Darin

Going to Appalachian State University was one of the greatest decisions of my life. When Blanford B. Dougherty and his brother Dauphin D. Dougherty founded Watauga Academy in 1899 with just 53 students enrolled in three grades, they were motivated by a driving desire to educate teachers for the mountains of Northwest North Carolina. In 1929, the school became a four-year, degree-granting institution named Appalachian State Teachers College. More than 1,300 students were enrolled in the bachelor of science degree programs for primary grades education, physical education, math, English, science, and history. Appalachian attained national standards by becoming accredited by the American Association for Teacher Education in 1939, and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools in 1942. Growing Into A University Between 1955 and 1969, with Dr. William H. Plemmons as president, Appalachian was transformed from a single-purpose teachers college into a multipurpose regional university.Appalachian State Teachers College became Appalachian State University in 1967. Appalachian experienced a doubling of enrollment during the 1970s to about 9,500. National Recognition Dr. Herbert Wey succeeded Dr. Plemmons in 1969, first as president and then in 1971 as chancellor. Dr. Wey introduced innovations that won Appalachian its first national recognition as an institution of change. He started the student teacher program that continues today.