College of Arts and Sciences

The College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) connects Appalachian State University to the tradition of a well-rounded education, providing instruction and research essential to the university’s mission. CAS is the largest college at Appalachian and provides the foundation for all students through general education courses. Support from alumni and friends is critical to our continued success.

Recently, I met with a young alumnus who was in the process of establishing an endowed scholarship at Appalachian. As one of our younger donors, I was interested in understanding the motivation for his gift. He had a transformational experience while attending App State and wants to pass that experience on to future generations. 

When you support the CAS, you help provide scholarships, travel funds, quality educational spaces, technology, and more for our students and faculty.

Your gift can make a difference in the lives of our students and faculty, who in turn make a difference in our communities, our nation and our world. 

Thank you for your support, now and in the future,

— Mike Madritch, Dean

Your Impact

Since 1985, Appalachian has been consistently ranked by university presidents across the nation as one of the top schools in the country. The reason is easy to see — in addition to its traditional college atmosphere and its four-season splendor, Appalachian boasts some of the finest teachers, scholars and programs anywhere.

CAS is home to many of these outstanding assets. Our departments not only prepare students in a variety of majors and career preparatory programs, but also serve as the liberal arts component of the University's professional schools. The following are a few examples of how your assistance impacts the lives of our students and faculty by providing support for their academic and professional goals.

Student Support

Attracting and retaining outstanding students is essential for enhancing the vitality and growth of the quality of the University. Financial support in these areas help students gain valuable experience while being able to focus directly on their academic pursuits.  

• undergraduate and graduate scholarships
• research assistant stipend for graduate and undergraduate students
• teaching assistant stipends for graduate students

Faculty Support

Funds are needed to support scholars across the breadth of disciplines in the College. The following are ways your support helps students and faculty with their scholarly ambitions.

• outstanding teaching awards
• research funds
• publishing support

Extracurricular Learning Opportunities

An active faculty and student body are essential for the College to prepare students to meet the challenges of the future. Our hope is to provide students with opportunities to learn inside and outside of the classroom setting.

• guest lecture series
• supplies and equipment for research and laboratories
• seminars for faculty and students
• study-related travel in the U.S. and internationally

The Student And Faculty Excellence (SAFE) Fund

Initially endowed by a generous gift from Hughlene and Bill Frank, the Student and Faculty Excellence (SAFE) Fund provides resources that can be used to transform the undergraduate and graduate experience and support faculty teaching, research, and engagement. Learn more about the SAFE Fund.

$62,000 in SAFE Funds were awarded to 21 faculty and 97 students during the 2024-25 academic year. Here's what your gift can support:

• $35 can cover student registration at a state-based or regional conference (especially if the student is presenting at a poster session)

• $40 can cover mileage reimbursement to a conference (especially if multiple students apply and can then share a ride)

• $50 can purchase supplies for research labs, replace equipment, or provide a financial incentive/reward for subjects in a research project

• $100 can cover a night of lodging, costs of printing materials for a conference presentation, or the purchase of research subject information or participants

• $250+ awards a SAFE grant for a student to present at a conference or to purchase materials needed to conduct research

• $500 is a typical award amount for a faculty SAFE grant which can be used for numerous things such as to complete a book project, host a guest speaker, purchase equipment, or travel to a research site.

There are two ways to support the SAFE Fund:

• Annual Fund (Fund #92633): The SAFE Annual Fund allows for the distribution of your contribution in the current year.
• Endowment (Fund #97006): The Hughlene Bostian Frank and William Allen Frank SAFE Endowment has been established in order to help future generations of students and faculty. With the SAFE Endowment, only the income earned by long-term investments of donor contributions can be used each year. Gifts to the endowment can include estate bequests and gifts from charitable trusts.

Give to the SAFE Fund

Other Opportunities

There are numerous other needs across the college. Here are some other ways you can contribute to student and faculty success:

• $2,500 per year with a four-year commitment provides donors with the opportunity to name a scholarship

• $10,000 per year with a five-year commitment provides donors with the opportunity to endow a named scholarship

• $10,000 covers the cost to hire a full-time research assistant

• $12,000+ names a classroom space in the newly-renovated Sanford Hall

• $15,000+ provides one semester's worth of funding for the SAFE Fund grant awards to faculty and students

College Funds

The following is a list of college-wide funds (not including department funds). To give to a college fund, click here and search for the fund name. For assistance, contact CAS Development Director Jasmin McFayden at (828) 262-4019 or mcfaydenja@appstate.edu.

• Alliance for Teaching Science Endowment
• Arthel (Doc) Watson Endowed Scholarship for Traditional Mountain Music
• Benjamin Frosst Little Endowed Scholarship for International Travel
• Bill and Hughlene Frank Fund for Arts & Sciences
• Bill Morgan Symposium Endowment
• Billy and Del Hunt Helton Faculty Excellence Fund for the College of Arts and Sciences
• Billy and Del Hunt Helton Faculty Excellence Fund for the College of Arts and Sciences - Current Fund
• Calamai Family Endowed Award for College of Arts and Sciences Faculty and Student Engagement in Scholarship
• College of Arts and Sciences General Scholarship Fund
• College of Arts and Sciences Dean's Fund
• College of Arts and Sciences Dean's Student Involved Research Fund
• College of Arts and Sciences Dean's Teaching Enhancement Fund
• College of Arts and Sciences Endowment
• Don Sink Family Outstanding Scholar Award Endowment
• Dr. Kevin Bell Memorial Endowed Optometry Scholarship
• Dr. William C. Strickland Outstanding Young Faculty Award Endowment for the College of Arts and Sciences
• Drs. Joanne Smith and Don R. Brannon Scholarship for Natural Sciences
• Edith A. Goodman Memorial Scholarship for Mathematics and Computer Science Endowment
• Environmental Science Program
• Fermentation Sciences Program
• Freshman Class Scholarship for Wayne and Craven Counties
• Glaxo Women in Science Scholars Endowment
• H. W. Wilson Family Scholarship
• Humanities Council Fund
• John W. Taylor and Mary L. Taylor Memorial Scholarship for Math and Computer Science Endowment
• Jonathan K Perryman Endowed Memorial Scholarship for the Sciences
• June and Robert Hege Endowment for the College of Arts and Sciences
• Larry And Anita Narvarte Kitchens Endowed Scholarship for Mathematics, Statistics, Chemistry and Computer Science
• Lloyd L. Hobbs Memorial Scholarship for the Physical Sciences
• Peggy Harmon Shore Pre-Health Care Professional Endowed Scholarship
• Rachel Harris Larson Henry and John Watson Henry Scholarship
• Richard A. Thomas Memorial Scholarship for Arts and Sciences
• Roland Frederick Moy International Affairs Study Away Scholarship
• Sally A. Callegari Memorial Scholarship for Gender Diversity in Animal Studies
• Samuel Bedell Little Endowed Scholarship for International Travel
• The Dr. Donald B Saunders Memorial Scholarship for History Honors Students
• The Geography and Math Non-Traditional Graduate Student Professional Development Fund
• The Marvin Hoffman/McGill Associates Local Government Scholarship
• The Student Career Accelerator Endowed Scholarship
• The Vickers Current Scholarship for Sociology, History, or Political Science
• The Vickers Endowed Scholarship for Sociology, History, or Political Science
• Thomas Edgar Sikes, Sr. and Mary Ann Mitchell Sikes Memorial Endowment for Environmental Concerns