Walker College of Business

Dr. Herbert W. Wey is named president and later chancellor, in 1971. The university became part of the University of North Carolina system in 1971 under the leadership of Dr. Wey (1969-79). He introduced innovations that earned Appalachian national recognition as an institution of change, all while enrollment doubled to about 9,500. Under his leadership, Appalachian implemented the student teacher program, College of Business, continuing education program and Watauga College, a small residential college within the greater university.

• Four new colleges at the University are established: General College, the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS), the College of Fine and Applied Arts (CF&AA) and the College of Education (COE). The Department of Economics and Business was assigned to the CF&AA. 
• Department of Economics and Business in the College of Fine and Applied Arts began offering a B.S. in Business Administration.

• In 1967, Appalachian State Teachers’ College (ASTC) designated a “regional university” and the name changed to Appalachian State University.
• The Economics and Business Department completed a curriculum benchmarking study of business programs at 86 university members of the American Association of Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).
• The Business Administration program which was a major in the Economics and Business Department grew very rapidly.

• In 1966, a Department of Economics and Business is created, with Dr. Orus R. Sutton serving as chair.
• A data processing course is added to the curriculum.
• In 1967, the Department of Business and Economics, soon to be part of the College of Fine and Applied Arts, had experienced enormous growth, with 532 undergraduate students and 33 graduate students -- more than half in the non-teaching program.
• By 1968, a total of 167 degrees Economics and Business degrees have been awarded.

The purpose of the school was expanded from a mission only to prepare teachers and staff in education. The new catalog now read "Appalachian provides an opportunity for students to acquire a liberal education ...and to prepare for teaching, school administration, and other professional careers and public services." Appalachian for the first time offered B.A. and B.S. degrees without teacher certifications.

• While Appalachian Training School came under the regulatory control of the State Board of Education in 1921, it was a 1957 change in N.C. Legislation recognized the teaching of liberal arts at Appalachian Teacher College as part of a statewide expansion of higher education.
• Later, In 1972, Appalachian will merge into the 16 campus UNC System and a State Board of Governors will be established.

• In 1955, Dr. J.D. Rankin became Interim President of Appalachian State Teachers’ College.
• Later that year, Dr. William H. Plemmons became President of Appalachian State Teachers’ College, a role he held until 1969 when he was succeeded by Dr. Herbert W. Wey.  Plemmons  presided over Appalachian’s transformation from a single-purpose teachers college into a multipurpose regional university.

Appalachian State Teachers' College was authorized to grant master’s degrees. Graduate courses had been offered at Appalachian State Teachers' College since 1943.

Business Education is offered as a major.

Edith Hess, the first Business Education faculty member is hired.