Everts addresses board on five-year plan for Appalachian State University
North Carolina– Last week, the board of trustees at Appalachian State University heard updates from Chancellor Sheri Everts on the school’s five-year strategic goals. Discussions are underway regarding how to use the former Watauga High School property, which Appalachian now owns. Options discussed include student residence halls, a day care facility, student recreation fields and athletics’ fields. By next semester the plan is to make use of the property’s current parking configuration, which accommodates 500 spaces.
Everts also informed the trustees that the University of North Carolina System Board of Governors has approved the design phase for the north end zone project at Kidd Brewer Stadium. The mixed-use development will replace the 45-year-old Owens Field House and will include an array of amenities that will benefit university athletics. The master plan also calls for the demolition of Legends, a student concert venue. Everts noted that Student Affairs is currently leading a group of students, faculty and staff who are examining the potential for alternative venues. Plans also include a renovation or replacement of seven residence halls: Bowie, Coltrane, Eggers, Gardner, Winkler, Justice and East. The seven halls will be created through public-private partnerships (P3). Everts stressed that while a P3 will develop the halls, they will run like existing residence halls with university oversight.