Dear Colleagues,
As we prepare for spring break next week, this is a friendly reminder that we have reached the second half of the semester.
During February, we continued to move forward with several academic leadership searches. Earlier this week, we hosted our final candidate for the director of the Honors College and welcomed our first candidate for dean of the Harbert College of Business. As we resume candidate visits following spring break, we will also announce open forum dates for the deans of the Colleges of Architecture, Design, and Construction, and Nursing. Please look for these dates and mark your calendars to attend the forums in person or over Zoom. Faculty engagement in these searches is critical to attracting leaders who will contribute to Auburn’s academic vitality.
I thank those of you who have already completed two important surveys launched in recent weeks. As we wind down the data collection phase of our Strategic Planning process, today is the last day to complete the Strategic Planning Survey (No longer active) and share your thoughts on our institution’s strategic priorities (the survey closes at 4:45 pm on March 1st). Faculty are also encouraged to participate in a study coordinated by the AU Libraries. LibQUAL+® is designed to gather campus feedback on library service and support. Administered at institutions across the US, the study’s results will help identify how our campus constituents interact with and use our libraries and allow us to compare our results to those of peer institutions. This survey is open through March 31st; please take a few minutes to complete it.
During last week’s Senate meeting, I announced our plans to reintroduce Auburn’s Common Book program this fall. The Common Book is an opportunity to engage our first-year students in a shared academic experience that draws on a campus-wide dialogue. Following several months of consideration, the steering committee, led by Dr. Jeff LaMondia, has chosen The Music of Bees by Eileen Garvin as this year’s selection. Realizing its potential for broad programming and alignment with several of our co-curricular programs, I am confident the book’s themes of community, empathy, and finding one’s purpose will resonate with our students.
Also, during last week’s meeting, President Roberts announced recent efforts to launch an analysis of faculty compensation, workload, and productivity. Four firms have been identified for further vetting, and I will keep you posted as this process unfolds.
And finally, several of our colleagues have worked to support creative scholarship from across campus through the university’s annual creative SHOWCASE initiative. As part of this year’s theme of advocacy and process, faculty and students are invited to submit proposals that showcase the full range of creative endeavors, from works of art to live performances. For more information and submission deadlines, visit the SHOWCASE 2025 website.
I hope next week’s break allows you to rest and recharge. |
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