Auburn University

Auburn University is one of the largest universities in the South, prevailing at the educational forefront with an emphasis on a blend of arts and applied sciences. Auburn continuously changes to accommodate today’s needs, while still respecting the traditions and spirit of the University. As it grows and changes, Auburn will always continue its tradition of excellence.

The main campus had an enrollment during fall of 2006 of 23,333. The Auburn Tigers offer degrees in 13 schools and colleges at the undergraduate, graduate and professional levels.

Auburn University was established in 1856 as the East Alabama Male College 20 years after the city of Auburn’s founding. After December of 1859, it was maintained by the Methodist Episcopal Church South. The citizens of Auburn, the college faculty and the Methodist Church were all advocates of the new college.

Accounts since the 19th century show that, regardless of the official name, the state’s land grant university has always been known as Auburn, a name taken by the Lee County community from Oliver Goldsmith poem, “The Deserted Village.” The poem includes the line, “Sweet Auburn, loveliest village of the plain.” A single, four-story building was completed at a cost of $111,000 in 1859; 80 students, with a faculty of five, enrolled. The building was destroyed by a fire in 1887, but was replaced on the same site in 1888 by what is known as Samford Hall. Today it serves as the administration headquarters. The university is the oldest four year coeducational school in the state, and second oldest in the Southeast. Women were first admitted in 1892.

Auburn University is not only known for its great education, it also has notability for its impact on the state of Alabama. A recent study determined AU had nearly $4 billion economic impact on the state of Alabama, including a $1.5 billion impact on the economy and a $2.4 billion impact in “human capital.” AU’s Technical Assistance Center, a collaborative Engineering/Business outreach unit, performs hundreds of projects annually for the state industry, generating millions of dollars in increased efficiencies and saving or creating hundreds of jobs statewide.

Auburn University’s Ralph Brown Draughon Library is the largest library in the state, with 2.7 million volumes. The library subscribes to 39,000 journals, 227 electronic databases, provides library instruction and tours to students, prospective students and parents, serves as instructional resource for faculty and is open to the public seven days a week.

As a comprehensive university, the Auburn Tigers are committed to offering high-quality undergraduate, graduate, and professional education to its students. The University of Auburn will give highest priority for resource allocation for the future development of those areas that represent the traditional strengths, quality, reputation, and uniqueness of the institution and that continue to effectively respond to the needs of students and other constituents. Consistent with this commitment, the University will emphasize a broad and superior undergraduate education that imparts the knowledge, skills, and values so essential to educated and responsible programs in areas of need and importance to the state beyond. To accomplish these educational goals, Auburn University will continue to compete nationally to attract a faculty distinguished by its commitment to teaching and by its achievements in research, both pure and applied. The Auburn Tigers will strive to attract a faculty that will bring distinction and stature to the undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs offered by the University.

Because research is essential to the mission of a land-grant university, Auburn University will continue development of its research programs. The primary focus of this research will be directed to the solution of problems and the development of knowledge and technology important to the state and nation and to the quality of life of Alabama citizens. The University’s research programs will make important contributions to instructional programs through the involvement of graduate and undergraduate students and the renewal of the faculty. Research will also provide the knowledge base for outreach programs. In carrying out its research mission, Auburn will emphasize established areas of strength and will focus available resources in those areas of research and doctoral study that are, or have the potential to develop into nationally and internationally recognized centers of excellence. Extension and outreach programs are fundamental to the land-grant mission because these programs directly affect the lives of all citizens in the state. The Auburn Tigers will maintain the strengths of its traditional outreach programs and will increasingly involve the broader University in outreach programs that respond to the changing needs of the society in which we live. Auburn will continue to seek new and innovative ways to reach out to the people it serves. The Statement of Vision and Mission was developed by the Task Force on Mission established in 1995 and was approved by the Board of Trustees on March 20, 1997 and amended May 7, 2004. This statement replaces the Auburn University Statement of Role that was approved on June 5, 1989.

The Jan Dempsey Community Arts Center host plays, ballets and as art studio, with Auburn University’s Telfair Peet Theater features plays and musicals. The 29,000 square foot Jule Collins Smith Museum of Art houses the university’s art collection, including works by Georgia O’Keefe, Jacob Lawrence and John James Audubon.

“War Eagle” is Auburn’s battle cry, not a mascot or nickname. The most popular story about the battle cry dates back to the first time Auburn met Georgia on the football field in 1892 and centers around a spectator who was a veteran of the Civil War. In the stands with him that day was an eagle the old soldier had found on a battlefield during the war. He had kept it as a pet for almost 30 years. According to witnesses, the eagle suddenly broke free and began majestically circling the playing field. As the eagle soared, Auburn began a steady march toward the Georgia end zone for a thrilling victory. Elated at their team’s play and taking the bird’s presence as an omen of success. Auburn students and fans began to yell “War Eagle” to spur their team. At the game’s end, the eagle took a sudden dive, crashed into the ground and died. But the battles cry “War Eagle” live on to become a symbol of the proud Auburn Tiger spirit.

Auburn Tigers have two primary rivals, Alabama and Georgia. Alabama is the most heated rival, and considered to be the most intense rivalry in the country. It is known as the Iron Bowl. Alabama holds the all-time edge at 38-32-1.

Georgia Bulldogs and Auburn Tigers compete in the Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry, dating back to 1892. The game was played in Piedmont Park in Atlanta, Georgia. The series is extremely close, with Auburn holding a 53-48-8 record. Auburn has only outscored Georgia by two points in the 109 game history of the series. It is the longest running and most played series in the NCAA.

Auburn also has a very competitive football rivalry with the LSU Tigers. The two share more then just a nickname, as they have both enjoyed success in the SEC’s Western Division. Auburn or LSU have won at least a share of the SEC Western Division championship for the last six years. Auburn Tigers won it outright in 2000 and 2004, LSU Tigers tied Auburn and then went to the SEC Title Game in 2001 and 2005. LSU also won the tiebreaker over Ole Miss in 2003 to go to the SEC title game. The only time Auburn or LSU didn’t go to Atlanta in the last six years was 2002 when Arkansas won the three-way tie breaker with the two Tiger teams.