Rumor Control exists to answer questions and rumors people may have heard about the University. Contact us if you have a question you can't find the answer to, or if you have heard a rumor you want checked out.

Recent Questions:

Q: I read an article recently that said only 35% of Appalachian's budget went to core functions. What does that mean?

The UNC system is developing a program that measures how much of each school's budget is used for the core services of teaching and research. Appalachian's measurement is affected by a few things. It's non-core costs are dramatically impacted by the fact the University runs its own food service, operates New River Power and Light, and because of the cost of constructing and maintaining campus facilities. For example, the measurement takes into account the cost of operating the power plant, but does not take into account income that offsets its cost.

These type of facility costs and Appalachian's focus on teaching rather than research create a somewhat skewed view and the resulting 35% core functions budget number.

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Q: I saw a disclaimer on the bookstore's website about not being able to sell merchandise to certain people. What's that about and why don't they sell stuff online?

The disclaimer is so that the university is obeying a North Carolina law called the Umstead Act. This act prohibits any state entity from engaging in unfair competition with local businesses. It limits the bookstore in its ability to sell merchandise to you if you are not on campus. You can read the statute here:

The Umstead Act

I know what you are thinking...you have seen other schools selling merchandise online. Most of the time those schools are selling through athletics sites that are managed by third party companies that buy the rights from the University to manage marketing and sales. This is also a state act only applicable in North Carolina.