Introduction

Auburn University offers a variety of programs and services to students at all levels that support its mission of instruction, research, outreach, and student success. The university demonstrates a commitment to providing these academic and support programs, services, and activities broadly to both traditional and non-traditional students whether on- or off- campus and whether at a distance or in-person. Additionally, Auburn University provides many resources for faculty and staff in an effort to advance the university’s mission. An organizational chart where units featured in this narrative are highlighted is provided as documentation.

The institution served 31,526 students as of Fall 2021, including 24,931 undergraduates and 6,595 graduate and professional students. Even as its enrollment has continued to grow over several years, the institution has maintained support of student involvement and quality services and programs. Evidence of student engagement and the appropriateness of programs available to students includes observations like the following vignettes, which could readily be multiplied:

• 19,035 students participated in at least one of Auburn University’s 579 Student Organizations in 2021-2022.
• Student Counseling and Psychological Services increased outreach efforts by 45% during the pandemic, bringing services proactively to students and student groups.
• In 2021-2022, the Academic Advising appointment system added an option for students to choose to attend appointments virtually or in person. Students attended over 33,000 appointments virtually, allowing them to seamlessly fit appointments in their schedule.
• Sixty percent (60%) of first-year students visited at least one Academic Support program in the 2020-2021 academic year, compared to 50% of the same cohort of students the year before (2019-2020).
• 14,458 accommodation letters were submitted to Auburn University faculty in the 2021-22 academic year, a 21% increase from the previous academic year.”

The following highlighted services, programs, and activities provide evidence of how students at all levels (including distance education students) are supported at Auburn University and of how faculty and staff are supported in their work with students in a manner consistent with the university’s mission. This narrative will concentrate on those of the institution's academic and student support services to which specific offices or resources have been dedicated. Most of these functions are organized and delivered through one of the university's main organizational areas: the Senior Vice President for Student Affairs, the Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs, and, to a lesser extent, other executive-level offices. Discussion of strategic planning and assessment in these units is included in Standard 8.2.c.

Illustrations of decentralized support services delivered through the university's individual colleges and schools follow the main narrative. For the ease of the reader, discussion of how each academic and student support service is made available to students enrolled in distance education or studying at off-campus sites is included, where appropriate, with each service listed.

Services Administered by the Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs

Units reporting to the Office of the Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs (the Provost) are primarily responsible for academic support and strive to (1) help students reach their full potential and (2) fulfill Auburn university’s academic mission. The units and services described in this section are dedicated to ensuring that students are successful in all their academic endeavors, and to “hon[ing] their capabilities by imparting theoretical knowledge and practical skills.” This includes student-focused resources like academic advising, tutoring, and writing support as well as faculty-oriented resources like those provided by the Biggio Center for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning and the Office of Academic Insight. Together, these units ensure that Auburn University is providing “forward-thinking education” to its students and that students are prepared for success in their studies and beyond.

Academic Advising 

Auburn University utilizes a decentralized advising model to provide professional academic advising to all students at the undergraduate level. This support is offered as a complement to any advising individual faculty may offer students in the form of mentorship, discipline-specific advice about career paths, opportunities for collaborative undergraduate research or independent-studies, etc. Each of the ten colleges serving undergraduate students houses its own Office of Student Services. In addition, a separate advising unit in the School of Kinesiology, an Exploratory Advising Center, provides advising for new freshmen in the “Exploratory” major who have one year to choose their major; they also provide advising for upperclassmen experiencing academic difficulty who may be redeciding their major. Other advising units include designated online advisors for students participating in pathway and online programs and advising in the Honors College, which provides additional advising for students participating in the Honors program. Academic Advising units partner with other student support units, both within Academic Affairs and Student Affairs, to provide a coordinated care network for students. EAB Navigate is utilized to maintain advising records in a shared space for student support professionals and for students to schedule advising and tutoring appointments.

Advisors also utilize Degree Works course audit system to track progress to degree. These systems allow advisors to seamlessly assist students when a student changes major or changes advisors. These professionals come together through multiple committees to share information, problem solve, and strategize. A Director of Academic Advising reporting to the Associate Provost for Academic Effectiveness is charged with coordinating these committees and supporting leadership selected by membership on an annual basis. The Director, along with Caucus leadership, organizes professional development opportunities as well as a Canvas course that houses resources and interpretive guidance for policies. Graduate students are advised within their programs by faculty.

Students are encouraged and often required to meet with an academic advisor in their chosen college or prior to registration for the next academic term. Contact information for the academic advisors in each college or school may be found through the Academic Advising website. Advisors also proactively reach out to students to notify them of upcoming dates and opportunities as well as to proactively intervene when students may be struggling as evidenced by midterm grades or other indicators.

 All of Auburn University's colleges have well developed advising services, and there is an active Advisors and Counselors Caucus to share information, facilitate changes in students' educational programs, and build professionalism. Officers are elected annually to lead Caucus events and initiatives. Under the guidance of the Director of University Advising they organize professional development sessions throughout the year in addition to a professional development day for all Caucus members. The Provost’s Office also recognizes superior support for students through advising awards.

Academic Insight Lab

 The Office of Academic Insight facilitates continuous improvement through the collection, analysis, and reporting of institutional and academic effectiveness data. It guides faculty in developing mature practices to measure and improve student learning, and it promotes data-informed decision making across all levels of the institution. A primary goal of the Academic Insight staff is to provide faculty and units with actionable insights toward meaningful use of data.

The Office of Academic Insight is divided into three support units. The first, Academic Assessment, provides support to faculty, units, and the institution to assess student learning. Professional development training and resources are provided and made available to faculty and staff. These programs are aligned with areas identified as having the most need. For example, in recent academic years, the office staff have used meta-assessment data to guide resource creation. Academic Insight staff provided workshops supporting measurement development (i.e., rubric development, test development, survey and Qualtrics use). The Academic Insight staff also provided a four-week Excel 101 course (offered in-person and remotely). Resources associated with all aspects of an assessment cycle are available on their university-hosted website.

The Office of Academic Insight also provides small development funds for units wishing to improve their assessment strategies or see improvement to student learning. The second support unit, data collection, provides support to faculty/staff, units, and the institution by collecting survey and learning data from incoming students and collecting survey and learning data from graduating students. These data are then cleaned and provided to units in raw and visually dashboarded format. Information sessions and professional development workshops are then hosted to support data use. The third support unit, the Insight Lab, provides support to faculty/staff and units from all levels of the institution, with educational research and analytical support for applied research aimed at improving student success (broadly with heavy emphasis on career outcomes). Faculty/staff and units may engage with senior analysts within the office to formulate research questions; they are then provided with data and results of the investigation. The Insight Lab also provides small seed grants that support data-informed research strategies.

Office of Academic Support

Academic Support contributes to retention and degree completion for Auburn University undergraduate students. The staff in the office host a variety of academic skill development programs that promote self-directed learning strategies and student success. Services offered through Academic Support include Academic Coaching, Study Partners Peer Tutoring, and Supplemental Instruction. Additionally, the Academic Support staff offer Study Smart, a non-credit, 10-week program for students placed on academic suspension at Auburn University. The course guides students through an exploration of their responsibilities, motivation, self-awareness, and tools to maintain success. By using activities, discussions, group work, writing exercises, and a variety of projects linking students to the university, Study Smart seeks to reconnect students to the collegiate climate more prepared and skilled to meet their personalized goals.

Students in distance education programs have the same opportunities to arrange appointments using the web-based interface software as in-person students, including capability for video chat and screen sharing for academic support, including both synchronous and asynchronous tutoring via Study Partners Peer Tutoring and Academic Coaching.

Office of Accessibility

The Office of Accessibility strives to collaborate for an inclusive and equitable environment campus wide. Services include academic accommodations support, technology support, sign-language and live captioning, academic coaching, jAUnt door-to- door golf-cart shuttle service, accessible parking, and a competition wheelchair basketball program. The office provides assistance to students, faculty, or other constituents who encounter physical access issues.

Disability specialists are available to meet in-person or virtually and accommodations are made based on student need and supporting medical documentation. Both in-person and distance students utilize resources available through the Office of Accessibility.

The Office of Accessibility works with both students and faculty to address classroom accommodation concerns. Additionally, any faculty or staff member with disability support needs may request assistance with workplace accommodations, jAUnt door-to-door golf- cart shuttle service, accessible parking, physical access issues, sign-language and live captioning, and more.

Biggio Center for Enhancement of Teaching & Learning

As the university’s primary resource for faculty development, the Biggio Center for the Enhancement of Teaching & Learning engages, supports, and empowers Auburn University’s academic community across each phase of the scholarly teaching and transformative learning process. Located in the newly opened Academic Classroom and Laboratory Complex, the Biggio Center provides faculty with various tools to enhance teaching and learning, including opportunities for grants, instructional feedback, new faculty support, and seminars to help faculty adopt new approaches to teaching in Engaged and Active Student Learning (EASL) spaces. Together, the leadership team provides programming and services through the following units:

• Educational Development: Provides transformative professional development and teaching and learning support, emphasizing evidence-based approaches and active learning strategies 
• Testing Center: Administers more than 25,000 individual exams each year, including over 50 different admission, professional, licensure, and community exams. Located in Biggin Hall, the Testing Center also offers online proctoring services to faculty.
• Instructional Technology: Supports Canvas (Learning Management System), Panopto (video delivery), and Zoom (online conferencing), to advance the use of innovative technology and elevate the classroom experience.
• Auburn Online: Partners with faculty to create interactive online learning experiences that engage learners in innovative pedagogies while developing professional expertise for instructors in evidence-based practices in online teaching. Auburn Online is also home to The Learning Glass, a resource for faculty to create visually appealing, professional-quality videos that elevate instructor presence in online classes.

Career Discovery and Success

 Career Discovery and Success provides comprehensive career development support to undergraduate, graduate, and online students and alumni with the resources to prepare them for career success. Additionally, this office provides support, consultation, and professional development training, as well as the coordination of services, programs, events, and resources across a campus-wide career services network. The university-wide support includes faculty and staff development grounded in a career everywhere approach to career development. Students are supported by Career Discovery and Success through individualized career counseling and career strategy consultation, exploratory academic advising, career education and development informational resources and toolkits, employability skills workshops, mock interviews, and the facilitation of events to develop career connections with future employers and Auburn University alumni, thus increasing students’ social capital.

Career Discovery and Success supports students in learning and developing a life-long toolkit related to making educational and career decisions that consider their skills, interests, values, and future goals, alongside occupational opportunities and future world of work projections. In addition to opportunities for one-on-one, group, and classroom-based career assistance, students at Auburn University can utilize web-based technology for locating internship and employment opportunities, and they have access to employability skills workshops, mock interview preparation, career expositions, employer interviews, updated job listings, and related services.

Honors College

The Honors College at Auburn University is designed to provide a select cohort of high-ability students a means to experience, explore, engage, and elevate their academic dreams. Home to over 2,000 students, the college offers four types of graduation distinctions, smaller class sizes, priority registration, undergraduate research and internship opportunities, study and travel experiences, access to graduate-level courses, peer tutoring sessions, flexible curriculums, and designated Honors housing and study areas. Students engage in an academically challenging set of courses and programs to provide a deeper understanding of the class material. 

Office of Inclusion & Diversity

The Office of Inclusion & Diversity supports the mission, values, academic endeavors, and strategic priorities of Auburn University by empowering diversity, fostering partnerships, increasing access, and enriching the learning, living, and working environments for all. Mission-driven and data-informed strategy, practices, and consultation are foundational to diversity, equity, and inclusion at Auburn University. The Office of Inclusion & Diversity includes three distinct sub-units. Cross Cultural Center for Excellence’s (CCCE) focus is to ease the social transition of underrepresented students to Auburn University. The CCCE provides programming and activities for student engagement, facilitating cross-cultural learning experiences where all students can engage in dialogue, develop leadership skills, and build collaborative relationships that will help them be effective in an increasingly global society.

Diversity Education and Engagement advances the vital diversity, equity, and inclusion knowledge and skills needed to maximize organizational performance, collaboration, innovation, and outcomes. Diversity Education and Engagement provides education and consultative services to support Auburn University toward the most productive, vibrant, collaborative, and welcoming environment for all. Women’s Initiatives and Gender Equity represents the concerns of and supports all Auburn University women including faculty, staff, students, and administrative and professional personnel. WIGE provides programming and strategically collaborates and guides efforts to facilitate the recruitment, hiring (for employees), retention, and professional development of women by addressing issues that affect the personal well-being and professional needs of women across campus.

Office of International Programs

The Office of International Programs (OIP) provides support for the internationalization of Auburn University and its students, staff, and faculty through programs that encourage study overseas, recruitment of international students and scholars to the university’s campus, and internationalization of the student and campus experience through curricular and co-curricular programming. Because all disciplines are international today, access to overseas study has been created to serve all students, and today’s technologies augment traditional overseas study with virtual alternatives. Faculty development efforts assist faculty in providing this programming and strengthening faculty leadership in creating a global mindset among our students and allied stake-holder groups. OIP  is also the conduit through which much of Auburn University’s international partnerships, contracts, exchanges, and interactions flows provide room for all ideas and needs while helping to focus certain activities strategically. OIP contains a unit for study abroad, immigration support for international students and scholars, international student health insurance and travel insurance for faculty/staff, international initiatives and strategic planning, a Korea Center/King Sejong Institute, a Chinese Language Program, and an International Cultural Center.

University Registrar

The Office of the Registrar is responsible for the accurate creation and maintenance of all academic records of students enrolled at Auburn University. The office is responsible for creating and issuing official transcripts and enrollment records. As such, the office has the responsibility to maintain timely and accurate records of the academic progress and degree completions of its students, while maintaining the privacy and security of those records.

As a central student-facing administrative office for the university, the Office of the University Registrar is responsible for scheduling classes, assigning classroom space, managing registration processes for students, grade recording and grade reporting, and final degree conferral.

In addition, the Office of the Registrar assists academic units and senior leadership in ensuring compliance to university policies and procedures. The office is responsible for the creation and adherence to the academic calendars, final exam schedule, and the yearly academic bulletin. The office works in tandem with university curriculum committees to ensure curriculums are created and documented as required for student matriculation.

Dedicated to supporting the institution’s strategic goals, the Office of the University Registrar assists the university’s departments and faculty by providing reports, analyses, and recommendations as requested. The office also acts to facilitate and implement institutional policy, providing interpretation and enforcement of policy as required to uphold academic standards. The Office of the University Registrar places service to students and faculty first among its priorities, recognizing these persons as the office’s primary constituency.

University Writing

The Office of University Writing has a mission to support students as thinkers and communicators by helping become better writers, and to partner with faculty who teach high-impact, discipline-specific, writing-focused courses and curriculums. To achieve this mission, the office includes the following:

• The Miller Writing Center
• The ePortfolio Project (Auburn University’s 2013 QEP)
• WriteFest, a writing support series for graduate students
• Faculty development (workshops and workshop series) for individuals and departments focused on writing pedagogy and curricular integration of writing, including Writing Enriched (WE) courses
• Support for faculty as writers
• In-class workshops and presentations

The Office of University Writing employs five full-time faculty and staff, six graduate assistants, two undergraduate program assistants, and 55 student workers. Reflecting the emphasis that the institution places on support for writing and communication and its connection to other campus partners, the Director of University Writing reports to the Associate Provost for Academic Effectiveness.

The Office of University Writing’s most visible service, the Miller Writing Center, offers free one-on-one consultations (face-to-face and online) for all writers at Auburn University. Undergraduate and graduate student Peer Consultants can assist with any kind of writing, whether for class or otherwise, at any stage in the writing process. Students can bring in lab reports, essays, dissertations, CVs/resumes, personal statements, ePortfolios, and more.

Veteran’s Resource Center 

The Veterans Resource Center (VRC) assists veterans, guardsmen, reservists, active duty, survivors, and military dependents receiving federal and state Veterans Affairs (V) education benefits in making a successful transition into the university community. Information regarding Chapter 30: Montgomery GI Bill® (MGIB); Chapter 31: Veterans Readiness & Employment (VR&E); Chapter 33: Post 9/11 GI Bill®; Chapter 35: Dependents Education Assistance (DEA); Chapter 1606: Montgomery GI Bill®- Select Reserve (MGIB-SR); the Fry Scholarship; the Alabama GI Dependent Scholarship (ALGI); and the Alabama National Guard Education Assistance Program (ANGEAP) is provided. Eligibility for resident tuition rates under Section 702 of the Veterans Choice & Accountability Act (Choice Act), the Alabama House Bill 424 (HB424), and the Alabama National Guard Waiver are managed through the VRC. Additionally, Auburn University participates in the Yellow Ribbon Program (YRP). The center devotes additional services and comprehensive support and a range of services for current and former military service members, including eligible military dependents by collaborating with VA representatives, the Auburn University community, and civilian-advocate organizations.

Services Administered by the Senior Vice President for Student Affairs

Student Affairs at Auburn University is an integral part of university life and plays a pivotal role in preparing undergraduate and graduate students for professional and personal success. Student Affairs units engage students inside and outside the classroom and continuously strive to create intentional learning experiences in everything they do. Student Affairs departments, programs and experiences are designed to enhance academics and promote student development.

Auburn’s Mission

As a land-grant institution, Auburn University is dedicated to improving the lives of the people of Alabama, the nation, and the world through forward-thinking education, life-enhancing research and scholarship, and selfless service.

Student Affairs Mission

Student Affairs cultivates a welcoming and meaningful student experience reflective of the Auburn Creed.

Student Affairs supports this mission as it is their responsibility to educate students and prepare them for life through programs and experiences outside of the classroom. Student Affairs units endeavor to expand students’ minds, broaden their experiences, and hone their capabilities by providing opportunities to build practical skills. The goal of Student Affairs as a division is to empower and inspire Auburn Univeristy students to be their very best and to achieve their hopes and dreams.

A key element of Auburn University’s public charter and of the Auburn Creed is to ensure that the students are instilled with a strong work ethic, sound character traits, and core values of honesty and respect. Student Affairs units encourage students to make valuable contributions and to lead their fellow citizens in creating meaningful change. This responsibility to build moral character and inculcate active social responsibility distinguishes the student experience at all land-grant universities, and certainly at Auburn University.

Auburn Cares 

The Auburn Cares office is designed to support students who are experiencing academic or personal crises. Auburn Cares helps students navigate campus and community support resources. Additionally, the Auburn Cares office oversees the medical and compassionate withdrawal process for students who need to withdrawal from classes due to health or family issues. Auburn Cares also oversees the Campus Food Pantry, the Feed the Family Fund, and the annual Memorial Ceremony, honoring students who passed away the previous year. Auburn Cares provides support and consultation to faculty and staff who need advice on assisting students in need and understanding community and campus resources. Distance education students can receive support from the Auburn Cares office via phone or email.

Campus Dining

With responsible sourcing and efficiency in mind, Tiger Dining offers 32 dining locations across campus with a variety of menus and offerings. These include restaurants, convenience stores, and food trucks for students, staff, and faculty in the university community. Each semester, students living in university housing are enrolled in a $1300 meal plan that includes 5 weekly meals at a dining hall and $450 dining dollars to spend at campus retail locations. Students who live off campus are enrolled in a $375 dining dollars plan. Students may also upgrade to a plan they prefer via the GET mobile app during the first 10 class days. Graduate students, faculty, and staff have the option to pay for each meal or purchase a meal plan for use in the dining halls. Tiger Dining employs a Registered Dietitian to assist students with special dietary needs as well as those who are interested in our foods’ nutritional content. Additionally, Campus Dining oversees Tiger Catering, a service available to student groups and faculty/staff departments and offices. Particular emphasis is placed on sustainable dining practices.

As additional evidence of Campus Dining activities in the 2021-2022 academic year, Health and Wellness, Lunch and Learn, and samples of dining events, are included in the documentation.

Campus Recreation 

Campus Recreation supports lifelong patterns of healthy living by providing sports, health, and wellness opportunities for the Auburn University community.

The Recreation and Wellness Center provides 240,000 square feet of recreation space featuring a 1/3-mile track, leisure/activity pool, two 50-ft. climbing towers, multi-purpose courts, weight-training areas, racquetball courts, cardio/fitness training areas, a dedicated personal training studio, and an outdoor adventure program that includes a bike shop and outdoor recreation equipment rental center. 

Campus Recreation also maintains 15 acres of natural turf field space, five synthetic turf fields, three sand volleyball courts, and a one-mile walking/running trail. Club and intramural sports allow students to pursue opportunities for team activities in a competitive environment.

In the 2021/22 academic year, approximately 68% of Auburn students utilized Campus Recreation facilities and programs.

First-Year Experience Orientation

The First Year Experience Office provides programs to help new college students make the transition to Auburn University life. These programs for entering freshmen and transfer students (Camp War Eagle, Successfully Orienting Students, First Year Seminars, and Learning Communities) promote intellectual and social development leading to personal and academic success.

As additional evidence of First-Year Experience Orientation activities in the 2021-2022 academic year, Tigers in a New Territory, Class Schedule Tours, and Life After Orientation Workshop are included in the documentation.

First-Year Seminars and Learning Communities 

First-Year Seminar (FYS) courses help new students acclimate to multiple aspects of university life. By taking an FYS course, students learn about academic and personal resources on Auburn University's campus, relevant social issues, opportunities for involvement on campus and in the local community, time management, critical thinking skills, study strategies, test preparation, note taking, goal setting, and many other topics and skills vital to college success. FYS courses are available to all first-time-in-college students.,

Learning Communities (LC) are comprised of small cohorts of first-year students who share a common interest or major. LC students participate together in a themed FYS course and two to four additional courses related to theme of the LC. Residential Learning Communities have the same properties as LCs and offer students the added benefit of living in proximity to one another on campus.

At the present time, First-Year Seminars and Learning Communities are not available to undergraduates enrolled in Auburn's online degree completion programs, since these students previously completed their first college year.

Greek Life 

Greek life has long been a significant component of the Auburn educational experience for some students, promoting personal growth and leadership development and providing opportunities for community, friendship, and service. In Fall 2021, more than 8,400 undergraduate students were members of fraternities and sororities–37% of the undergraduate population. The Auburn University Greek community currently includes 50 chapters from the Interfraternity Council (26 fraternities), National Pan-Hellenic Council (6 historically Black Greek organizations), and Panhellenic Council (18 sororities). Greek Life serves as an advocate and resource for the Greek community and provides students with opportunities for personal growth and development.

Health Promotion and Wellness Services 

Health Promotion and Wellness strives to support student learning and academic success. As health and wellness advocates, the office provides programming and one-on-one engagement opportunities to encourage healthy lifestyle choices. Specifically, the office offers substance use support services, nutrition services, suicide prevention awareness and bystander intervention programs,. Faculty may request staff from Health Promotion and Wellness Services to conduct training workshops during class time simply by contacting the office. The institution's health promotion and wellness services are appropriately available to distance education students. For example, Safe Harbor advocates are available 24/7 to all students, both in-person and online, by telephone, and they can advise students who have experienced violence or harassment about medical and legal services, counseling appointment scheduling, crime reporting, etc. Distance students interested in nutrition services and other support programs may contact the office via phone or email to request telephone consultation.

Medical Clinic 

The Auburn University Medical Clinic (Medical Clinic) provides high quality, efficient and convenient health care with compassion, dedication, and professionalism. The Medical Clinic offers medical services on a fee-for service basis, featuring 40 exam rooms, digitized x- rays, lab services, women’s health, chiropractic care, a professional massage therapy center, vaccination clinics, and a student pharmacy. Physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, registered nurses, technicians, and administration personnel provided services during more than 52,278 billable visits in fiscal year 2021. Services of the Medical Clinic are available for faculty and staff in addition to students. While students may access the pharmacy located within the Medical Clinic, faculty and staff have the opportunity to utilize the Employee Pharmacy at the Harrison College of Pharmacy, which includes reduced rates on select prescriptions and free on-campus delivery of medications.

The Medical Clinic offers a patient portal to allow patients to communicate with Medical Clinic staff and keep track of their medical information. Distance education students may consult with medical staff via phone, patient portal, telehealth, or secured email. However, in-person visits with local medical personnel are necessary to diagnose and treat illness.

Melton Student Center 

The Melton Student Center is considered the family room of Auburn University, providing spaces for students to study, dine, and meet. The facility includes more than 184,000 square feet and provides meeting and event spaces, study spaces for individuals and groups, ATM machines, printers, and a game room. These services support the academic mission of Auburn University and promote a community environment for faculty, staff, and students. The Melton Student Center oversees 19 unique reservation sites as well as multiple promotional spaces across campus. The Student Center’s dining and open spaces are available to faculty, staff, and the community. Meeting rooms and event spaces are available for a fee to any individual or group wanting to use a student center space.

Parent and Family Programs 

Recognizing that in some ways students bring their families with them to college, the Office of Parent and Family Programs helps families support their students' overall success. The office provides a parent/authorized user portal (Family Portal) which includes information for on-campus resources, and activities, and a webinar series promoting various campus departments and programs. The Family Portal serves as the university’s designated FERPA connection point for external users to have access to protected student information, with the student’s consent. Users can gain access to midterm and final grades, holds on a student’s account, financial information, and enrollment information. Additionally, the office supports the Auburn University Parents’ Parent & Family Association and organizes events like Fall Family Weekend.

Most communication from the Office of Parent and Family Programs with both parents and students occurs in the forms of mailings, emails, and access to the Parent Family Portal. Distance students and parents may opt to receive these communications in the same manner as on-campus students.

Student Conduct

At Auburn University, student conduct is governed by the Code of Student Conduct. Student Conduct addresses non-academic violations of university policy, providing a fair, impartial, and educational student conduct process. The office also processes student record requests.

Services of Student Conduct are available to distance education and off-site students. The Code of Student Conduct is available online for all students, promoting a campus environment that supports the overall mission of a safe and supportive campus community. If students, including distance education students, are unable to travel to campus for conduct-related meetings, Student Conduct staff routinely make arrangements to conduct meetings and interviews via several video conferencing platforms.

Student Counseling & Psychological Services 

Student Counseling & Psychological Services (SCPS) serves as the primary mental health counseling center for Auburn University’s undergraduate and graduate student community. The mission of SCPS is to provide comprehensive preventative and clinical mental health services to enhance the psychological well-being of individual students, as well as the broader campus culture. SCPS is committed to supporting the academic and student development missions of Auburn University, so students can have a complete university experience and take full advantage of the educational opportunities at the university. In an added effort to support retention and student success, students who are academically suspended may be able to access services as part of their comprehensive plan to return to the university. SCPS is strongly committed to inclusion and diversity, and its staff welcomes all students with a goal to create a safe, supportive and affirming climate for individuals of all races, ethnicities, national origins, genders, gender identities, sexual orientations, religions, ages, abilities, sizes, socioeconomic statuses, languages, and cultures.

In 2018, the office changed its name to include Psychological Services to more accurately reflect the make-up of its clinical staff and services offered. SCPS offers the following services for on-campus students and students residing in the state of Alabama: individual therapy (up to 10 biweekly sessions per academic year), group therapy (no session limits), workshops, drop-in groups, and psychiatric services. SCPS is also able to provide Animal Assisted Therapy and an Executive Function Screening service. All services are provided at no charge.

Currently enrolled Auburn University undergraduate and graduate students are eligible for an initial appointment with SCPS to help determine the best treatment options, whether it be at SCPS or a community provider. Students whose needs are beyond the scope of a brief treatment model will receive assistance from SCPS in locating services within the community. Typically, client issues of mild-to-moderate function impairment are most appropriate for and respond best to a brief treatment model. Issues and concerns that typically do not fit within this model of treatment are those that require more than weekly sessions, tend to worsen in short-term counseling, required long-term treatment prior to coming to SCPS, or require an expertise not found among SCPS staff.

Additionally, SCPS provides multiple opportunities for outreach to the campus community including suicide prevention, mental health screenings, and Get Mov’in with Moose campus walks with the office’s animal therapy dogs (Moose, Nessie, and Rooster). SCPS serves as a site for a year-long practicum training experience for students in Auburn’s Counseling Psychology and Clinical Psychology doctoral programs. A practicum experience has recently been added to include MSW students in Auburn University’s Social Work program. In 2018, SCPS began offering an American Psychological Association-accredited doctoral internship program for Health Service Providers. This SCPS training program offers generalist training with the goal of fostering personal and professional growth over the course of the year such that interns are ready to transition into the next phase of their careers as psychologists.

Results of a client satisfaction survey for SCPS, conducted in Fall 2021, show how integral its services are considered to be, with nearly all respondents strongly agreeing with the statement: "I regard SCPS as a necessary part of the university" (on a scale where 4 = Strongly agree, the mean response to this item was 3.97).

To provide appropriate services to distance learning students and students specifically requesting tele-counseling services, SCPS can communicate via teleconference, and if needed, via referral to health care professionals near the students.

Student Involvement  

The Student Involvement office of the Division of Student Affairs seeks to empower students through developmental activities and programs. Its mission is to provide experiential learning opportunities that engage, educate, and empower students through an inclusive and equitable environment. With more than 500 student organizations, it strives to fulfill its mission through programs, services, events, and learning experiences that cultivate community, develop engaged leaders, strengthen students’ connection to the university, and enhance their success. Major functional areas within Student Involvement include student governance, leadership programs, community service programs, the student programming board, student organizations, and student media outlets. The office provides practical, experiential opportunities for students. For example, students interested in broadcast, communication, and journalism are able to practice and develop their professional skills and career readiness through participating with The Auburn Plainsman (student newspaper), WEGL 91.1 FM (radio station), Eagle Eye TV (student television news organization), The Glomerata (yearbook), and The Circle (literary magazine).

While some forms of student involvement are not easily adapted for distance education and off-campus students, all Auburn University students, including those not studying on the main campus, may participate in virtual events and may utilize AUinvolve, the university’s student organization software, to discover involvement opportunities available to them.

University Housing 

For those students who do choose to live on campus, Auburn University Housing cultivates and supports living environments rooted in tradition with a commitment to providing well-maintained residence halls that are safe, welcoming, and inclusive. Our staff foster holistic student development to prepare residents for success in a global society. Housing provides residents with educational, diverse, and supportive communities where academic success, personal wellness, leadership development and social responsibility are encouraged. University Housing includes 26 residence halls and 4,650 residents. 91 undergraduate Resident Assistants are trained to provide residents with personal and academic support.

Services Facilitated by Other Executive-Level Offices

Units outside the Office of the Provost and the division of Student Affairs play a variety of roles in fulfilling Auburn University’s mission. These units include administrative offices like Enrollment Management (including Undergraduate Admissions) as well as key services like Parking, Transportation Services, and Campus Safety and Security. Without these varied and essential services, it would not be possible for Auburn University to be the excellent, comprehensive, public land-grant institution it strives to be. Most importantly, these units ensure that students have the non-academic resources they need to be successful students and citizens, fulfilling both Auburn University’s mission and the Auburn University Creed.

Division of Enrollment Management 

The Division of Enrollment Management reports to the University President and includes the Office of Undergraduate Admissions, University Scholarships, enrollment management technology, enrollment marketing, and the centralized Enrollment Management staff. Note that Student Financial Services, which oversees student financial aid, reports to the Vice President for Business and Finance/Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and so is discussed later in this narrative. Enrollment management is committed to working with students and families throughout the college selection process. The departments combined cultivate relationships and serve as the primary resource for prospective students through four years later, from day one to graduation. With over 60 full-time employees and over 100 student employees, the division’s efforts impact the university daily. The Division of Enrollment Management provides strategic leadership and execution in advancing Auburn University enrollment goals in accordance with its mission, vision, and strategic plan. While most services of this office are designed for prospective students, some services are offered to current students.

The Office of Undergraduate Admissions

The Office of Admissions is primarily responsible for recruiting, admitting, and enrolling a student body that is academically accomplished, notable in leadership and service, and diverse. The Office of Undergraduate Admissions embraces its responsibility to serve the citizens of the state of Alabama. The goal of the review process is to execute the will of the faculty, university administration, and Board of Trustees by implementing a fair and equitable selection process. The comprehensive review of applicants provides the Office of Undergraduate Admissions an opportunity to evaluate students individually. It is based on selecting students with the greatest potential for success and who can live up to the Auburn Creed. Also included in the Office of Undergraduate Admissions functions are first-year students and transfer admissions, the campus visit experiences and prospective student events, enrollment operations, processing, and communication.

Office of University Scholarships

The Office of University Scholarships recognizes achievement and provides opportunity to Auburn University students through scholarship in advance of institutional enrollment goals by: providing scholarship information to prospective and current students; awarding institutional scholarship funds, providing oversight and support to campus units awarding institutional scholarship funds, and applying external scholarship funds; ensuring fiscal responsibility and agreement compliance, directly influencing net tuition revenue and stewardship; and maintaining the centralized scholarship management system and other systems and applications related to affordability, cost, and awarding.

The Office of University Scholarships is a department in the Division of Enrollment Management. The department is comprised of a director, an assistant director, four scholarship advisors, an office supervisor, and two administrative support specialists. The director reports to the Vice President for Enrollment.

Student Financial Services

 The Office of Student Financial Services, which reports to the Vice President for Business and Finance/CFO, provides students and families with assistance in bill management and payment and student financial aid including federal and state aid programs. Additionally, the office facilitates the payment of graduate fellowship payments. The office’s bill payment programs and financial aid information are accessible to all students–including distance education and off-site students–via computer, phones, or tablet.

Campus Safety and Security

Campus Safety and Security reports to the Executive Vice President. Through partnerships with the City of Auburn Police and Fire Divisions, East Alabama Medical Center, Lee County Emergency Management Agency, and other essential university and community partners and contractors, Campus Safety and Security provides state-of-the-art safety programs and resources. The department's security monitors, contracted security, and the night security shuttle provide after-hours services and safe movement across campus.

Security Services provided through Campus Safety and Security include Auburn University and contracted security personnel. Security Services personnel perform nightly security patrols, secure campus buildings, and operate the Night Security Shuttle, which provides door-to-door on-campus transportation between 6:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., seven days a week while classes are in session. Additional night transportation options are available through Parking Services. Contracted security personnel supplement Campus Safety and Security patrols, especially in areas frequented by students after hours such as campus residential neighborhoods, parking areas, and the library.

The department's emergency management program helps ensure the university is prepared for all hazards and that significant emergencies and dangerous situations are swiftly communicated to the campus community. Detailed emergency management guidelines are posted online and in the Auburn Safety mobile app, which is free for anyone to download.

Office of Information Technology

The Office of Information Technology (OIT) reports to the Chief Information Officer and provides information technology (IT) support and resources for Auburn University faculty, staff, and students. These services include access to software resources, network connectivity, classroom technology, accounts, email, data storage, consulting, and support provided by the IT Service Desk. Additional resources for students include access to lab computers throughout campus, centralized printing through Ricoh’s TigerPrint solution, and free access to applications, including the Microsoft Office365 suite, Adobe Creative Cloud, LastPass, and Box. OIT’s software catalog can be found at https://aub.ie/softwarecatalog.

IT services and support are available to all enrolled Auburn University students. The IT Service Desk is available to answer questions by telephone, email, chat, walk-in, or Zoom. A complete list of services offered by OIT, a searchable knowledgebase, and contact information can be found on the OIT website.

Parking Services

 Parking Services’ mission is to enhance transportation to and within Auburn University’s campus for all students, faculty, staff, and campus guests by promoting and providing alternate modes of transportation, creating a more sustainable campus while maximizing the usage of available parking spaces. Parking Services’ vision is to transition a majority of travel to and within Auburn University’s campus from vehicular to alternate modes of transportation to create a more sustainable campus while providing clear information to enhance understanding of parking rules and regulations with friendly, helpful customer service. Parking services administers vehicle registration, parking citations and appeals, free on-campus motorist assistance services, and the Lyft Late Night Smart Ride Program, which incentivizes students using Lyft to safely travel from campus to their on- or off-campus residence by providing a $10 discount per ride. There is also an AU Parking app available to students, faculty, and staff to access real-time parking availability and get directions to lots with available spaces.

University Ombudsperson

 The Auburn University Office of the Ombudsperson is a full-time support resource for all university students, faculty, and Administrative & Professional and staff personnel. The Ombudsperson operates according to the Charter of the Office of the Ombudsperson, which is Auburn University Policy, and the Code of Ethics and the Standards of Practice of the International Ombuds Association (IOA). The Office of the Ombudsperson is an independent, neutral, confidential, and informal resource for students and all other university constituents and is not an agent of notice for Auburn University.

The Office of the Ombudsperson was established in 2008 to provide a confidential, neutral resource for faculty and staff to express concerns, identify options to address workplace conflicts, facilitate productive communication, brainstorm problem-solving strategies, and responsibly surface concerns regarding university policies and practices. In 2011, the scope of these resources was expanded to include the undergraduate and graduate student population. The present Ombudsperson began employment with Auburn University in September 2013 and achieved certification as a Certified Organizational Ombudsman Practitioner (CO-OP©) through the International Ombuds Association in April 2015.

The Ombudsperson offers a number of seminars and workshops to faculty, staff, and students pertaining to individuals’ ability to work with and relate to one another respectfully and productively. Educational subjects include effective teamwork, basic conflict management techniques, active listening, collaborative negotiation principles, bullying and mobbing, and working with high conflict persons. One seminar is directed specifically toward student summer camp counselors and is entitled “NBZ – The No Bullying Zone.”

Transportation Services 

Transportation Services reports to the Executive Vice President and includes four distinct services that are available to all students on and around campus. The first is War Eagle Express, which is an evening golf cart service that runs seven days a week during fall and spring semesters to help students get around campus easier than walking a long distance. It is an on-demand service that students can use by simply waving down a passing cart or calling our phone number and requesting a ride. The second is jAUnt, which is provided in conjunction with the Office of Accessibility and helps students and faculty with temporary or permanent mobility issues get to and from classes or other needs in central campus. This is a golf cart service that runs from 7:30 am to 5:00 pm. All riders must be approved by the Office of Accessibility prior to being able to schedule rides. Once approved with a beginning and end date, all scheduling information is sent to the new passenger. In Fall 2021 alone, approximately 100 passengers took advantage of this service.

The most prominent service is Tiger Transit, which runs Monday through Friday, 7:00 am to 8:00 pm. At peak service during the day, there are 57 buses on routes. The service area includes all of campus plus various outside campus apartment areas where large numbers of students reside. The full fleet of university-owned buses includes 66 35-foot vehicles and four smaller cutaway buses used on our smaller routes. Fall 2021 Tiger Transit ridership started at over 11,000 riders daily. Finally, there is the University Shuttle, which will transport students to places in and around campus for classes where the bus service cannot travel. This service is available upon request.

Services Designed Specifically for Graduate Students

The Graduate School coordinates and supports the graduate programs of all colleges and schools of the institution. The Graduate School is guided in its role by the Graduate Faculty of the University through the Graduate Council. Working with the colleges and schools of the University, the Graduate School promotes a broad spectrum of programs leading to master’s, specialist, and doctoral degrees and helps fulfill Auburn University’s academic and research mission.2 In keeping with the university’s mission to “educate students” and “drive the development of research and scholarship,” the ultimate goals of the Graduate School are to prepare scholars to assume leadership roles in research, education, business, industry, government, and other areas of a global society and to provide an environment that promotes and fosters free inquiry, research, and a spirit of excellence in scholarship. Additionally, the Graduate School coordinates the Graduate Tuition Fellowship program to benefit students, faculty, programs, and departments; it also hosts the Graduate Student Council.

To support graduate students, monthly professional development sessions are provided. A graduate level Professional Development course is offered every semester and is open to all graduate students. Professional development sessions, featuring pertinent research and academic scholars, are made available on a monthly basis to provide enriching professional experiences and to contribute to the development of research agendas that can enhance post-graduation pathways. Developmental feedback and individual support are provided, as requested, for job transition skills and career and job preparation documentation.

Opportunities to meet with the Graduate School Dean, Associate Dean, Graduate School staff, and fellow graduate students are available monthly, in person and virtually. In addition, the 3MT thesis competition and presentations are encouraged and supported, allowing participation in this prestigious event. Presidential Graduate Research Fellows and Presidential Opportunity Group Program fellows are established through financial support and an engaged community. To develop additional graduate student engagement opportunities and to cultivate prestigious recognitions for Auburn University, the Graduate School has partnered with the Honors College to foster the submission of National Prestigious Scholarship / Fellowship awards such as the National Science Foundation (NSF) / Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP).

To support graduate students across all modalities, the Graduate School provides information and responses electronically or telephonically to inquiries. It also maintains a website that is available to all graduate students with general information, new student checklists, graduate assistantship information, information for international students, graduation checks, graduate calendars, and professional development opportunities. Monthly zoom sessions are held to provide an opportunity for interaction with graduate school staff and administration. These sessions are open to all students but are specifically focused on providing a venue convenient for online students to participate in such interactions.

A wide array of programs is provided to specifically assist and support international students. These include arrival and orientation services for incoming students, as well as collaborations with the Miller Writing Center and Auburn Global on written and spoken communications, with the Office of International Programs for immigration services, and with Student Affairs for networking and social programs.

To support faculty, the Graduate School coordinates Graduate Faculty appointments and reappointments to ensure and monitor the credentialing process for graduate teaching and directing graduate student programs. The Graduate School website also contains specific content for faculty and staff. Toolkits are posted for faculty who handle graduate admissions, curriculum changes, fellowships, and assistantships. There is a dedicated toolkit for faculty serving as Graduate Program Officers. Graduate School personnel work closely with college and departmental leaders, including the deans and associate deans in each college, along with the department chairs/school directors and graduate program officers to manage the various graduate offerings. To facilitate communication, regular (typically monthly) meetings are held between Graduate School personnel and administrative personnel of each degree program. In addition, one-on-one communication is encouraged and occurs on a regular basis to address concerns and discuss specific problems and seek solutions.

To promote and foster research and academic excellence, the Graduate School annually recognizes a faculty member with a Distinguished Graduate Faculty Lectureship for making significant contributions to graduate education at Auburn University and hosts the Auburn Authors annual awards to recognize faculty for their scholarly publications.

Services Designed Specifically for International Students

Auburn Global 

Auburn Global is offering an Intensive English Program, consisting of a General English track (for any international student interested in improving their general English language proficiency skills) and an Academic English track, preparing students for entering the Auburn Global Pathways to the university both on the undergraduate level (the IAP, International Accelerator Program) and the graduate level (MAP, Master’s Accelerator Program). In line with Auburn Global’s mission and goal to support and prepare international students to be academically successful, the Student Services team is tasked with monitoring and supporting students’ overall well-being and academic performance.

Each student is assigned to a Student Services Advisor (SSA) who meets with the student one-on-one on a regular basis, in most cases bi-weekly. The SSA is available via phone, text, and email. One member of the Student Services team carries an emergency phone 24/7 in order to assist after hours when needed. Advising sessions include encouraging students to engage with the campus community through extra-curricular and recreational activities; informing students about housing, insurance, and immigration policies; checking students’ academic performance; and referring them to the various available university resources when needed.

Services Provided for Students at Off-Campus Instructional Sites

The Mobile Instructional Site for the Harrison College of Pharmacy –  Mobile, AL  

The Mobile Instructional Site for the Harrison College of Pharmacy offices and classrooms are located in the former Health Services Building on the University of South Alabama campus. This campus allows Auburn University to admit an additional 24 students per year. Interior facilities are virtually identical to those on the Auburn University main campus in terms of team rooms, furnishings, lecture halls, and technology. Students participate in the same student organizations; are eligible for the same scholarships, grants, and loans; and pay Auburn University tuition. Access to campus recreation, library resources, counseling, and medical services are available to students enrolled in this off-campus program through a partnership with the University of South Alabama.

Rural Studio – Newbern, AL 

Rural Studio is an off-campus design-build program, located in Hale County, AL, and part of the School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape Architecture at Auburn University. While a variety of facilities are used across Hale County, the primary offices are in Newbern, AL at the Morrisette House. Students from the School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape Architecture study at Rural Studio during either their 3rd (1 semester) or 5th (2 semesters) years of study. Approximately 15 students can be accepted in each year-level. Students are eligible for the same scholarships, grants, and loans as students at Auburn University’s main campus, and they pay Auburn University tuition.

Virtual services are available for students throughout the year for advising and student support as well as a regular lecture series. In addition, the student advisor for Architecture, Planning and Landscape Architecture visits Rural Studio once per semester to review plans of study and upcoming schedules for students. The information technology unit manager within the School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape Architecture visits regularly and employs one student worker or liaison to support information technology-related items at Rural Studio. Rural Studio has a full-service kitchen that provides students with lunch and dinner Monday through Friday.

Full-time university faculty serve as year-level coordinators and regularly engage with the program, and Rural Studio faculty are designated as 3rd Year or 5th Year Rural Studio Coordinators. Staff at Rural Studio maintain tools and equipment while also overseeing project site operations. Rural studio faculty and staff regularly liaise with their main campus counterparts and administration to ensure continuity of the university’s mission, and they regularly participate in both in-person and virtual personal development and training sessions provided by Auburn University.

Staton Correctional Facility, Alabama Prison Arts and Education Project – Elmore, AL

The Alabama Prison Arts + Education Project (APAEP)/Auburn University Staton Correctional Facility Campus classrooms are located in a programming building on Alabama Department of Corrections property in Elmore, AL. The Staton campus allows Auburn University to admit 20 students per year who are currently incarcerated. The two Auburn University classrooms at the Staton campus are furnished with technology, limited network access, whiteboards, and libraries. Students are eligible for Pell grants through the US Department of Education’s Second Chance Pell Experimental Sites Initiative, and APAEP-raised funds pay for the remainder of raw tuition dollars.

Since students at this campus do not have incomes, APAEP/AU provides all course supplies, textbooks, and laptops for student use. Students at the APAEP/AU Staton campus can access library resources and databases, but they are not charged for additional course fees as they do not have access to campus recreation, transportation, counseling, or medical services due to their incarceration. They participate in an on-site student government groups, the APAEP/AU Student Council, and have access to peer tutoring through on-site sessions facilitated by APAEP/AU administration. They also have access to resources from the Office of Accessibility as required. APAEP/AU administration are training to serve as liaison and first point of contact for students in need of information from the Office of the Registrar, academic advising, and student financial services.

Examples of Services Administered within Academic Colleges

In addition to the student support services offered in central units and throughout graduate, international, and off-campus programs, Auburn University also offers robust student support services within each academic college. A range of services and opportunities are available to students, often tailored to the specific needs of the majors within each college. For instance, the College of Forestry, Wildlife and Environment offers an academy to help students build the leadership skills necessary in careers dedicated to preserving natural resources. In a different vein, recognizing that mental health needs to be a priority for students pursuing veterinary medicine, the College of Veterinary Medicine started a multi-dimensional wellness initiative for its students. A sample of such programs are described below. Together, these examples highlight the university’s dedication to fulfilling its educational mission and ensuring student success in all areas of their lives.

College of Agriculture, AG Ambassadors & AG Peer Mentoring

 Ag Peer Mentors serve to enhance the academic advising services and professional development of undergraduate students in the College of Agriculture. Peer Mentor responsibilities include supplementing academic advising services, increasing awareness of and participation in career developments activities, and providing targeted workshops for students to enhance academic performance. Mentors are available to answer questions and provide guidance from a student’s perspective regarding advising and academic matters as well insight on high-impact experiences such as internships, study abroad, and undergraduate research.

Ag Peer Mentors hold weekly office hours in which current students can schedule meetings to address academic and career exploration questions.

College of Architecture, Design and Construction, Career Services

The College of Architecture, Design and Construction provides services and programs to students that facilitate connections with industry. Additionally, there is an integrated emphasis within the curriculum to assist students who are preparing for their internship and job search, through career materials preparation, such as resume and portfolio development. Because the college serves students within areas of design and practical application, two career services specialists serve the student population to provide specialized services within these two domains. One specialist serves student and employer stakeholders within the scope of the building sciences and construction, the other provides support to stakeholders with a greater emphasis in architecture and design fields. Through engagements with employers, such as company tabling events, classroom visits, career fair and industry days, the college facilitates greater opportunities for students to engage in high impact practices or experiential learning, as well as to secure full-time employment prior to, at, and post-graduation.

College of Business, Office of Professional and Career Development (OPCD)

The OPCD is a full-service career center in the Raymond J. Harbert College of Business (HCOB). The OPCD helps students discover, articulate, refine, and execute their career goals by helping them:

• Explore personality, interests, skills, and values to find the best major and career fit
• Create job search materials that reflect their unique personal brand
• Receive industry-specific advice and begin networking with employers
• Learn ethical leadership practices for real-world application

The OPCD hosts a variety of career development programs and events that help to promote career-focused initiatives, led by experienced staff and professional industry leaders. Not only do the HCOB students take a series of classes that support and guide their career endeavors at every stage during their academic time at Auburn University, they also have a team of dedicated career coaches that provide a vast number of appointment types for student one-on-one counseling. All of this is to ensure HCOB students have all the tools necessary for career success. Additionally, the OPCD has an employer relations team that oversees the career fairs, on-campus recruitment, and student-employer engagement. Furthermore, the students are invited to special events such as etiquette dinners, free headshot events, mentorship opportunities, employer-focused lunches and informal recruiting events. All of this means that the OPCD is truly student-centered and market-focused.

College of Education, Learning Resources Center

The Learning Resources Center (LRC), located in 3408/3410 Haley Center, is a unit for the College of Education that supports students and faculty. It provides information and instructional technology services that include access to streaming video, computer software, books, periodicals, iPads, and 3D printers. The LRC provides learning commons spaces, a makerspace, and four computer labs. LRC staff support faculty and students with the production, selection, and utilization of newer instructional and informational technologies. Online education technologies and support services are provided.

College of Engineering, Engineering Academic Support Program (EASP)

The mission of the academic support program in the Samuel Ginn College of Engineering is to provide pre-engineering students with targeted, research-based, academic support and early intervention to foster persistence and degree attainment. The program aims to provide an engaged student-centered engineering experience through academic coaching, tutoring, referrals, and support. Students in the College of Engineering have the opportunity to participate in free academic coaching and counseling sessions designed to help them identify their academic strengths and needs, improve their academic confidence and performance, and further develop appropriate and transferable academic enabling behaviors. Additionally, the Engineering Academic Coach coordinates participation in First Year Experience programming to assist in the training of instructors to teach freshmen engineering students through the course, UNIV 1150 - Engineered for Success.

For the Fall 2021 term, 11 sections of this course were taught to provide academic success strategies, reaching 220 first-term, incoming freshmen. Finally, Students in the College of Engineering have free peer tutoring services available to them in over 80 mathematics, physics, and engineering courses. The greatest number of tutoring hours are devoted to gateway freshman and sophomore level courses. Tutoring is provided by over 40 highly qualified peer tutors, most of whom are junior or senior level students in the College of Engineering. Tutoring is offered in three modalities: in-person appointments, online/virtual appointments, and in person drop-in sessions (no appointment required).

College of Forestry, Wildlife and Environment: Forestry Environment & Wildlife Leadership (FEWL) Academy

The FEWL Academy is a leadership academy focused on student development. The academy was established in 2019 and sponsored by private donor support. It aims to prepare select students with leadership abilities necessary for the critical problem-solving issues related to the management, utilization, and stewardship of natural resources. The FEWL Academy is a personal development program based on classroom instruction, discussion, projects, and experience interfacing with leaders in Montgomery and Washington DC that allows for firsthand experiences shared with students. As an established and competitive education program in leadership centered on forestry, the environment, and wildlife, we are positioned to provide skill-building and collaboration opportunities through experiential learning to a qualified, select, and diverse group of students creating a new a leadership force of natural resource professionals.

Honor’s College, Peer Academic Coaches

The Honors College Peer Academic Coaching program provides tutoring and mentoring to fellow Honors students in a variety of Honors subject-specific courses, including Honors Math, Science, Social Science, and Humanities courses. It provides a leadership opportunity for upperclass Honors College students and academic support services to Honors College underclass students. The Peer Academic Coaches are student leaders who are dedicated to helping their peers gain the knowledge they need to succeed in an elite college program through academic coaching and mentorship. The coaches help Honors students develop the skills to approach specific subject areas and courses, foster relationships between incoming freshmen/peers and experienced students, respond to any honors-related questions students might have, and guide students to helpful academic resources when needed.

The Honors College Peer Academic Coaching program has grown substantially each year since its creation in Spring 2019. Each semester, the Honors College grants course credit to approximately 15-20 Honors Peer Academic Coaches for their work in this program. This past academic year, the program saw over 350 student appointments (virtual and face-to-face) for both Honors subject tutoring and peer mentorship. Student survey results for the 2021-2022 academic year indicate that students strongly agree that their peer coaching experience was a positive one and would strongly recommend peer coaching to their Honors College peers.

College of Human Sciences, Peer Tutoring

Peer Tutors in the College of Human Sciences (CHS) are trained on how to use and manage Zoom for online tutoring sessions for Fall 2021, when students utilized the Peer Tutoring service. For Spring 2022 term, the CHS reinstated face to face drop-in tutoring hours but held the exam review sessions via Zoom. The CHS Student Services Coordinator attended these sessions for peer tutor support and supervision. A total of 146 check ins were made for spring term. The review sessions were heavily attended. The Peer Tutors had an effective interactive strategy of designing and using Kahoot quizzes to review the material for the course, NTRI 2000: Nutrition and Health. The attendees participated in answering the questions through their phones and then tutor(s) could see results of attendees and offer an explanation for the correct answer. The sessions also included time for questions via the Chat function. Tutors were required to attend the review sessions.

Students are made aware of these opportunities through their class Canvas courses as well as reminder emails.

College of Liberal Arts, Office of Career Services

The College of Liberal Arts Office of Career Services provides support to all liberal arts students through personalized career coaching and career development programs. The staff in the office is dedicated to connecting students to experiential learning, internships, employment, and graduate school opportunities, while cultivating community with university partners and employers to elevate student success. Career development programs offered through career services include individual career coaching, career fairs, GRE workshops, AUsome Alumni Day, MCAT and LSAT free practice tests, industry days, job shadowing, and various other events. Additionally, career services staff work with academic departments to help deliver career-relevant instruction and provide tailored events for CLA students in their respective disciplines. These opportunities intend to engage students in transformational learning experiences that combine discipline-specific knowledge, employer valued skills, and industry trends. Services are offered in both in-person and virtual formats, creating accessibility for all students.

College of Nursing, Student Success Coaching

The College of Nursing provides students with additional academic support through the Student Success program. Through this program, the Academic Coach is available to provide support to students through individual and/or group sessions. Topics of group study sessions may include the review of test taking strategies, study tips, and preparation for HESI and NCLEX exams. Individual sessions are scheduled appointments and are made by referral from course faculty or self-referral. In individual sessions, students work with the Academic Coach to identify 39 learning needs and any barriers interfering with academic success. Together, the student and the coach develop an individualized plan to place the student on the road to success. At the beginning of each semester, students will be provided Academic Coach office hours, dates of group study sessions, and how to schedule individual appointments.

College of Pharmacy, Office of Student Success

The Office of Student Success (OSS) is charged with guiding and directing student pharmacists through their progression to becoming Practice Ready Pharmacists. The OSS’s faculty and staff are committed to the success of each of the college’s students: academically, professionally, and personally. In collaboration with other Auburn University units, members of the OSS provide students with a variety of needed services with a focus on their holistic development as future professionals. Each class has an assigned curricular coordinator that serves as a readily available point of contact for students. The OSS provides counseling services to Harrison College of Pharmacy students at no charge. The OSS supports the functioning of a variety of professional organizations that facilitate student professional development and assists in the planning of social events that positively influence the culture of the college.

College of Science & Mathematics, Math Tutoring Center

The Math Tutoring Center is operated by the Department of Mathematics and Statistics during the fall, spring, and summer semesters. The services are free to all Auburn University undergraduate students enrolled in MATH or STAT courses. As the name implies, the Math Tutoring Center offers tutoring in 15 courses, ranging from MATH 1000 College Algebra all the way through 2000-level mathematics courses (MATH 2650: Linear Differential Equations and MATH 2660: Topics in Linear Algebra) and 3000-level statistics courses (STAT 3600/10: Probability and Statistics I and II). Its mission is to promote student success by providing support to students in these courses outside of the classroom. The tutors are graduate assistants in math and statistics and undergraduate teaching assistants who are advanced undergraduate math majors, all highly qualified to tutor in their assigned courses.

Tutors have access as observers to live classes in which they tutor in the relevant Learning Management Systems (Canvas and WebAssign). This provides them access to the textbooks, syllabi, homework, and other materials so that they can keep up with the courses in their tutoring portfolio and help students with the material without doing their graded work. The Math Tutoring Center is open during evening hours after all classes are finished so that the students can make appointments that do not conflict with their class schedules. In fall and spring semesters, the Math Tutoring Center also offers tutoring in early afternoon hours on select days of the week.

The appointments are offered in both face-to-face and online modalities. While students strongly prefer to attend the tutoring sessions in person, we continue to leverage the expertise of our tutors in remote tutoring. Their use of technology (a combination of Apple iPads, Apple Pencils, and screen sharing in Zoom) makes the experience of meeting online virtually indistinguishable from that of meeting in person. Although small, there is still interest in online tutoring, especially among the students in distance learning classes. In Fall 2021 and Spring 2022 combined, there were 2,776 tutoring sessions held in the Math Tutoring Center for a total of 3,020.35 contact hours (as documented in AdviseAssist Appointments and Appointment Summaries reports).

College of Veterinary Medicine, Community Wellness Initiative

The student wellness initiatives at the College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM) originate in the Office of Academic Affairs. The CVM has two embedded counselors (through Student Counseling & Psychological Services) who are available to students, both on campus and away at externship or preceptorship locations. Also, through collaboration with the College of Liberal Arts (Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Social Work), the CVM is now an approved Master of Social Work (MSW) internship host and has hired a full-time social worker to serve students, faculty, staff, and clients in the teaching hospitals. Wellness blocks have been incorporated into the course schedule for professional Doctor of Veterinary Medicine students in the didactic curriculum at all levels. The Student Chapter of the American Veterinary Medical Association has worked with administration to create a wellness space, along with a student-faculty wellness mentorship program. Additionally, the CVM has maintained a partnership with the College of Education (School of Kinesiology) to offer complimentary, on-site fitness classes three times daily to members of our college community.

Conclusion

Auburn University provides appropriate academic and student support programs, services, and activities consistent with its mission. The university demonstrates a commitment to providing these academic and support programs, services, and activities broadly to both traditional and non-traditional students whether on- or off-campus and at a distance or inperson. Academic and student support services are offered via central units, specialized for students within each college, and designed to be accessible to all those who can benefit from them. As a result, Auburn University offers a variety of programs and services to students at all levels that support its mission of instruction, research, outreach, and student success.