Dear Colleagues,
As June comes to a close, this message highlights key matters from across our academic community. This is an important period for Auburn’s faculty and for the University, and I will continue to communicate regularly and directly as we move through the work ahead.
I will use these messages to share broader news from across our academic community, including faculty achievements, student-related developments, institutional progress, and items of general academic interest. They will continue monthly. Separately, I have shared the weekly updates on Wednesdays, and those communications will continue to focus on matters associated with the two recently adopted Board of Trustees policies.
Over the past few weeks, I have met with faculty and provided regular updates on the transition to our academic framework, in response to both the recently adopted BOT policies and our ongoing refinements related to improving our institutional effectiveness. Thank you for the questions, comments, and perspectives many of you have shared. Faculty expertise will continue to inform our academic work and future processes.
Auburn’s teaching, research, and extension mission depends on the work of our faculty. Your role remains central to the University’s strength as we prepare for another academic year.
Key updates from across campus follow. Earlier this month, we announced that Dr. Laura Stevens will leave Auburn later this summer to become dean of the Honors College at Oklahoma State University. We are grateful for her many contributions to Auburn and we wish her continued success in her new role. Associate Provost Chase Bringardner is chairing an internal search for her successor, and I look forward to working with the advisory committee as we identify the next leader of our Honors College. Information regarding the position is available here.
The 2027 QS World University Rankings once again recognized Auburn among the world’s leading institutions, and our university maintained its position in the 851–900 range. As one of the University’s strategic plan metrics, this ranking demonstrates our continued progress and reinforces Auburn’s growing global reputation. Our faculty, staff, and students made this recognition possible through their outstanding work. Kudos to all.
Next month, July, will mark the final stretch of Camp War Eagle. At its conclusion, we will have welcomed more than 6,500 members of our incoming class and their families to campus, and we are encouraged by the strong interest from more than 1,200 transfer students planning to join our campus community this fall. As orientation concludes, we will soon turn our attention to welcoming another outstanding class of students to Auburn.
Switching gears, major construction projects, including the STEM + Ag Complex and the newest residence hall (Concourse Hall) in the heart of campus, are expected to open before the fall semester. These facilities will enhance the student experience while supporting Auburn’s measured growth. In addition, I extend a shout-out to Auburn University Facilities Management, who received the 2026 Effective & Innovative Practices Award for its “Loveliest Pipeline on the Plains” apprenticeship initiative. This national recognition affirms the value of Auburn’s work to strengthen the skilled trades workforce and to invest in the people who help keep our campus running every day.
Finally, congratulations to Dr. Tiffani Chidume, associate clinical professor in the College of Nursing, who has been named a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing, which is one of the profession’s highest honors. This recognition makes her a triple fellow this year and reflects her outstanding leadership and contributions to nursing education, simulation, and health care innovation. Please join me in congratulating Dr. Chidume on her remarkable achievement.
As we look toward fall, I will continue to communicate regularly, listen carefully, and work with you to support Auburn’s academic mission and the faculty’s essential role in it. Thank you for your continued work on behalf of our students and the University. Together, we will carry this work forward with purpose, clarity, and a shared commitment to Auburn’s future. |
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Key Summer 2026 Dates for Faculty: July 3: Independence Day (No Classes); July 28: Last Day to Withdraw; July 31: End of Mini-mester II; August 3-4: Study/Reading Days; August 5-7: Final Exam Period; August 8: Commencement Ceremonies
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