Appalachian State University

287 Rivers St, Boone, NC 28608

(828) 262-2000
BACKGROUNDER
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Oct. 19, 2014

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT

Dana Clarke
Director of Media Relations
clarkedm@appstate.edu
(919) 412-8446

MISSION
Appalachian State Universitys mission is to create an environment where students thrive
by acquiring valuable knowledge, growing holistically, embracing diversity, and becoming
contributing members of society.
HISTORY
Appalachian has always had the desire to educate. In 1899, Dr. Blanford B. Dougherty
and his brother founded the then very small Watauga Academy, which quickly turned into a
school preparing future educators. With attendance doubling, the school became part of the
University of North Carolina system in 1971. Through the years, Appalachian State University
has gained recognition in research, internationalized curriculum, service-learning and
sustainability.
ACADEMICS
Appalachian has more than 150 undergraduate and graduate majors within their six
undergraduate colleges, one music school, and one graduate school. Class sizes are intimate, at a
16:1 student/faculty ratio and an average of 27 students per class.
ATHLETICS
Over the years, Appalachian has gained national attention for their athletic programs.
Varsity sports, intramural and club sports, outdoor programs and fitness centers help keep
students active and involved. Appalachian State football brought home three NCAA Division I
FCS National Championships and beat Michigan State University in 2007. Other than being
great on the field or court, nearly half of Appalachians 450 student-athletes are also on the
academic honor roll.
For more information, visit www.appstate.edu.

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