Appalachian State University marked a significant milestone in its 124-year history by recently opening the new Hickory campus, expanding higher education access in what was previously the largest metropolitan area in the state without a public university campus.
The six-story Hickory campus building, located on U.S. Highway 321, is a five minute drive from the city’s downtown. On a day filled with celebration — which included food trucks, giveaways and plenty of black and gold — university and Hickory area leaders gathered at the campus Monday morning for an opening ceremony and ribbon-cutting.
“App State’s founders had an ambitious vision — to increase access to higher education in the most rural mountain areas of Western North Carolina,” App State Chancellor Sheri Everts said. “Today, we honor their vision and continue our trajectory of excellence by opening the App State Hickory campus, solidifying our commitment to the Greater Hickory area.”
More than 100 undergraduate degree programs are available to students attending App State at the Hickory campus. On-site services and facilities at the campus, which will continue to expand, include advising, tutoring and career development services; admissions and financial aid; a library, writing center and testing center; study areas and computer labs; disability services; health care and counseling; and a gym for students, faculty and staff.
“This new campus joins our esteemed institutions, Catawba Valley Community College and Lenoir-Rhyne University, in making Catawba County a beacon of education and development opportunities in North Carolina,” Catawba County EDC wrote in a post on LinkedIn. “This monumental addition means Hickory now boasts a 4-year public university campus further enriching our community’s educational landscape. With over 100 undergraduate programs and a plethora of on-site services, the campus is set to be a hub of learning and growth.”
