Dear Colleagues,
As we prepare for the fall semester, our campus is already bustling with the vibrant energy of our returning faculty and students. I am pleased to provide some updates as we start another busy term.
Last month, I provided an update on our projected enrollment, including the anticipated size of our freshmen class. Following the successful conclusion of Camp War Eagle – our most reliable indicator for the size of the incoming first-year class – we anticipate welcoming some 6,139 incoming freshmen students to campus. They will be accompanied by just over 1,330 transfer students. Our projected enrollment trajectory stands in contrast to many institutions nationwide that are grappling with declining enrollments due to many factors, including, of course, shifting demographics. Our sustained growth in enrollment certainly counters the prevailing trend, underscoring the positive influence of our programs and campus experience.
Clearly, Auburn University’s growth is multifaceted, extending beyond student enrollment. We take immense pride in our significant strides in faculty recruitment and retention, as well as our advancements in research and creative scholarship. These elements are pivotal components of our upcoming strategic plan. Throughout July, the university’s leadership further developed our strategic goals by delineating significant action items and key performance metrics. As we formulate implementation strategies, we will also focus on assessing our current effectiveness. We will maintain flexibility and adaptability so that the methods by which we fulfill our goals will continue to adapt and evolve.
During our strategic planning listening sessions, many faculty members emphasized the need for broader recognition of their contributions to the university. I’d like to remind you that the window for faculty award nominations remains open until September 20. If you haven’t already done so, I invite you to visit the Faculty Awards website. It provides detailed information and eligibility criteria for our expanded awards, including the new President’s Award for Distinguished Faculty Leadership. This new annual award, carrying a one-time honorarium of $10,000, will recognize up to two faculty members for their exceptional leadership and contributions to Auburn’s mission. I encourage you to consider nominating our exceptional colleagues for all of our prestigious awards.
In the recent few weeks, several of you have requested updates and further guidance on syllabi language related to the provisions in Alabama Act 2024-34 (also known as SB129). The actions taken as a result of the recommendations provided through the thoughtful, thorough, and timely work of a series of nested working groups of faculty, students, staff, administrators, and alumni were announced earlier this week and are available here. I express my deepest thanks to all those who devoted their time and energy to this important process. Additionally, a select faculty group led by our senate leadership used a consultative process to develop syllabi guidance, which was provided to faculty through the Biggio Center for Teaching and Learning, which is available on the unit’s website.
Many of you are developing programming that integrates the themes of this year’s Common Book, The Music of Bees, into your course content. In addition to welcoming the author, Eileen Garvin, to campus on October 22 at 7 pm in the Student Activities Center Auditorium, additional resources are available on the program’s website. If you would like a copy of the book, please complete a request form, available here, along with a registration link to attend Garvin’s talk.
I thank you for your integral role in advancing our mission, and I eagerly look forward to what we will achieve together in the weeks and months ahead. |
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