This Week @ AU

To the Auburn University Community:

Last week, the Board of Trustees hosted a day-long workshop to discuss Auburn University’s strategic plan. Faculty and student representatives of Auburn’s main campus and the Montgomery campus attended, and we had an open, positive, and participatory dialogue.

The Board identified six overarching priority areas for the next draft, beneath which the 62 tactics from the original draft will be organized and prioritized. The areas include academics, research, extension/outreach, faculty development, financial resources, and continuous improvement. None of the original tactics were eliminated at this point. In fact, several ideas were added.

Our next step is to establish prioritized actions, timelines, measurement benchmarks, responsibility areas, and estimated costs of the recommendations and submit the expanded draft to the Board at the June 26-27 meeting.

Of special note is that all present agreed that the plan, while moving us forward, will also protect our considerable strengths: Auburn has been a top 50 public institution for 15 years in a row; we have 20 programs ranked in the top 20 nationally; we have engaged alumni who carry their love for the Auburn family throughout the world; we’ve been among the first institutions in the country to conduct national assessments which reveal that our students – who are already extremely bright when they arrive as freshmen – make substantial gains in knowledge by the time they graduate; our junior faculty identify Auburn as an ideal place to work; and 96% of our alumni say if they had to choose all over again, they would choose Auburn.

Such strengths provide an outstanding foundation upon which to continue.

We look forward to sharing further plans with you this summer. Thank you for your interest in, participation in, and support of this planning process.

Sincerely,

Jay Gogue
President
Auburn University

Final examinations will begin on Thursday, May 1. Faculty members can submit final grades as they are ready. Students will be able to view submitted grades once they have been “rolled’ to academic history. This "roll" will occur twice each day, once at 6:00 a.m. and again at 6:00 p.m. beginning on Tuesday, April 29 and continuing through Saturday, May 10.

The Student Government Association senate is sponsoring "Up All Night" in the Ralph B. Draughn Library. Students will be treated to juice and donuts at 2 a.m. every morning before exams. Everyone who is up studying at this time is encouraged to attend.

The College of Sciences and Mathematics will host the sixth annual Dead Day Symposium on Wednesday, April 30, in the Sciences Center auditorium. This year's topic is "Frontiers in Functional Polymers" and is a tribute to Professor Dave Worley and his far-reaching influence through research, teaching and practical application in the field of functional polymers. The one-day symposium will include talks such as "Patterning of Electronic and Optical Organic Materials," "Halamine Chemistry: Polymeric Cyclic to Polymeric Acyclic Structures" and "Taking a Functional Polymer from the Benchtop to the Consumer Marketplace: A Commercialization Odyssey." The symposium will bring together leading scientists from around the United States and seeks to emphasize the interdisciplinary nature of sciences and mathematics. Registration for the symposium is open to anyone interested in the field of functional polymers. For more information, including registration forms and a complete list of speakers, visit www.auburn.edu/cosam/.

The College of Sciences and Mathematics is holding a Spring Blood Drive today from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on the Science and Math concourse. Contact hilyemk@auburn.edu or thigpce@auburn.edu for more information.

Welcome Week 2008 will be held August 16-23. Welcome Week is a way to welcome AU’s new and returning students to campus fall semester. If interested in sponsoring a program or event during Welcome Week 2008 please fill out an event request form on the Welcome Week Web site at www.auburn.edu/welcomeweek. Event requests are due Friday, May 30 by 4:45 p.m. For more information, call or e-mail Michelle Murphy at 844-5292 or murphmi@auburn.edu.

In addition to regular operating hours, the Auburn University Bookstore will be open the following hours:
Saturday, May 3, 8:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. (Finals, first final begins at 9 a.m.) and Saturday, May 10, 8 a.m.-2:15 p.m. (Graduation, ceremonies at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., cap and gown distribution begins at 8 a.m.)

Has the McAfee VirusScan icon on your computer's system tray changed from the V-shield icon to the new McAfee icon (white box with a red "M")? If you have the new "M" icon, your anti-virus should be updating properly and is ready for the new upgrades. If not, you should upgrade your ant-virus client as soon as possible. To upgrade, go to AU Install at http://www.auburn.edu/download, and find McAfee VirusScan 8.5i + AntiSpyware. Use the appropriate link for installation instructions. If you have any questions or need further assistance, contact your Information Technology provider or the Virus Protection Team at auvirus@auburn.edu.

Take a break before finals start and come experience AU's new challenge course. The high ropes course will be open to Auburn students from 2 p.m.-6 p.m. on Wednesday, April 30. The course offers a variety of elements including a zip line and lily pads. Interested students will need a current Auburn University ID in order to participate. Space is limited and is available on a first come first serve basis. Please e-mail Laura Herring, AU Challenge Course Program Advisor, herrilm@auburn.edu to reserve your spot and receive directions. If unable to attend on Wednesday and are interested in bringing a group out to the challenge course, contact Laura for pricing and availability. For more information, call 844-3450.

Auburn University President Jay Gogue will be formally installed as the school's 18th president during a ceremony at 4 p.m. today. The entire campus community is invited to the half-hour ceremony on the Cater Hall lawn. For those who cannot attend, it will be streamed live on the Web at www.auburn.edu/installation. To read the news release, see http://wireeagle.auburn.edu/news/336.

Ralph B. Draughon Library has a new wireless laptop lab that is open to library users. The lab is located just inside the main entrance on the second floor across from the information desk. It will be open after 5 p.m. and on weekends and contains power outlets at each workstation. Users can bring their own laptops or check out one of the library's laptops at the circulation desk on the first floor. For more information, call the reference desk at 844-1738 or contact Donna Walker at 844-8272.

The Market at Ag Heritage Park will kick off its 2008 season Thursday, April 24, from 3 to 6 p.m. and then will become a regular Thursday afternoon event through mid-August. The Market features locally grown, fresh-from-the-farm produce, along with locally made products. On opening day, you likely will find strawberries, greens, onions and other spring produce as well as honey, goat cheese, stone-ground grains, baked goods and plants. A Market at Ag Heritage Park Web site, now up and running at http://www.ag.auburn.edu/themarket, will be your source for info on the produce and events that will be featured every Thursday. For more information, contact Dani Carroll, at 749-3353 or carrodl@auburn.edu, or Katie Jackson at 844-5887 or smithcl@auburn.edu.

Demonstrating its deep commitment to the AU War on Hunger, the Student Government Association has passed a resolution to donate 19 cents per Auburn student on an annual basis to the campus-wide grassroots hunger awareness, relief and advocacy campaign. Based on this year's student enrollment, the total SGA donation is $4,586. The 19 cents per student is in honor of the Committee of 19, the War on Hunger student leadership group, and the 19 cents on average that it has historically taken for the World Food Programme to feed a school child in the developing world.

Rob Fazio, a professional colleague of AU’s Student Counseling Services, has donated self-help materials that students may access to assist them in the aftermath of Lauren Burk's death. If struggling with Lauren's death, or another trauma or tragedy, the SCS staff is available to assist you. SCS realizes that there are some students who may want to initially work through their trauma or tragedy on their own. For those students, a workbook, "Finding Your Way through Loss and Adversity" and a personal growth guide, "Your Growth through Loss and Adversity Roadmap" are available at SCS. Please contact SCS Director, Doug Hankes at 844-5123 or e-mail him at hankedm@auburn.edu if interested in obtaining a copy of either of these self-help resources.

The Hold the Door for Others foundation was created after Rob's father died in the September 11 tragedy. Rob's father, Ronald Fazio, literally held the door for others to escape the World Trade Center as it collapsed after the terrorist attacks. For more information, visit www.holdthedoor.com.

The Auburn University Singers will present their annual Spring Show at Telfair Peet Theater on Saturday, April 26, at 3:30 p.m.; Sunday, April 27 at 2:30 p.m. and 7 p.m.; and Tuesday, April 29 at 5:45 p.m. and 8:15 p.m. Under the direction of Dale Farmer, the show choir will present a wide array of popular and show music complete with costumes and choreography. Tickets to the show are $7 for AU students with valid ID, and $10 general admission. To make reservations, call 844-4194.

Just a few of the songs to be performed include "Eye of the Tiger," "Knock on Wood," and a medley of 50's tunes and current Broadway show tunes. Individual and small group talent will also be showcased through a variety of contemporary styles such as country, rock and roll, and inspirational music.

Free copies of the spring Auburn Circle, Auburn University's general interest magazine, will be distributed on the Haley Center concourse and in the Lowder Business Building April 22-25, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Auditions for the 2008-09 Auburn University Singers will be held Monday and Tuesday, April 21-22, at the Goodwin Building on campus. All current students are invited to try out. Sign up for an audition time on the door of 112 Goodwin. For more information, contact Dale Farmer at farmew1@auburn.edu.

The College of Liberal Arts Department of Art announces the Bachelor in Fine Art Candidates Spring 2008 Senior Project Exhibition, Tuesday, April 22, through Wednesday, April 30, at Biggin Gallery, 101 Biggin Hall. The exhibition, "A New Spectrum," features sculpture, ceramics, printmaking, photography, painting and installation works by Cynthia Mask, Kelly McGinnis, Branan Mercer, Erica Mote, Cari Philen, Jenny Starkey and Stan Yam. The public is invited to the opening reception Tuesday, April 22, from 4 to 6 p.m. at Biggin Gallery, 101 Biggin Hall. Biggin Hall is located at the corner of Magnolia Avenue and College Street.

The University Program Council presents a Song Writing Contest at 6 p.m. today on the Foy Student Union lawn. Student singer/songwriters apply to compete with their original songs for cash prizes. There will be free pizza for all in attendance. For more information, call 844-4292.

The University Program Council and Auburn Athletics will present a free stadium movie, "Live Free or Die Hard," Tuesday, April 22. Gates open at 7:30 p.m. and the movie starts at 8 p.m. Students, faculty and staff are welcome to attend. Everyone must enter through gate nine. A current Auburn University ID is required to enter. Students will receive a concession ticket upon entrance into the stadium. This ticket allows students to receive one box of popcorn, coke and candy of choice. Bring a blanket to sit on the field. No chairs will be allowed. For more information, call 844-4292.

Celebrate Earthday and spend your lunch break this Tuesday, April 22, in Foy Student Union with a sustainable lunch and featured movies. The AU Sustainability Initiative will be hosting an all-day (9 a.m.- 4 p.m.) movie showing in the Foy entertainment center above the War Eagle Food Court (the big screen television). Films will include: "Who Killed the Electric Car," "11th Hour" and "Kilowatt Ours." In addition, AU Dining will be offering a featured menu with sustainable foods at the Chef's Table in the War Eagle Food Court (11 a.m.-2 p.m.). They also will be holding a drawing for the book "Food to Live By."