactive community engagement, collaboration and customer service, holding the safety and health of Appalachian’s community members as its top priorities. State-certified police officers, security officers and civilian employees comprise the department, and this team of professionals helps to create and maintain an inclusive sense of belonging for all members of the Appalachian Community - students, faculty, staff and visitors. Additionally, through its efforts, the department aims to be a leader in innovative public safety ideas and strategies. Learn more at https://police.appstate.edu.

For emergencies, dial 911. For non-emergencies, our communications center should be contacted at (828) 262-8000 or (828) 262-2150. It is recommended that you program these numbers into your cell phone. You may also contact the police department via our Safety App called Rave Guardianemergencyprep.appstate.edu/appalachian-rave-guardian-campus-safety-app. This is a free mobile app that can be downloaded to any Apple or Android device and gives you the option of texting our communications center. There are also over 75 Blue Light emergency telephones located throughout campus that can be used to contact the police department.

To report a crime anonymously, log on to our website at police.appstate.edu and click on “Report Crime Information or Suspicious Activity Anonymously Online” or police.appstate.edu/crime-tip-submission-form. You can also contact Crime Stoppers at (828)268-6959 or www.tipsubmit.com/webtips.aspx?AgencyID=1251 or Text “NCTIP plus your tip” to 274637 (CRIMES).

The University’s Annual Security Report is available online at police.appstate.edu. The report includes statistics for reported crimes that occurred on-campus and institutional policies concerning campus security and fire safety, such as policies concerning sexual assault, building evacuation and other safety and security matters. If you would like to receive a paper copy of the report, you can request that a copy be mailed to you by calling APD at (828)262-2150.

The AppCard Office & Accounts

www.appcard.appstate.edu

AppCards

The AppCard Office, located on the second floor of the Campus Store, is responsible for issuing all AppCards. The cards are issued to all students upon their arrival on campus and serve as campus identification, and are electronically encoded to provide access to Meal Accounts and Express Accounts, access to campus residence halls and facilities, and student fee-supported events. 

Meal Accounts

Students who live on campus are required to select a Meal Account each semester as a part of their housing contract. Meal Accounts operate on a declining balance system, meaning students are only charged for what they select. Meal Accounts can be spent anytime, anywhere for any on-campus food purchase. Meal Accounts cannot be used off campus. 

What is the usage and refund policy for Meal Accounts?

Account balances carry over from summer to fall and from fall to spring semesters. The last day to use account balances is May Commencement. Any balance remaining after May Commencement is non-refundable and will not carry over into summer sessions or the fall semester. Refunds for Meal Accounts will be made only in the case of official withdrawal from the University during a semester. The money refunded will be from the current semester only. Money from the prior semester will not be refunded. Visit our website at appcard.appstate.edu (click on “Refund Policies”) for complete details.

Express Accounts

Express Accounts are optional accounts that may be set up for a student’s convenience. Balances carry over each year that a student is enrolled at Appalachian. Express Accounts operate on a declining balance system and are accepted at various on-campus locations. The accounts can be used to purchase any food items on campus, pay for laundry in dorms, swipe for printing in the library, buy tickets and much more.  Express Accounts cannot be used off campus and funds cannot be withdrawn as cash. The Express Account is separate from the Meal Account, but it is still accessed by the AppCard.

What is the refund policy for the Appalachian Express Account?

Full refunds for Express Accounts will be made only in the case of official withdrawal from the University during a semester. Account balances carry over each year that a student is enrolled at Appalachian. At separation, Express Account balances greater than $55.00 can be refunded if requested. A $50.00 fee applies. Refunds will be given once a year to students who request it by the last working day before May Commencement. Request for refunds must be made through the AppCard Office in Trivette Hall. Telephone number to request a refund is (828) 262-6141. Refunds will be issued from the Student Accounts Office in John E. Thomas Hall. Visit our website at appcard.appstate.edu (click on “Refund Policies”) for complete details.

Athletics

www.appstatesports.com

Appalachian State fields a successful NCAA Division I athletics program and is a proud member of the NCAA Division I FBS (Football Bowl Subdivision - the highest level of intercollegiate competition) Sun Belt Conference for 18 of its 20 sports (Appalachian State wrestling competes in the Division I Southern Conference and field hockey is a Division I Mid-American Conference).

While its success spans all 20 sports, Appalachian is perhaps most notable for its success on the gridiron. Mountaineer football won three-consecutive NCAA Division I FCS (Football Championship Subdivision) national championships from 2005-07 and a 34-32 victory over the University of Michigan (college football’s all-time winningest program) in 2007 put Appalachian in the national spotlight both academically and athletically. In 2015, Appalachian State became the first team to ever win 11 games in its first full-fledged season as a member of NCAA Division I FBS, going 11-2 with a 31-29 win over Ohio in the Raycom Media Camellia Bowl. The Camellia Bowl triumph also made Appalachian State the first team to ever win a bowl game in its first full-fledged FBS campaign and set a new Sun Belt Conference record for single-season victories.  With a 10-3 record in 2016 and another Camellia Bowl victory, Appalachian State football is now 27-5 over the last two and a half years.

In addition to their success in the athletic arena, Appalachian State student-athletes are also among the nation’s top performers in the classroom. In 2016, Appalachian State swept the Sun Belt Conference’s highest individual honors for academic performance (the Sun Belt Male and Female Postgraduate Student-Athletes of the Year awards) and, in 2015, Appalachian claimed the conference’s top academic honor for an athletic department when it won the Sun Belt Institutional Graduation Rate Award. In the spring semester of 2016, 222 students were named to the athletics department’s academic honor roll for compiling a 3.25 grade point average or higher, including 19 students that earned a perfect 4.0. GPA.

Appalachian State possesses some of the finest athletic facilities that the nation has to offer. Each of the Mountaineers’ 20 sports train and compete in facilities that have been built or remodeled since 2000. The facilities are highlighted by the 120,000-squarefoot Appalachian Athletics Center, which houses training and academic areas for all 20 sports. Other facilities include Kidd Brewer Stadium (football, track and field), the Holmes Center (basketball, volleyball, track and field), Beaver Field at the Jim and Bettie Smith Stadium (baseball), Sywassink/Lloyd Family Stadium (softball), Appalachian State Soccer Stadium at the Ted Mackorell Soccer Complex (soccer), Appalachian Varsity Courts (tennis), the Don Kennedy Trails (cross country) and Brandon & Erica M Adcock Field at Appalachian Field Hockey Stadium. The Mountaineers also practice in top-notch surroundings at the Sofield Family Indoor Practice Facility and Varsity Gym, which is also the competition venue for Appalachian State wrestling.

For the most up-to-date information on ASU athletics, visit www.appstatesports.com.

Career Development Center

careers.appstate.edu

Appalachian provides a full range of career services to assist students with career-related issues and career management skills. At Career Exploration Office, the Career Development Center’s satellite service, students can receive assistance in identifying academic majors and career options compatible with their interests, abilities, and values. Computerized guidance programs and other assessment tools assist with this process.

The Career Development Center offers individualized advising on self-managed career development, experiential learning, and personal marketing strategies. Students can access careers.appstate.edu for a variety of resources on careers, graduate schools, employers and full-time job opportunities. Information on internships can be found at internships.appstate.edu.

Special services for graduating students include on-campus interviews and an online career account for posting resumes and viewing job openings. Workshops, practice interviews, and resume critiques help prepare students for the job search, while career and internship fairs provide the opportunity for students to make direct contact with a wide range of employers.

Student Employment

The Student Employment Office assists students in obtaining part-time job opportunities. On campus jobs are found through the Federal Work Study program or various Student Temporary positions. Student Employment places students who have accepted an award for Work Study through the Financial Aid Office. For more details about the Work Study Program, please visit the following website: studentemployment.appstate.edu. Student Temporary work is found by applying with campus employers which include, but are not limited to: Food Services, University Recreation, University Housing, Belk Library and Information Commons, and the Child Development Centers.

For more information regarding finding employment, please go to studentemployment.appstate.edu or visit the Office of Student Employment located in John E. Thomas Hall, Room 389 to meet with a staff member.

Counseling and Psychological Services Center

www.counseling.appstate.edu

The Counseling and Psychological Services Center is part of a comprehensive program of student services within the Division of Student Development at Appalachian State University. The Center has as its primary purpose the prevention of psychological difficulties and treatment of the mental health concerns of its students. To meet this goal, the Center provides confidential individual, couples and group counseling for a variety of developmental and psychological issues. Common concerns addressed include stress, anxiety, depression, relationship concerns, identity and values clarification, grief, overcoming traumatic experiences, and eating concerns.  The Center also provides daytime and after-hours emergency services for students experiencing urgent mental health concerns such as recent suicidal thoughts, recent sexual assault, the death of a friend or loved one, etc.  The Center is staffed by licensed psychologists and counselors and serves as a training site for an APA-accredited doctoral psychology internship, as well as a training site for externs and practicum students from the Clinical Psychology, Clinical Mental Health Counseling, and Social Work graduate programs at Appalachian State University.

The Center also seeks to assist in the creation and maintenance of a University environment that will foster the well-being and personal development of its members. The Center provides outreach programs and psychoeducational workshops in a variety of venues to address such issues as eating disorders, recognizing signs of depression, stress management, and suicide prevention. Center staff also are available to consult with University students, faculty, staff and others concerned about the psychological wellbeing of any University student.

Environmental Health, Safety and Emergency Management

ehsem.appstate.edu and emergency.appstate.edu

The Office of Environmental Health, Safety and Emergency Management (EHS&EM) is responsible for reducing unintentional accidents and injuries on campus by providing environmental health, fire prevention, safety, and emergency management services. EHS&EM works with faculty, staff, and students to reduce risk in Appalachian’s living, learning, researching, and working environments.

EHS&EM manages the emergency preparedness programs for Appalachian State University, including the AppState-ALERT voice and text emergency notification system. For instructions on how to register your cell phone to receive emergency voice and text messages, visit ehsem.appstate.edu and click the Emergency Management tile. You may also enroll during the class registration and drop/add periods. To learn more about how to prepare for campus emergencies, download emergency guides, and access campus emergency information, visit the emergency preparedness website at emergency.appstate.edu. For more information on any of the programs and services offered by EHS&EM, call (828) 262-4008 or email safety@appstate.edu.

Food Services

foodservices.appstate.edu

Appalachian Food Services is proudly operated by Appalachian State University and is committed to supporting students and the university through good food and good business. Food Services oversees campus dining, the markets, App Bakery, App Catering, concessions at Kidd Brewer Stadium, and campus vending. Food Services works with the Office of Sustainability on initiatives that support Appalachian’s missiontoward zero waste, which include pre-consumer composting and local food purchasing.Approximately 21 percent of the food purchased in the 2016-17 academic year was sourced locally. Food Services’ culinary staff, lead by Executive Chef Jules Bott, want students to thrive, and are conscious of dietary restrictions and accommodate them daily. Food Services also provides on-campus employment for students, and is the largest employer of students on campus. For more information please visit foodservices.appstate.edu.

Dining Facilities

Located in Roess Dining Hall in the middle of campus, Rivers Street Cafe contains a variety of concepts including home-style cooking, brick oven pizza, a concept focused on vegan and vegetarian meals, and custom wraps, noodles, and stir-fry dishes. Sanford Commons, located across the hall from Rivers Street, offers quick service options including Chick-Fil-A and custom burritos and subs. Trivette Hall, on West campus, is home to Park Place Café which serves rotating menus, grab and go options and custom Asian stir fry. In Plemmons Student Union, Cascades Café serves smoothies, pastries, and quick meal options. McAlister’s Deli is located on the second floor of the union and offers dine in and carry out. A McAlister’s select, which only offers carry out, is located in Trivette Hall.  Food Services also operates three campus convenience stores: the Bookstore Market, the Market at Appalachian Panhellenic Hall and the Market at Trivette.

App Catering

App Caterings offers handcrafted dishes inspired by the latest trends and classic comforts brought to life by trained culinary professionals, and works with local partners to source local ingredients whenever possible. Services are customized for various events across the Appalachian community including the chancellor, university administration, academic departments, athletics, alumni and student groups. Orders can be made with a Meal Account.  Please visit our website at catering.appstate.edu for more information.

George M. Holmes Convocation Center and Seby B. Jones Arena

theholmescenter.com

The purpose of the George M. Holmes Convocation Center is to provide facilities for the Department of Health and Exercise Science as well as Appalachian’s basketball and volleyball teams and to support the academic processes of Appalachian State University.

Serving as a multi-purpose arena for the northwestern region of North Carolina, the Center will support University-sponsored events, such as Commencement and Open House. Cultural events, concerts, trade shows, athletic events and other public assembly activities will also be a part of the Center’s programming.

Since several departments will share the facility, all efforts will be made to accommodate the activities of each department. Because the schedule for the Center will be constantly changing, every effort will be made to keep all concerned updated. University sponsored events such as commencement, convocation, and student recruiting events will have priority over all other events. Please contact the Center’s Director for reservations.

Graduate Student Government Association

gsas.appstate.edu

The Graduate Student Government Association (GSGA) of Appalachian State University is is a body of appointed senators representing each department within the Graduate School whose goal and mission is to empower graduate students to express their concern for the welfare of the graduate students enrolled in the University, provide graduate students the opportunity to develop and disseminate ideas for the improvement of graduate education, enable graduate students to contribute to the formation of relevant University Policy, support graduate students in the conceptualization of new opportunities for funding initiatives that will improve overall performance in graduate studies, and give graduate students opportunities to engage in social and collegiate activities that will strengthen their Appalachian State University experience and identity.

Office of Community-Engaged Leadership

cel.appstate.edu

Appalachian State University prides itself in providing students with a transformational experience. This is accomplished through an intentional combination of academic rigor found in the classroom and personal growth developed through diverse experiences. The Department of Student Engagement and Leadership invites students to enrich their Appalachian experience as active contributors to this vibrant campus community. Students who excel both in and out of the classroom put themselves in position to be competitive for the most selective of internships, full-time positions, fellowships, and graduate programs.

Appalachian offers more than 400 student clubs and organizations to get involved with including academic, honors, special interest, service, multicultural, religious, and club sports.  In addition, we have over 30 fraternities and sororities with nearly 2,000 students involved in fraternity and sorority life on campus.  Students have an opportunity to learn about involvement through club expos held each semester, club advertising and recruitment activities, new student orientation and by visiting the Campus Activities Office in room 244 in Plemmons Student Union.

AppSync serves as your one-stop-shop to campus involvement and leadership opportunities.  All students, faculty, and staff have access to AppSync, where you can explore the involvement directory and learn about all of our student organizations and leadership programs.  There is also a campus calendar where you can view all the exciting things happening on campus, so you can connect with friends and attend events.  Visit appsync.appstate.edu to login and explore the endless ways to get involved.

Student Media provides students the opportunity to become involved with campus media while developing writing, editing, photography, graphic design and advertising skills that enhance classroom learning and provide hands-on experience that translates to job opportunities on leaving the University. The Appalachian, the University’s award-winning weekly newspaper, is distributed free on-campus to keep students informed of important campus events. The Appalachian Online is Student Media’s website containing the latest news from the pages of The Appalachian, as well as links to other sources of information. Both the print version of The Appalachian and the online version offer an instructional experience for students interested in careers as student journalists. Students learn the responsibilities of a free press by making all content decisions.

Intercultural Student Affairs

multicultural.appstate.edu

The Office of Intercultural Student Affairs, a part of the Division of Student Affairs, contributes to the academic mission of Appalachian State University by providing marginalized and underrepresented students with mentoring, advocacy, community and identity affirmation; as well as by offering multiple and varied learning opportunities for all Appalachian students to develop an appreciation for diversity and different perspectives, enhance self-awareness, increase multicultural knowledge and strengthen intercultural competency.

Intercultural Student Affairs operates three student-led outreach centers: the LGBT Center, Multicultural Center and Women’s Center.

Intercultural Student Affairs aspires to offer leadership, advocacy and serve as a resource to all Appalachian State University constituents and residents of Northwest North Carolina in matters concerning diversity. Intercultural Student Affairs also aspires to contribute to a campus-wide conversation that advances the University’s commitment to an inclusive learning environment for everyone.

Mary S. Shook Student Health Service

healthservices.appstate.edu

Mission Statement:  The Mary S. Shook Student Health Services exists to help meet the health needs of the students of Appalachian State University. This care is provided with a secondary intent to allow our students/patients to continue to participate as fully as possible within the classroom. Additionally, the Health Services endeavors to engender good health habits and attitudes that may project themselves into practices that will enhance the future emotional and physical well-being of those we serve.

Location:  Miles Annas Student Support Services Building on Howard Street.

Hours: 8am-4pm Monday-Friday (9am-4pm Wednesday). Limited service (acute illness and injury without ancillary services: Saturday: 10am-2pm, and Sunday: 1pm-5pm. Some Breaks 8am-11am).

Eligibility: Students paying fees for nine or more credit hours during an academic semester or at least one credit hour during a summer term are eligible for care at the Health Service. Students who are enrolled and pay fees for less than those hours may elect to pay the Health Service fee at the Student Accounts office and be eligible for care. The Health Service is funded by this student health fee.

A current, valid Student ID must be presented before each visit to the Health Service.

Cost:  Many services provided require no payment other than the health fee, though there is a nominal charge for some services.

Sick Visits:  Work in appointments are available by self-scheduling appointments online or by presenting to SHS during our clinic hours

Well Visits: While Student Health is not your primary care provider, non-acute care is provided during scheduled appointments.  Appointment line:  828-262-6577

Services:  The Health Service provides clinical services with supporting clinical laboratory services, x-ray services, injury rehabilitative services, and pharmaceutical services. The Student Health Service utilizes consultants within the immediate area, as well as consultants at large medical centers when appropriate to secure needed services and expertise.

Telephone Service:  Whenever our clinic is not open, you may contact our after-hours nurse telephone service. To speak with a Registered Nurse, call (828) 262-3100 and follow the prompts.

Note Policy:  The AppState Student Health Service Clinic, per AppState Policy, does not write medical excuses for students who miss class. This is based on both the Faculty Handbook  and the Undergraduate Bulletin.

HIPPA:  We value our AppState student parents.  But know that Student Health Service (SHS) treats all students as adults. Even though parents may be  paying AppState tuition, per privacy law, SHS is not able to disclose health information to parents except as your students  request per visit or problem.  We do not accept a blanket statement from students giving permission for SHS to disclose all health information to parents.

Flu Shots:  Are available beginning in the fall for a small fee.

Medical Withdrawals

Students who wish to withdraw from the University for health reasons must do this through the Health Service and receive a medical clearance before being re-admitted. This clearance must present evidence that the condition which necessitated withdrawal has improved and that there is reasonable expectation of the student’s ability to participate in University life.

Health History Forms

Should be completed on the Student Health MedPortal:  healthservices.appstate.edu/medportal prior to any visits for Student Health services) If not already completed, the student will be asked to complete this while in Student Health Service, prior to any health related visit.

REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL STUDENTS

Health Insurance Requirement

DEADLINE FOR COMPLETION:  July 1 for fall semester & Jan 1 for spring semester. 

Students meeting the three specific criteria below are required to show evidence of an existing “creditable coverage” health insurance policy OR enroll in the UNC system-wide plan. 

  • Enrollment in a degree-seeking program, AND 
  • Enrollment in a minimum of 6 credit hours, AND 
  • Eligibility to pay the campus student health fee. 

A student who meets the three criteria above is automatically enrolled in the UNC system-wide plan each semester and is obligated for the cost of the plan for that semester-unless the student submits an online waiver request that is successfully verified as creditable coverage. No paperwork is required. The Web portal to waive out of the UNC system plan may be found via a link at ASU Student Health Service website. Go to:  healthservices.appstate.edu and click on the “Health Insurance information”  A response to a waiver request submission typically will be made within no more than three business days once the verification process begins

Immunization Requirements

DEADLINE FOR COMPLETION:  July 1 for fall semester & Jan 1 for spring semester. 

To prevent communicable disease outbreaks on campus, the State of North Carolina requires all full time university students to provide evidence that they have met specific immunization requirements.

Failure to meet these requirements requires ASU to withdraw student from the university.  We strive not to do this. 

Official Immunization Records should be uploaded into the Student Health Service MedPortal, Also, the date of each required immunization must be entered into the MedPortal at healthservices.appstate.edu/medportal.

REQUIRED IMMUNIZATIONS

  • Tetanus:  childhood series and Tdap (Tetanus, Diphtheria, and Pertussis) at 10 or older.
  • MMR: two dose series
  • Hepatitis B: three dose series
  • Polio:  4 dose series required for those younger than 18
  • Tuberculosis Skin Test:  required only for none citizens

RECORDS MUST INCLUDE

  • Student’s name, date of birth and ASU Banner ID number on each page
  • Name address and phone number of the clinic providing the immunization record
  • On clinic letterhead, hand written, or stamped with clinic information
  • Day, Month and Year of each immunization received

We welcome your input.  Comments may be directed to the Student Health Service director:  healthservices.appstate.edu

Parking and Traffic

parking.appstate.edu

The University Parking and Traffic Department is responsible for providing parking services and traffic control for all faculty, staff, students and visitors to the campus. Individuals who wish to park a motor vehicle on University controlled property between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, must obtain a parking permit from the Parking and Traffic Department before doing so. Several types of permits are available, dependent upon the category of the registrant. The appropriate permit will be provided at the time of registration, subject to availability. Fees are charged for parking permits, as designated by the University’s Board of Trustees. For further information, please contact the Parking and Traffic Department at (828) 262-2878, visit the website (noted above) or visit our office in the Rivers Street Parking Deck.

Post Office

po.appstate.edu

A United States Post Office Contract Station is maintained by Appalachian in the Miles Annas Student Services Building. A mailbox is provided for students living on campus and will be automatically assigned to them approximately August 1st. Students may check online under their AppalNet account to find their ASU Box number and the combination for their mailbox. The mailboxes are located in the Appalachian State University Post Office in the Miles Annas student Support facility at 614 Howard Street. The student’s University mailbox address is used by the University for communicating with each student and for receiving personal mail/packages via United States Postal Service, UPS and FedEx. For this reason, students are responsible for checking their University mailboxes frequently. Also, be sure to include your ASU Box number in your address.

Students not living on campus will not be assigned a mailbox unless they opt in for a mailbox and pay a $41.00 fee, this is a per semester fee. Opting in must be done each fall and spring semester. The fall semester opt in option will be available starting July 15 and spring semester opt in will be available after the end of fall semester. * Students wanting to opt in and keep their current mailbox must complete the process within a week or two after the option is available. If not done in time the mailbox may be reassigned to another student and a different mailbox will be assigned to the student opting in.

If a student chooses to opt in for a campus mailbox, they may do so by logging into their AppalNet account, clicking on “Self-service”, and then click on the “Personal Information” tab. Next, click the “ASU Post Office Box Opt In” link, check the box acknowledging the Opt In, and click “Submit.” A pop up window will appear asking you to confirm the fee.

Any student who has had a mailbox but moving off campus and not opting in for a mailbox will have their mailbox reassigned to another student. If this is the case, the student should go to the Appalachian State University Post Office to submit a change of address form to have their mail forwarded to another address. The Post Office will forward all mail for which postage has been paid. It will not forward any university mail without postage.

Visit our website at po.appstate.edu for a complete description of services.

Office of Student Conduct

Academic Integrity Code & Code of Student Conduct

studentconduct.appstate.edu and academicintergrity.appstate.edu

Appalachian State University is committed to maintaining an environment that supports and encourages the pursuit and dissemination of knowledge. All members of the academic community - students, faculty, administrators and staff, share in the responsibility of protecting and promoting that environment and all are expected to exemplify high standards of professional and personal conduct.

As an academic community, the University has an interest in the safety, welfare, and education of the members of this community and in fostering an environment consistent with the educational mission, purpose, and processes of the University. Appalachian’s Academic Integrity Code and the Code of Student Conduct were developed to assist students in their learning beyond the classroom into all aspects of life.

When students voluntarily enter the University, they assume obligations of performance and behavior relevant to the University’s mission, processes, and functions. Expectations of students in an academic community are higher than those of other citizens. A violation of these standards and expectations can result in disciplinary sanctions.

Sanctions are designed to be educational in nature and focuses on promoting responsible conduct, teaches about the consequences of misconduct for the individual and the community, provides opportunities for growth and development, and holds students accountable for their behavior. However, students who fail to follow community standards are treated similarly to students who have failed academically and can be removed from the University.

The illegal or abusive use of alcohol and other drugs by members of the academic community adversely affects this educational environment. North Carolina and federal laws restrict or prohibit the use of alcohol and other drugs in various contexts. The illegal or abusive use of alcohol and other drugs is not compatible with personal health and welfare and the pursuit of academic excellence, and will not be tolerated by Appalachian State University on or off campus or as part of any institutional activities.

The Office of the Dean of Students is host to the Student Legal Clinic. An attorney is available to assist students with legal concerns that arise during their academic experience. The most common issues are landlord and tenant disputes, minor criminal issues, and traffic violations. An appointment to meet with Ms. Karla Rusch can be scheduled by calling (828) 262-8284.

Students, faculty and staff are encouraged to contact the Office of Student Conduct at any time for consultation on policies and procedures. The Office of Student Conduct, located on the third floor of the Plemmons Student Union, may be reached by telephone at (828) 262-2704, by fax at (828) 262-4997, or by email at studentconduct@appstate.edu.

Student Research

osr.appstate.edu

The Office of Student Research (OSR) works to promote and support research and creative activity of undergraduate and graduate students, particularly activities conducted in collaboration with members of the faculty at Appalachian State University. The primary functions of the OSR are: advocacy for student-faculty research; identifying and pursuing sources of external and internal support for that research; seeking, collecting and disseminating information regarding student-faculty research opportunities; cooperating with other campus units to identify or create research opportunities; coordinating the university’s annual Celebration of Student Research and Creative Endeavors; contributing to the UNC-Office of the President Undergraduate Research Consortium; and participating in national dialogues/meetings devoted to promoting student research.

Testing Services

testing.appstate.edu

The Office of Testing Services provides high quality testing and assessment services that observe the National College Testing Association (NCTA) professional testing standards and guidelines in order to successfully meet the growing needs of our students, faculty, administration and community.

Testing Services provides a computer-based testing center in John E. Thomas Hall for administration of a wide variety of national entrance/certification exams to support ASU students and faculty, members of the community, and working professionals from around the region. The Center also administers nationally scheduled paper and pencil exams such as LSAT, PRAXIS II, GRE Subject Tests, and National Counselors Exam on Saturdays throughout the year in Anne Belk Hall/Old Belk Library. Please check the calendar for test dates and locations.

For more detailed information on all of the testing options available visit the Testing Center website at testing.appstate.edu.

University Bookstore

bookstore.appstate.edu

The University Bookstore, located at the center of campus beside the student union offers a variety of goods and services to support the needs of students, faculty and staff. Institutionally owned and operated, a portion of bookstore revenues support student scholarships and benefit the campus community.

The bookstore manages the university’s fee based undergraduate rental textbook program, one of the most comprehensive rental textbook programs in the country, that entitles students to receive the main textbook for most undergraduate courses. The average undergraduate student saves hundreds of dollars a semester. Workbooks, manuals, digital access packages and supplemental texts are not included. Students that fail to return rental textbooks by the established deadline at the end of each term will be billed the replacement cost of all unreturned, or damaged books. Graduate students and App State Online students are not eligible for the rental program, but their materials are available for purchase here.

The bookstore is the only authorized Apple Computer Reseller in the area, and houses a large assortment of general reading materials including titles from faculty authors. It is also the largest provider of imprinted clothing and gifts. Visit our website for more detailed information at bookstore.appstate.edu.

University Housing

The University does not maintain housing facilities for graduate students. Graduate students, international students, and students with dependents must make their own arrangements for housing in the community while enrolled. There are many apartment complexes and homes for rent near campus. More information about off-campus housing is available on the off-campus student services website (offcampus.appstate.edu).