A & P - Definition

Mission Statement

Auburn University’s mission is defined by its land-grant traditions of service and access. The University will serve the citizens of the State through it instructional, research and outreach programs and prepare Alabamians to respond successfully to the challenges of a global economy. The University will provide traditional and non-traditional students broad access to the institution’s educational resources. In the delivery of educational programs on campus and beyond, the University will draw heavily upon the new instructional and outreach technologies available in the emerging information age.

The University will give highest priority for resource allocation to undergraduate education and for the future development of those areas that represent the traditional strengths, quality, reputation, and uniqueness of the institution and continue to effectively respond to the needs of students and other constituents. Consistent with this commitment, the University will emphasize high-quality undergraduate education including a comprehensive general education that imparts the specialized career preparation for students. In establishing the primacy of undergraduate education to the institutional mission, the University will assure the continued strength of its faculty with the realization that the quality of instruction is directly related to the quality of the University’s faculty and the commitment of the faculty to excellence in undergraduate education. The University will provide graduate programs in areas of need and importance to the state and beyond. Graduate programs offer students opportunities for specialized advanced education in their chosen field and are important components of the services the University provides.

Vision Statement

Auburn University will emerge as one of the nation’s preeminent land-grant universities in the 21st century. Central to all its functions will be the University’s historic commitment of service to all Alabamians as the State becomes a part of a global society with all of its challenges and opportunities. The University will be widely recognized for the quality of its undergraduate educational programs, the effectiveness of its research and outreach programs and the broad access to the University provided through the innovative use of information technology. The University will ensure the quality of its programs through careful focusing of its resources in areas of institutional strengths. One constant will remain unchanged at the University-that intangible quality men and women called the "Auburn Spirit."

History of Auburn University

Auburn University was chartered in 1856, and traces its beginning to the East Alabama Male College, a private liberal arts institution whose doors opened in 1859. From 1861 to 1866 the college was closed because of the Civil War. The college had begun an affiliation with the Methodist Church before the war. Due to financial straits, the church transferred legal control of the institution to the state in 1872, making it the first land_grant college in the South to be established separate from the state university. It thus became the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Alabama.

Women were admitted in 1892, and in 1899 the name again was changed to the Alabama Polytechnic Institute. In 1960, the school acquired a more appropriate name, Auburn University, a title more in keeping with its location, size and complexity. The institution has experienced its greatest growth since World War II, and today enrolls more than 20,000 students, the largest on-campus enrollment in the state.

Auburn University at Montgomery was established as a separately administered branch campus in 1967. The institution has developed rapidly and is located on a 500-acre campus in east Montgomery.

As a land-grant university, Auburn University has a unique role in the state's total higher education enterprise, embracing and enhancing the interrelated functions of instruction, research and extension. In fulfillment of this mission, Auburn has developed into a premier comprehensive University, offering outstanding and economically accessible instruction to its undergraduate, graduate and professional students, conducting research in an ever-expanding array of disciplines, and reaching a growing number of Alabamians through public service and extension programs.

By striving for excellence in all its activities, Auburn represents a major resource in the state's economic, social and cultural development. In recognition of its obligation to society, instruction, research, and extension programs are also sensitive to national and global concerns. The primary resource for realizing these goals, as at all great universities, are the employees; and it is through systematic recruitment, assignment, development, recognition and compensation programs that Auburn nurtures its prominent, highly productive professional staff.

The Administrative and Professional Assembly

All non-faculty, "exempt"* employees are members of the Administrative and Professional employee group. The Administrative and Professional Assembly was established to afford Administrative and Professional employees representative participation in the University governance process. Similar governance groups exist for other employee classifications: the University Senate for faculty members and the Staff Advisory Council for staff employees.

The Assembly is an elected body established at Auburn University by authority of the University Board of Trustees. The purpose of the Assembly is to advise the President regarding policies, procedures and general welfare issues affecting the Administrative and Professional employee group. The Assembly is composed of 21 members from the Administrative and Professional employee group. The Assembly meets quarterly and all meetings are open to Administrative and Professional employees. Representation on the Assembly is proportional among the vice presidential and presidential categories as determined by the Executive Committee of the Assembly. For a more detailed description of the Assembly's workings, please refer to the Administrative and Professional Assembly Constitution available on the Administrative and Professional Assembly web page.

http://www.auburn.edu/administration/governance/ap/

Administrative and Professional employees are eligible to serve on various University Committees. Each spring all Administrative and Professional employees are surveyed as to interest in serving on these committees.

In addition to the University Committees, several Assembly committees exist for which all Administrative and Professional employees are eligible. A list of the Administrative and Professional Committees is available on the Administrative and Professional web page.

All Administrative and Professional employees are encouraged to discuss any policies or concerns affecting the Administrative and Professional employee group with their representative on the Assembly. A list of Assembly members is available on the Administrative and Professional web page.

*"Exempt" employees are monthly salaried employees. The term "exempt" derives from the Fair Labor Standards Act, a federal law, which establishes categories of employees eligible for overtime payment. In general the law "exempts" from overtime payment employees who are monthly salaried and declares "non-exempt" (from the law) hourly wage employees.

Orientation

The process of orienting you to your new position consists of two phases:

A general orientation: Shortly after you report to your new position, you will be scheduled for an orientation coordinated by Human Resources and presented by Human Resources and Payroll and Benefits representatives. This session will provide general information to help you get started and will address University employment, conduct and job performance rules, and workplace policies; additionally, it will assist you in completing pay and payroll deduction forms and in signing up for the University benefits.

Departmental Orientation: Your supervisor will discuss details relating to your specific key responsibilities and departmental policies. This orientation will probably be completed on the day you report to your unit.

Human Resources

Human Resources functions to serve the best interests of both the employees and the University. The Assistant Vice President for AU Human Resources and staff are responsible for implementing human resource policies included in the Auburn University Personnel, Policies and Procedures Manual. They also handle recruiting, position classification, wage and salary administration, orientating, training, employee records, employee relations, and employee recognition.

If you need any information or counsel, members of the Human Resources staff are available to provide assistance. Contact the Department of Human Resources in Langdon Hall for assistance at 844-4145