Give to Appalachian | Appalachian Today

Representatives from Appalachian and local and state government broke ground Dec. 4, 2008.

Erskine B. Bowles, president of The University of North Carolina, said there is no more important occupation than that of a public school teacher. Bowles spoke during the groundbreaking for a new building for Appalachian State University’s Reich College of Education.

Students look at a depiction of the new academic building.

(Photos by University Photographer Marie Freeman)

With the ceremonial turn of shovels, representatives from Appalachian State University and local and state government broke ground Dec. 4 at the future site of a new academic building that will house the Reich College of Education.

“There is no more important occupation in this country today than that of a K-12 teacher,” said Erskine B. Bowles, president of The University of North Carolina. Speaking during the groundbreaking, Bowles said, “I believe that our teachers deserve our best facilities, they deserve our best equipment, they deserve our best training and they deserve our best professors. And from this day forward, they will have it at the Reich College of Education at Appalachian.”

Construction of the five-story structure at the corner of College and Howard streets is projected to be complete by spring 2011. The Reich College of Education plans to raise $20 million to support graduate and undergraduate scholarships, faculty development and research, outreach programs and services, and to furnish and equip the new College of Education building.

“If you really want to shape the world and its future, it all begins with education,” says Dr. Charles Duke, dean of the Reich College of Education.  “There are few programs you can invest in that can have the kind of impact that preparing teachers has.”

Chancellor Kenneth E. Peacock said that while the groundbreaking was a day for celebration, he looks forward to the day that a ribbon cutting is held for the new building. “This building will have an impact on campus and on all of us in North Carolina. It is a great facility of this campus and this region.”

The Reich College of Education prepares 16 percent of all new teachers graduating from the University of North Carolina system – the largest percentage of any of the 15 UNC institutions.  Completion of the new 120,000-square-foot building will further strengthen the College’s ability to address the state’s teacher shortage by increasing enrollment in its education programs.

Philanthropic support opportunities range from naming rights of the new building at $5 million to student scholarships starting at $500.  For more information contact:  Dr. Charles R. Duke, Dean dukecr@appstate.edu or Dolly Farrell, Development Director  farrelldm@appstate.edu