Dear faculty colleagues,
As the summer winds down and we prepare for what I am certain will be a busy start to the fall semester, I trust that each of you had a restful and much-deserved break. I look forward to using these monthly messages to provide important updates and to share ongoing efforts and activities to improve our campus programs and resources.
If you were on campus this summer, perhaps you experienced the familiar sights and sounds of Camp War Eagle. Despite the record temperatures, our campus hosted more than 5,900 incoming first-year students and their families across 11 orientation sessions. In addition to our new and returning students, we also welcome nearly 90 new tenure-track and non-tenure-track faculty to our campus community this month, representing a broad array of scholarly areas and institutions. As we welcome these new faculty, we also congratulate more than 100 of our colleagues returning this fall as newly tenured and/or promoted faculty. I invite you to join me next month as we recognize their achievements at our annual Promotion and Tenure Reception.
Among our many priority areas for the coming year is expanding our knowledge of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools, particularly their implications on our students’ digital literacy. This summer, staff in the Biggio Center developed an online course
for faculty interested in integrating AI into their courses and exploring various AI-related topics, such as syllabi development, usage decisions, and how to have conversations with students. As the emergence of AI continues to impact our disciplines, it is imperative that we foster broader discussions about the technology’s implications on our lives and work. In addition to the Biggio Center, faculty from across campus continue to advance research on AI’s opportunities and challenges through our AI@AU
initiative. Whether it’s conversations around leveraging AI in your teaching or scholarly work, I encourage you to explore these campus resources and participate in this important dialogue. |
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The effective stewardship of our campus facilities and enhancing our academic spaces is another area of focus. Last fall, the Academic Classroom and Laboratory Complex (ACLC) opening greatly enhanced our teaching and learning infrastructure. The ongoing construction of the new College of Education building on campus and renovations to the Hood-McPherson Building
in downtown Birmingham continue to progress. As we near the completion of the latter project in early 2024, the newly renovated six-story building will expand Auburn’s footprint in the metro Birmingham area by providing academic, meeting, and support spaces for two of our colleges in addition to multi-use spaces designed to extend the reach of our academic, research and outreach programs. In addition to our investments in new facilities, we are also improving several of our core academic buildings, including upgrading more than 70 Haley Center classrooms this summer with new furniture and other maintenance work.
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| This month the US State Department issued new warnings regarding
travel to several countries, directly impacting some faculty currently abroad. Following further discussions with the Offices of International Programs, Research and Economic Development, and Information Technology, leaders from these units will meet with our shared governance groups in the coming weeks to update our cybersecurity policies and measures. |
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Dr. Leigh Ann Ross joined us last month as the new dean of the Harrison College of Pharmacy. She comes to us from the University of Mississippi, where she held multiple leadership roles, including associate dean for clinical affairs, director of the Center for Clinical and Translational Science, and professor in the Department of Pharmacy. Please join me in welcoming her to the Auburn Family. |
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As we usher in August, I am excited, optimistic, and grateful to our faculty and staff for your ongoing efforts to advance our mission. I wish you a wonderful start to the fall semester and look forward to working with you in the coming year.
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