BOONE, N.C. — Appalachian State students are back in the classroom and COVID-19 restrictions have been lifted. The university says it is still taking precautions, but it's happy to have a more normal feel.
Brooke Silveira is a sophomore at App State. She says she looked at many schools before picking this one.
“I didn’t like any of the feelings of any of them,” Silveira said.
She liked the feel of App State and the way students sat outdoors and enjoyed Boone. She says last year was not easy for students.
“It was definitely like a lot more, you can’t be in close contact, a lot of mask wearing. It kind of put a boundary on making friends,” Silveira said.
Online classes were even harder, she says.
“With the teacher talking and stuff, I couldn’t understand because I was in my dorm bed,” Silveira said.
Chief communications officer Megan Hayes says she's happy students are back in the classroom.
“I have a class that has 42 students in it, and everyone is ready to go. They are in their 8 a.m. classes, their eyes are bright, they are excited and ready to go,” Hayes said.
Hayes says restrictions have been lifted. Students can wear masks if they want, and the school is offering COVID-19 vaccines and boosters.
Hayes says they are following Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines that aim to reduce the severity of the illness.
“If you don’t feel well, don't go to class, but also talk to your faculty members. Most faculty after the past couple of years have the ability to provide a Zoom option," Hayes said. "That isn’t available for all classes, but certainly it's available for a lot of lecture-based classes,” Hayes said.