By Ally Northridge | News Writer
October 29, 2024 | 10:28am CDT
On Monday, Oct. 7, the Office of the President announced Auburn University’s 10-year strategic plan in a campus-wide email. The 44-page brief titled Auburn University Strategic Plan 2035: Grounded & Groundbreaking, outlines Auburn University’s future actions into five goals for the next decade to advance and establish itself as an ideal higher education institution.
In an initial letter before the plan, President Christopher B. Roberts stated Auburn University is at a pivotal point for advancement, thanked the Auburn Family for its support and requested continued engagement.
“Our 10-year plan outlines a vision that charts the course for our future,” said President Roberts. “Your commitment will help lead our beloved university to achieving our aspirational goals.”
The plan has three pillars cited from Roberts’ 2023 Installation: create the best student-centered experiences, increase scholarship and improve extramural funding and promote a culture where all feel welcome.
A committee, including the Office of the President and the Office of the Provost, started planning in September 2023 and crafted five overarching goals to achieve these pillars.
This initial committee crafted the broad plan and then separated into more specialized committees. These smaller committees created environments where experts could provide personal insight on a goal unique to their specialties.
The Auburn University official website pairs the five goals with smaller, more comprehensive goals and key performance indicators, detailing how the university plans to complete the focal goals.
The first goal, exceptional student experience aims to offer a first-class educational experience to current and future Auburn students. As the plan describes, relevant academic programs, world-class educators and high-quality student services will help Auburn University achieve this goal.
Exceptional student experience also emphasizes that “every student creates their own distinct Auburn experience” through educational practices and student life on- and off-campus. The Office of the President believes these will create a “vibrant campus culture” and make Auburn University more accessible to studious undergraduates and graduates from Alabama, the United States and the world.
Senior Vice President for Student Affairs Dr. Bobby Woodard emphasized the first goal, exceptional student experience. As a student experience committee member for the plan, Dr. Woodard wanted to ensure the goal was comprehensively yet concisely communicated.
“Auburn offers the most exceptional student experience in higher education because our students’ opportunities, resources, and support services prepare them to succeed and lead in their professions and communities,” said Dr. Woodard. “We remain committed to our students’ experience at Auburn, evidenced by its place as the number one goal in our new Strategic Plan.”
Dr. Woodard said Grounded & Groundbreaking aligns Auburn administrators, faculty and students with a common goal.
“I firmly believe that a degree is earned in the classroom and an education is gained through the support provided by Student Affairs,” said Dr. Woodard. “We look forward to developing more new and innovative programming, initiatives, and resources that will have a lasting and positive impact on the next generation of Auburn students.”
To improve the Auburn student experience, Dr. Woodard has facilitated conversations with staff. The conversation topics include improving Tiger Dining efficiency, maximizing campus space through future infrastructure and available areas and proposing unique on-campus spaces like the Game Room in the Melton Student Center.
The second goal, impactful research and creative scholarship outlines Auburn University’s future in academic research. By “aggressively pursuing grants and contracts to grow scholarly output,” the university plans to double its research and scholarship to elevate students, increasing impact and leadership in respective fields.
Auburn also plans to use its unique strengths to attract world-renowned researchers respected by the government, private sector and academics. These faculty will help Auburn students collaborate with various agencies and sell practical products and services, “translating research into practice.”
The third goal, commitment to excellence and innovation focuses on the promotion and maintenance of an Auburn culture where all faculty and students feel welcomed, valued and engaged.
This culture “that embodies Auburn University’s core values and bold aspirations” will efficiently attract and retain employees and improve university infrastructure and operations.
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The plan states these actions will ultimately benefit Auburn University’s “tripartite mission” to instruct, reach and extend state-of-the-art facilities and academia to both faculty and students.
The fourth goal, catalytic engagement will help Auburn University be a “premier resource” and provide practical solutions for technological, economic and environmental issues. Auburn University will facilitate solutions through partnerships with academic, governmental and private organizations.
Auburn will also instruct students for future workforce participation and promote next-generation programs, strengthening Auburn’s impact in the City of Auburn, the Auburn Chamber of Commerce and the State of Alabama.
The fifth and final goal, distinctively Auburn will increase and maintain the signature Auburn Experience through rich traditions, recognizable branding and university pride.
This final goal also includes a “transformational philanthropic campaign” by inspiring donors to increase investments and enhance alumni’s Auburn Experience beyond graduation.
Roberts described Grounded & Groundbreaking as “a roadmap for our institution’s future.”
“[Grounded & Groundbreaking provides the essential foundation for our goals and details the vision and aspirations needed to propel us forward,” said Roberts. “Unlike previous institutional plans that focused on five-year increments, this plan outlines foundational goals that will remain constant while also providing the flexibility to adapt and adjust, as necessary.”
Auburn University is already witnessing immediate impacts from the implementation of the plan’s five goals. Actions include leadership training for faculty and Auburn’s next philanthropic campaign to promote the third goal of commitment to excellence and to increase student success respectively.
“Conversations are in motion regarding revisions to our Core Curriculum as well as expanding ow we define what it means for students to engage in high impact practices and recognizing the value of key experiences such as leadership and service,” said Roberts. “We are hard at work on plans to launch our institution’s next comprehensive philanthropic campaign and are building on our efforts to continue raising our retention and graduation rates through increased services that support student success, including advising and career preparation.”
Beyond immediate effects, Roberts is confident that, in the next decade, Auburn “will continue to be known as a premier destination for students, faculty and staff.” Auburn University will drive Alabama’s economy through graduates’ work statewide through creativity and research.
“Over the next 10 years, I believe Auburn will be an institution that key industries and partners will want to collaborate with because we are a place where innovation flourishes,” said Roberts. “However, achieving this will require us to modernize many of our processes and ensure our faculty and staff have the resources they need to innovate, which is critical to our success in the coming years.”
Roberts said, “Our implementation starts with alignment,” meaning Auburn’s collaboration is essential to ensure the plan’s success. Following Auburn’s release of Grounded & Groundbreaking, all colleges and units are creating their own action plans to align their goals with the plan.
“While each goal has a senior leader overseeing its implementation, countless individuals across the university and in our communities are rolling up their sleeves to do this work,” said Roberts. “Our success will ultimately be the result of collaboration and a shared commitment to achieving our goals at every level of the institution.”
