Appalachian currently ranks number one in student satisfaction among all 16 institutions of higher learning according to a recent Board of Governors survey. And I should note at this point the contributions made by staff employees here at ASU, who work hard to accommodate both our needs and those of our students, and who have contributed to that satisfaction rating. Thank you all for your hard work and dedication. In measures of academic achievement, we rank 3rd or 4th in SAT scores, retention rates, and graduation rates. I-A would entail enlarging the stadium to accommodate 30,000 people, raising average attendances to 17,000, and awarding more football scholarships.
Lets start by first making the existing program financially solvent.
These monies should be going to support the academic mission of this university, by providing additional positions or higher salaries. So until athletics gets its present fiscal house in order, there can be no serious discussion of moving to an even more expensive program at this university. Now, a change of subject - low faculty salaries. According to a recent Chronicle of Higher Education Report, ASU ranks 3rd from the bottom in average salaries for professors, 2nd from the bottom for associate professors, and 5th from the bottom for assistant professors. Only Winston-Salem State and Elizabeth City State pay their professors less then we do.