‘Just how big are you going to get?’ Chancellor addresses App State growth

By Frank Ruggiero

ruggiero@wataugademocrat.com

As part of Appalachian State University Appreciation Week, the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce hosted a special “Wake Up, Watauga” breakfast on Friday.

ASU Chancellor Ken Peacock presented the keynote speech to chamber members at the recently reopened Dan’l Boone Inn.

Chamber president Dan Meyer  described the appreciation week as “recognizing the major impact … the university has on our community,” through economic development, cultural events, intellectual resources and athletic opportunities.

Regarding university growth, Peacock said the most frequently asked question is, “Just how big are you going to get?” As for ASU becoming a 40,000 student campus, he said, “I don’t see that at all.” With an enrollment of 15,200, the university already had to cancel a dormitory renovation to accommodate those extra students, Peacock said, adding about 14,000 students live on campus.

Appalachian is part of the 17-campus University of North Carolina system, meaning the decision to grow is not always made in house. “It’s not always just a campus decision as to how you’ll grow and what you’ll do,” Peacock said, adding ASU, in particular, needs a moderate and sustained growth pattern.

Peacock sees ASU’s growth as approximately 55 students a year. He spoke of system president Erskine Bowles, who he called “very task-oriented.” He referred to House Bill 1264, which asked the system to work with community colleges to help better serve he state. Peacock was proud to say Appalachian is already ahead of the curve, as it established the Appalachian Learning Alliance, a partnership between ASU and 10 regional community colleges.

“Right now, we graduate more students in teacher education than any other school in the system,” he said. “And we want to continue to do more than any other — more teachers, more health care professionals.”

He referred to the university’s nursing program, which grew from a partnership with the Appalachian Regional Health Care System to address the state’s shortage of nurses. “It’s more than nursing we’re talking about here,” he added, saying the program could be expanded to include radiology and physical therapy.

The nursing program will be available to community college students, who can make a seamless transition from the community college to the university system.

Peacock then mentioned the “Pioneer Spirit,” which is being displayed through the university’s new Center for Entrepreneurship. “Students are going out and selling their ideas and making an absolute fortune in doing that,” he said.

Peacock also touted the university’s science programs, such as the viticulture initiative. A ride down U.S. 421 South finds one vineyard after another, and a grant from the Golden LEAF Foundation to start a mobile wine lab will help ASU meet the needs of vineyards and wineries in North Carolina.

He also praised the university’s growing sustainable development program, which is consistently developing wind and solar technology initiatives.

The university’s number one challenge, though, is not program-based. It’s land.

“We need a little wiggle room,” Peacock said. “The campus has a done a great job of planning on that little footprint we have. But, every time something comes up, something comes down.”

The new student recreation center on Bodenheimer Drive replaced two parking lots, while the new Belk Library replaced the Whitener lot. “Parking was a problem then – it’s a bigger problem now,” Peacock said. “Slow, sustained growth on campus is what we see for Appalachian.”

Bowles will visit Appalachian on Wednesday for the Harlan Boyles Distinguished CEO Lecture, and Peacock will visit Chapel Hill Monday for a budget meeting. Every other chancellor, he said, will say their campus is under-funded. ASU, however, is the most under-funded, Peacock said, adding he has the numbers to prove it.

The university has had to increase class sizes to graduate students on time, “and big classes are not the Appalachian way,” Peacock said.

Of the system’s 17 campuses, Peacock said Appalachian serves more students from outside its immediate region than any other institution. Tuition and student fees were increased last year, and Peacock said he never thought he’d have to advocate such a hike. Thirty-percent of funding is now on the backs of students, and Peacock said the university will work aggressively to up the funding and equity.

Another university priority is a new college of education building. Last year, the state funded more planning money than building money, he said, meaning projects have been put on hold.

The third priority is planning money for health buildings with Watauga Medical Center and Caldwell Community College & Technical Institute. Peacock said he’s already spoken with Bobbie Short, superintendent of Watauga County Schools, to get Watauga High School involved in the initiative.

Peacock also mentioned the new Appalachian ACCESS program, which is designed to help students with families below the poverty level attend Appalachian debt-free for four years. “It’s tough to get into Appalachian … because of the number of applicants, the quality of applicants we have,” Peacock said, adding that all students whose applications are approved deserve the chance to attend Appalachian. “Appalachian must not overlook those students – they deserve a great education.”