1966-67

Department of Business and Economics in the College of Fine and Applied Arts experienced enormous growth with 532 undergraduate students and 33 grad students, more than half in the non-teaching program.

Three accounting students accepted positions with the Government Accounting Service at salaries between $8,400 and $9,200.

1968-69

Department had 650 students and 17 faculty members

Students were active in Phi Beta Lambda at the state level

1970-71

Establishment of the College of Business operating with the Department of Economics and Business and located in Smith-Wright Hall

Internship-in-Industry program initiated with 47 students participating

College organized into four departments: Accounting; Business Administration; Business, Economic and Occupational Education; and Economics

Fund-raising brought in $130,000 - $50,000 from the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation for library resources; $50,000 from the Bank of N.C. for the Chair of Banking; a $25,000 land gift from Robert Spilman and $5,000 from Burlington Industries for program support.

Appointment of a Business Advisory Council

1972

Office of Business Research and Services (later renamed the Bureau of Economic and Business Research) created

Appalachian Business Review commenced publication

College of Business occupied all of Smith-Wright Hall

1973

College reorganized into: Accounting and Finance; Business Education and Office Administration

1974

Information Systems major introduced and computer terminal room established

1975

Health Care Management Program established

1976

College of Business named in honor of John A. Walker, a founding director of Lowe's Companies

John A. Walker Hall opened

North Carolina Savings and Loan Chair established

College initially accredited by the American Assembly of Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)

1977

MBA program established

Beta Gamma Sigma business honor society established

Commercial Banking Chair established

1978

Center for the Study of Private Enterprise established to provide programs for high school economics teachers

Department of Finance, Insurance and Real Estate established; Department of Business Administration became the Department of Management and Marketing

1979

Small Business Counseling Program established with the Small Business Administration

MS in Accounting program approved

1980

Journal of Health Care Marketing organized and initiated publication

1982

Evening MBA program in Winston-Salem offered first classes

1983

Management and Marketing were split into separate departments

1984

Decision Sciences department established

International Business minor approved

First summer study abroad program, in France

1985

Journal of Health Care Marketing sold to American Marketing Association

Restaurant, Hotel and Resort Management major established

1986

Department of Decision Sciences assisted Northeast Institute of Technology in Shenyang, China, in establishing a graduate program in MIS

1987

Inter-Business Council (later renamed Deans' Council of Student Advisers) established, providing the opportunity for interaction between students and the deans

1988

Groundbreaking in April for a new building to house the College of Business

Richard S. Brantley Risk and Insurance Center established

Director of Development assigned to the College

1989

Joseph F. Freeman Distinguished Professorship of Risk Management and Insurance established

1990

Moved into current building

First Honors Program graduate

1991

CEO Lecture Series dedicated in honor or Harlan E. Boyles, N.C. State Treasurer

1992

Alfred T. Adams Distinguished Professorship of Banking established

Russian Entrepreneurial and Management Training Workshop held on campus

1993

First annual Four Brothers/Appalachian Scholarship Golf Classic

College of Business building dedicated in July in honor of Thelma C. Raley, prominent Florida citrus grower and Appalachian graduate at age 80

Students in study abroad program to Russia participated in first international internships

1994

College Mission Statement approved by faculty on May 2

College obtained funding from Burlington Industries for a multi-media "Classroom of the 21st Century"

Keeper of the Public Purse by Harlan E. Boyles published

Refurbishing of the Broyhill Inn and Conference Center made possible with a gift from the Broyhill Family Foundation

1995

Center for Business Research established

1996

Faculty Awards for Excellence established

MBA program awarded the University's Award for excellence in graduate education

Initial study abroad trip to Fudan University in Shanghai

1997

Marketing project with Arhus School of Business in Denmark initiated

William R. Holland Fellows Program for Business Study in Asia Endowment established

Multimedia-capable classroom in Raley Hall completed

Southern Business Administration awards Innovative Teaching Award second place for college's executive skills development class

1998

Reaffirmation of accreditation in April, with nine areas of commendation, by AACSBB The International Association for Management Education

On visit to China in November, Gov. Jim Hunt announced International Banking Conference

Sterling Software competed gift to the College of computer software of $3.6 million

Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) received international award for top rookie student group

1999

Inaugural reciprocal visit of students from Fudan University in Shanghai, China, to Appalachian

First Fudan-Appalachian State International Banking Conference held at Fudan University in Shanghai, attended by 50 government, banking and education leaders from North Carolina, including participants in William R. Holland Fellows Program for Business Study in Asia

2000

First Alumni Day held bringing 50 alums back to campus to teach classes

Endowment established for the Harlan E. Boyles Partners in Excellence Professorship and the Harlan E. Boyles Scholarship in Business in honor of Treasurer Boyles retirement from state government

2001

Walker professors, Davé and Evans, through the Center for Business Research, complete first ever survey of the craft industry's impact on the national economy

Pi Sigma Epsilon, professional marketing and sales management fraternity, received Quality of Life Award from Boone Chamber of Commerce for service to the community

2002

First Entrepreneur Summit brought 40 entrepreneurs to campus to share their experiences with students

International Business major offered for the first time

Annual Alumni Day named in memory of Lewis L. Mack '51, a long-time member of the college's Business Advisory Council

2003

Announcement made of $150,000 gift from Martha Guy, former president of Avery County Bank, for a summer business program for high school seniors

Robert S. Stec '76,'77, CEO of Lexington Home Brands, first alum to be a featured speaker in the Harlan E. Boyles Distinguished CEO Lecture Series

Department of Finance, Banking and Insurance received approval to offer financial planning classes as a part of the requirements for CFP® certification

Inaugural year for the Walker College Dean's Club — an annual giving society

Dean Kenneth Peacock appointed as Appalachian's interim provost; Dr. Lyle Schoenfeldt appointed acting dean

2004

Dedication of the Harlan E. Boyles Memorial Lobby in Raley Hall

Former dean, Kenneth E. Peacock, elected as Appalachian's sixth chancellor

First Martha Guy Summer Institute for Future Business Leaders held during the summer with 22 participants

Three Partnerships in Excellence Professorships awarded to faculty: Beroth Oil/Four Brothers Food Stores Professorship, L.M. Baker Jr. Professorship and Honorable Harlan E. Boyles Professorship

Executive Certificate Program in Financial Planning Offered

Accounting students have highest CPA exam pass rate in nation

Professor Harry M. Davis named dean of the North Carolina Bankers Association's North Carolina School of Banking

2005

Kenneth E. Peacock Accounting Professorship announced

Experimental Economics and Environmental Policy Conference hosted by Economics Department

Off-campus MBA program offered in Hickory, NC

Dixon Hughes PLLC in Asheville gives $20,000 to support faculty development and student scholarships in Accounting Department

Carole Moore McLeod ('81) pledges $125,000 to support college's annual entrepreneur summit

Professor Randy Edwards named dean

2006

Appalachian-Fudan University partnership celebrates 10th anniversary

Financial planning certification program first offered

Center for Entrepreneurship established