Goal #5
Distinctively Auburn

Graduate school hooding ceremony

We Will

Honor, preserve, and celebrate the values and rich traditions that distinguish Auburn University and are foundational to an enduring Auburn Experience.

  • Highlight and promote Auburn’s values and traditions through engagement with the campus community and external stakeholders such as parents, alumni, and partners.

  • Articulate, communicate, and celebrate the values and traditions that distinguish Auburn University.

  • Promote involvement and affinity among Auburn alumni and stakeholders, recognizing the value of their varied contributions.

Build national and international visibility through comprehensive branding, marketing, and communications that articulate the university’s identity, reputation, and influence.

  • Create and implement a comprehensive branding plan coordinated at the university, college, and unit levels.

  • Inform national and international audiences of Auburn’s accomplishments and reputation as an academic institution with formidable athletic programs.

Strengthen and grow the Auburn Family by sharing institutional pride and affinity in our academic, campus life, and athletic pursuits while cultivating lifelong networks and connections.

  • Strengthen the worldwide Auburn Family by connecting our alumni to campus and providing them with opportunities to engage with the university.

  • Grow the Auburn Family by identifying those who may not have a direct connection to the university but who feel an affinity to our values and traditions.

  • Continue to promote the individual and collective successes of academics and athletics.

Invest in our priorities by completing a transformational philanthropic campaign that energizes our stakeholders.

  • Develop, implement, and sustain a comprehensive campaign aligned with Auburn’s expectations and ambitions.

  • Engage, educate, lead, and support campus constituents to develop and articulate specific campaign initiatives and goals to grow philanthropic investment in their programs.

  • Inspire donors to maximize their philanthropic impact while identifying new markets for philanthropic investment in the university.

  • Attract transformational giving from non-alumni and philanthropic foundations for Auburn’s signature programs and initiatives, including interdisciplinary projects that leverage our expertise and commitment to solving real-world problems.

  • Enhance and grow alumni commitments to Auburn throughout their lifetime.

Goal #5: Distinctively Auburn

*Swipe to view full KPI*

Key Performance Indicators

 I E N NM 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24 2024-25 2025-26 2026-27
Student Satisfaction Survey: Would go to Auburn Again 93.5% 93% TBD
Conference/National Championships Competed or Won* 19 of 21 19 of 21 19 of 21
Multi-Year Athletic Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 980 or above** 15 of 18 15 of 18 TBD
Student-Athlete Graduation Success Rate (GSR) of 85% or above 93% 94% 94%
Brand Health Index -- -- 53.17
National Earned Media $34.1M $20.8M $23.9M
Audience Engagement Across University Platforms 1.3M 1.6M 2.7M
Total Donors -- -- 28,672***
Auburn Philanthropic Capacity (Households) -- 34,135 25,240***
Planned/Estate Giving (% of Total Annual Giving) 25% 33% 30%***
Major Gifts to the University (Donors) 1,030 944 954***
Total Annual Gifts and Commitments $213.4M $176.2M $190.6M***
Annual Funds Raised (Gifts under $25,000) $37.5M $40.4M $43.6M***
Alumni Participation in Comprehensive Campaign -- 9% 8%***

*At least 75% of athletics programs making the post season.

**APR is a real-time measure of eligibility, retention, and graduation of student-athletes competing on every NCAA Division I athletics team; 18 sports are accounted for in APR.

***As of 9/6/2024

I = Internal Metric

E = External Metric

N = National Metric

NM = New Metric