Dear Colleagues,
As we reach the mid-point of summer, I hope these past few weeks have offered rest and fulfillment for each of you. It seems that as soon as we settle into the pace of summer, the fall semester is right around the corner. Though the charm of our campus during somewhat quieter days is undeniable, there’s also a sense of excitement that accompanies the return of our students who bring a wonderful energy to our campus.
For the upcoming fall semester, we anticipate welcoming some 6,100+ first-year students and approximately 1,200 new transfer students to campus, potentially setting a record for the institution’s enrollment. These initial enrollment data underscore Auburn’s robust academic standing and commitment to delivering an exceptional student experience which is one of the cornerstones of our forthcoming Strategic Plan.
During last month’s Senate Meeting, our Strategic Planning Steering Committee co-chairs, Dr. Kerry Inger and Dr. Hari Narayanan, provided an update on our progress, including a summary of the draft goals that are foundational to our next chapter. As we refine these sub-goals, develop action items, and establish key performance indicators, we envision new projects and initiatives stemming from our goals. Many of these are directly linked to enhancing faculty development, bolstering university research and scholarship, and improving our campus infrastructure.
Our commitment to revitalizing and reimagining our academic spaces aligns with ensuring that our faculty and students have resources and facilities that best support our mission. A key focus of this initiative includes discussions on how to maximize and transform our existing spaces, including buildings such as Haley Center. This summer, my office and Facilities Management engaged two prominent Atlanta-based architecture firms — Lord Aeck Sargent and Cooper Carry — to each complete a study exploring potential modernization strategies for Haley Center, to meet the evolving needs of our faculty and students. I also look forward to working on this and other facility-related projects with Jim Carroll, our new Vice President for Facilities Management. Many of you may remember Jim from his previous role as Auburn’s university architect, where his innovative leadership helped shape the Mell Classroom Building, the Gogue Performing Arts Center, and the College of Nursing and Pharmacy Research buildings, among others.
This summer, a working group composed of faculty, staff, students, and administrators led by Dr. Bob Boyd is developing advisory recommendations to ensure we are in compliance with the legislative requirements of SB 129 by the October 1 deadline. Internal and external stakeholders have provided input on effective ways to advance our mission while improving access and affordability and creating an environment where all are welcomed, valued, respected, and engaged.
We are also preparing to celebrate more than 1,400 graduates during our summer commencement ceremonies on August 3. I’m pleased to announce that Beau Byrd, a distinguished 1989 Harbert College of Business graduate, will serve as our summer commencement speaker. Beau’s name may ring a bell for many of you, given his notable service as the past president of the Auburn Alumni Association and membership on the AU Foundation Board, among his numerous other contributions to our campus.
Lastly, I am excited to share that, for the first time, Auburn’s Honors College has been ranked among the top 50 Honors Colleges nationally by College Transitions, a publisher of the guidebook Colleges Worth Your Money, a resource often used by prospective students and families during their college search.
I look forward to welcoming you back to campus next month. |
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