The Appalachian Teaching Project (ATP) gives college students the opportunity to engage in research projects that address endemic challenges facing Appalachian communities. Led by the Consortium of Appalachian Centers and Institutes, a coalition of 15 Appalachian studies organizations, the program includes coursework and active research on issues related to building a sustainable future for Appalachian communities. Faculty and students at each participating institution design and carry out research projects tailored to the needs of targeted communities, many of which are in economically distressed counties. Project reports are presented at a conference held each December in Washington, D.C.

Supported by Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) to help build student leadership capacity, the program teaches real-world leadership skills, taking students out of the classroom and into their communities. The research conducted helps guide communities toward local solutions that help solve significant problems in a sustainable way; and the research presentations challenge ARC to take a fresh look at issues and solutions in the Appalachian Region. Since the program's inception in 2001, research projects have addressed such issues as water quality, local leadership development, the environment, and regional history. Topics for 2010 included sustainable agriculture and food systems, building community through public art, rural governance and strategic planning, and the implications of the Marcellus Shale industry.

The Appalachian Studies Program is an academic program supporting teaching, research, and service on issues pertaining to Appalachia. The Appalachian studies minor focuses on complex cultural, political, economic, and environmental issues in the study of an important American region. The course of study ranges from mythic to modern Appalachian America and also provides opportunity for cross-cultural study of mountain cultures worldwide.