Dear Colleagues,
I hope that your semester is off to a wonderful start. Between summer commencement, our students returning to campus, and the start of classes, it’s hard to believe that we have reached the beginning of September following what turned out to be a very busy August. My sincerest thanks to all of you for your hard work to ensure a productive beginning to the semester.
I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge our colleagues and students at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. As we share in the sorrow of Monday’s tragedy, it is an important reminder for all of us to remain vigilant campus community members and to become familiar with Auburn University’s safety resources and key contacts.
Campus safety was at the forefront of our first University Senate meeting held earlier this week, where faculty members had the opportunity to share feedback and ask questions. My thanks to Kelvin King from Campus Safety and Security and other members of his team for joining the meeting to share comments and insights regarding the university’s safety measures. If you were unable to attend or have any additional questions on this important topic, I encourage you to reach out to Kelvin. As we continue this conversation, I have provided some helpful information below regarding campus units and services that may assist you this semester.
Seeing so many of our colleagues at Tuesday’s Senate meeting was a welcome sight. Senate meetings will continue to be hosted on Zoom this academic year. Among the updates provided, President Roberts shared that our campus would initiate our institution’s next Strategic Planning process in the coming weeks. I am pleased to co-chair this important effort with Dr. Kerry Inger from the Harbert College of Business and Dr. Hari Narayanan from the Samuel Ginn College of Engineering. More about this process will be shared in the coming weeks and months, and there will be numerous engagement opportunities for members of the campus community to provide input and ideas regarding our institution’s strategic
directions. While our campus has traditionally developed five-year plans, the overarching objective of this process will be to articulate transformative and aspirational goals that will transition Auburn into the next decade. |
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As we embark on the next planning cycle, input from faculty is critical. A defining factor of our institution is our deep commitment to excellence in teaching, research, and service. This is a core value that resonates with me and one that will be at the forefront of this process. As we begin to assess data on several aspects of our institution, improving our faculty’s work life and success will remain a priority.
In addition to ensuring that faculty feedback is incorporated, the committee will also undertake an exhaustive process that includes analyzing various data sources. Resources such as Academic Analytics and the Collaborative on Academic Careers in Higher Education (COACHE) survey allow us to identify key trends and areas of emphasis while also understanding barriers to faculty success. I thank those who participated in the COACHE study this past spring. Our campus received the results last month, and I have asked a faculty workgroup to begin analyzing data and developing recommendations that will be a key component of our next plan. As the group prepares a more in-depth summary of the COACHE data to share with you, I am
pleased to report modest improvements on two of our institution’s key performance indicators related to faculty satisfaction with teaching and research.
Later this month, we will celebrate the work and achievements of our faculty, beginning with our Promotion and Tenure reception on September 13 from 3 to 5 p.m. in the Academic Classroom and Laboratory Complex (ACLC). Continuing the tradition of inviting our recipients to select a book that has inspired or encouraged them during their professional journey, I invite you to stop by and view their books on display and congratulate this year’s recipients. We are also nearing the September 15 deadline to submit
Faculty Awards nominations, which provide an opportunity to acknowledge the impact of our colleagues. I encourage you to nominate colleagues for our institution’s most prestigious awards as we recognize this year’s recipients at our Faculty Awards Ceremony in November.
As the semester gets into full swing, we will commence several leadership searches, including dean searches for the Harbert College of Business, the College of Architecture, Design and Construction, and the College of Nursing. Your engagement is critical to fostering successful search outcomes, and I encourage you to participate in the candidate open forums when possible. In addition, my office has launched an internal search for an
Associate Provost for Academic Affairs to lead several of our support units and academic processes. I invite you to review the position description and apply or nominate any colleagues. We will also begin searching for a new Honors College director to coordinate our academic initiatives and prestigious scholars program.
I wish you a safe and happy holiday weekend, and I thank you for all you do to support our university.
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