A deadline is approaching for Auburn University employees contemplating retirement. Under a policy enacted by the AU Board of Trustees in 1996, faculty who retire after Oct. 1, 1997, and choose to remain in the AU medical insurance program must pay 100 percent of the premiums. Many AU retirees are choosing to participate at usually lower cost in the State of AlabamaÕs health insurance plan -- commonly known by the acronym PeeHip -- for college and university retirees. AU employees who plan to retire in September and choose to switch to PeeHip coverage will be the last ones to qualify for a subsidy payment from AU if they fall in certain coverage categories. Because of the time needed for processing, employees contemplating retirement before Oct. 1 who haven't made a decision concerning the switch to PeeHip must do so immediately. Those interested in exercising this option should contact the AU Office of Payroll and Employee Benefits by Tuesday, Aug. 26, to permit processing of their application before the deadline. For information call Julie Kowalski at 844 4183.

AUBURN RANKED 8TH NATIONALLY IN EFFICIENCY BY U.S. NEWS

U.S. News and World Report magazine has ranked AU No. 8 among national universities in 1997-98 in its efficiency in providing a quality education.

Auburn was recognized under a category called "Operating Efficiency" -- the basis on which Gov. Fob James has sought to cut funding for higher education in Alabama.

The U.S. News rankings, which were released Aug. 21, will appear in its 11th annual America's Best Colleges issue and guidebook on newsstands Aug. 25.

It was the fourth consecutive year that U.S. News has ranked Auburn nationally in the category of quality and efficiency. A year ago, Auburn was ranked 27th.

U.S. News said it identified schools that "rate relatively high in educational quality, as determined by their place in the U.S. News rankings, but spend relatively less money to achieve quality."

"These rankings are based on a school's score in the U.S. News survey of academic quality and its 1996 educational program expenditures per student," the magazine said. "Only schools in the top half of national universities and national liberal ar ts colleges and the top 25 percent of the regionals were considered."

Auburn was the only college or university in Alabama -- public or private -- listed among the magazine's top 50 "national universities." Florida State was No. 1.

"National recognition of Auburn's efficient operation is welcome news, especially as the state House and Senate conferees head into discussions of 1998 appropriations," said AU President William V. Muse.

"Auburn has demonstrated how every dollar the state invests in this university's programs pays nearly $7 in dividends to the state," Muse added. "The U.S. News and World Report recognition proves this university is a superb investment for prospect ive students as well as our state."

Meanwhile, U.S News ranked AU at Montgomery ninth among Southern regional universities for its campus diversity. AUM has a black enrollment of 28 percent. The University of West Alabama was No. 6, while Troy State-Montgomery was 15th.

-- Bob Lowry