Interim Chancellor

[Stonewall]

You are not alone in that thought.

[scatman77]

You are not alone in that thought.

Agreed. Hire Heather now. She's earned it and I've not seen or read anything negative regarding her tenure. It's time to remove the interim title.

[T-Dog]

A plus to naming Norris the permanent chancellor would be to make sure App State's voice is heard in Raleigh for this year's N.C. General Assembly biennium.

Basically, every odd-numbered year is the first year of the two-year session for all 120 N.C. House reps and 50 N.C. Senate reps, all elected to two-year terms. The first year is when a vast majority of the budget for the next two years gets done.

The "long session" starts on Jan. 29. Local governments and institutions need to get their budget requests in ASAP so legislators can try to get them in the budget before they debate certain controversial provisions such as casinos.

With Helene recovery funding still a big topic and another Helene bill likely coming this spring, there will likely be less discretionary spending.

If the UNC Board of Governors hires an outside person, they likely won't start until July 1, the start of the new fiscal year, and so that person couldn't get anything done in Raleigh until 2027.

Take the interim tag off Norris and you have someone who can immediately go and speak to Ralph Hise (Spruce Pine senator who represents an area including Watauga), who is a high-ranking state politician, and Blowing Rock's Rep. Ray Pickett and get App State's requests in.

The UNC BOG is having their next regular meetings next week, Jan. 29-30. No agenda out yet so it's unknown if a new chancellor will be on the schedule. They can call a special meeting with 48 hours notice if needed when a chancellor hire is ready.

[Stonewall]

Speaker of the House Destin Hall is an Alumnus. One of the two most powerful legislators in North Carolina. Hise is also.

[VNova]

At first, I was annoyed with the emails from the Chancellor…until I read them. Then I got increasingly excited to hear about the progress App was making and the support App was providing to the community (and the impact of both!).

I realized the reason I was initially annoyed was because I never received updates from the chancellor with such frequency before (mind you, Dr. Everts was the first chancellor after I graduated). Her simple change made me a more engaged alum almost immediately. Based on everything I’ve read, I hope Dr. Norris will be able to continue the work she’s doing as the Chancellor.

[AppSt94]

Do we know that she wants the job full time?

[AppinVA]

Do we know that she wants the job full time?

She’s not acted like a placeholder. It looks like she wants this job, or she’s auditioning for one somewhere else. I usually don’t care for the old Appalachian way of “after a National search, we found the best candidate under our nose,” but in this case, it may be so.

[AppSt94]

Do we know that she wants the job full time?

She’s not acted like a placeholder. It looks like she wants this job, or she’s auditioning for one somewhere else. I usually don’t care for the old Appalachian way of “after a National search, we found the best candidate under our nose,” but in this case, it may be so.

She’s done an excellent job and would make a fine Chancellor.

[BambooRdApp]

Do we know that she wants the job full time?

She’s not acted like a placeholder. It looks like she wants this job, or she’s auditioning for one somewhere else. I usually don’t care for the old Appalachian way of “after a National search, we found the best candidate under our nose,” but in this case, it may be so.

She’s done an excellent job and would make a fine Chancellor.

Or ..she may just be dedicated and wants to do the best job for university, students and alumni...but has no desire for it long-term.
I hope she does want it long-term. I think she she would be great.
I am sure someone in the know has information as to whether she wants it long-term.

She has people skills and seems to be able to "read the room". Her updates during Helene were balanced between school and community. We need a chancellor that does well in the expected role related to the school and university system...but also, and as important, within the community. She seems to do that well.

[Stonewall]

She is a candidate.

[Stonewall]

I am told that we are , finally , in the final phase of the Appalachian State part of the process with a recommendation to the President of the System forthcoming. He will make a nomination to the Board of Governors and they will accept or reject the nominee. My thought is that he will not nominate someone who would stand any chance of being rejected.

[BallantyneApp]

I am told that we are , finally , in the final phase of the Appalachian State part of the process with a recommendation to the President of the System forthcoming. He will make a nomination to the Board of Governors and they will accept or reject the nominee. My thought is that he will not nominate someone who would stand any chance of being rejected.

I've been very happy with Dr. Norris. I would be pleased to have her interim tag removed. If it is someone else, I hope they have the institutions best interests in mind, and not just what the BOG views App State as.

[T-Dog]

App BOT called a special meeting on Friday for employment purposes. UNC BOG is meeting next Friday, but can call a special meeting earlier.

[BambooRdApp]

And football's best interest

[fjblair]

I hope it's Heather Norris and not another outsider with no ties to the school or the community.

[Stonewall]

There are three candidates. You know one of them.

[Stonewall]

Thursday , if there is a consensus. There were multiple qualified candidates under consideration I believe. Three finalists, to clarify.

[Stonewall]

Ten A.M.Thursday.

[McLeansvilleAppFan]

Email from 10 minutes ago.
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On Thursday, Feb. 27, the UNC System Board of Governors will elect Appalachian State University’s next chancellor during their Feb. 27 meeting, which begins at 10 a.m. and is livestreamed by PBS North Carolina here.

Immediately following the Board of Governors meeting, App State will livestream welcome remarks featuring Appalachian State University Board of Trustees Vice Chair R. Thomas Sofield, Chancellor Search Advisory Committee Chair Deanna Ballard and Appalachian State University’s next Chancellor.

View the livestream of remarks by App State’s next chancellor here.

Welcome celebrations for the university’s next Chancellor will take place:

For the university and High Country communities — Thursday, Feb. 27, from 3-5 p.m. in room 420 (Parkway Ballroom) of the Plemmons Student Union on the Boone campus.

Parking will be available for community members on a first-come, first-served basis in the College Street, Rivers Street and Holmes Drive parking decks (view campus map).

For the university and Hickory communities — Friday, Feb. 28, from 3-4:30 p.m. in the atrium on the first floor of the Hickory campus building (view map).

[McLeansvilleAppFan]

I hope it's Heather Norris and not another outsider with no ties to the school or the community.

I think a mixture of "family" and "outsiders" is best and should not be the same every time we get a new chancellor. But I do think we have done well with those that came up through the App State family. Some of the positions the chancellor will appoint needs to be from "outside" to help bring in new and fresh ideas. So a mix in the leadership but a "family" member is what I want to see this time.

That (a "family" chancellor) might help with Boone/Watauga relations and those are important. Though as someone that does not live in the area I am more concerned with App State-UNC BOG relations, and with the current political climate I am a bit worried about the politics of university operations.