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AU Staff Minutes

March 25, 2002 at Broun Hall Auditorium

Dr. Walker addressed the staff on Monday, March 25, 2002. He indicated a desire for diversity to become a core value at Auburn. The plan is to develop an education program that engages diversity. More details on this matter can be found in two articles in the March 25 AU Report.

The Board of Trustees has indicated they want to cap student enrollment at 25,000, with 80 percent being undergraduate and 20 percent graduate students. The current undergraduate enrollment is about at that goal at 19,650. Graduate students number about 2,800.

A tuition increase will depend on the level of State funding received and the comfort level of the Board. A one-time salary adjustment is looking unlikely at this time due to the uncertain nature of the State's economy, particularly for income and sales tax revenues (from whence most of the Education Trust fund comes). Dr. Walker is committed to a salary increase in October and will consider tuition increases in order to accomplish that goal.

A lot of interest in night classes was expressed by the staff present. Dr. Walker explained that faculty at Auburn have not been hired with the understanding that they will teach in the evening, which is the case at AUM. However, he is exploring ways to better utilize our resources, and that would be one way to accomplish that.

He indicated that although no arrest has been made regarding the previous attacks on campus, the safety of the campus has been greatly improved, especially through the illumination of dark areas.

Dr. Walker indicated that staff who wish to become involved in University committees and projects do so through involvement with the Staff Council. Staff employees interested in serving should contact a member of the Steering Committee (such as myself). Candace Bourne is the incoming Staff Council Chair, and Vic Walker will serve as the Chair-elect.