Ten years since SACSCOC was last on the Plains–a look at what’s changed

With just 10 months until the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, or SACSCOC, visits our campus, the Accreditation Team in the Provost’s Office has been taking stock of all the ways Auburn University has grown and changed since 2012. Here are 10 big changes that we are looking forward to spotlighting during our upcoming SACSCOC review:

Over 100% Growth in Research
Auburn’s commitment to research has rapidly increased in the past decade. With federal award dollars increasing by 163%, the effects are tangible and continue to keep us near the top 100 in Higher Education Research & Development rankings. The College of Veterinary Medicine is one of many productive programs improving the research opportunities for our students and faculty. Most recently, it was awarded the largest federal contract in Auburn history at $24 million to advance detection canine science, thus allowing for new facilities such as the Small Animal Teaching Hospital to continue to support faculty and research developments.

25% More Tigers on the Plains
Auburn University’s student population has been on a steady increase over the past 10 years. Enrollment in 2012 was recorded at 25,134 students. With a 25% increase, enrollment now sits at 31,526. Auburn has received a record number of applicants for Fall 2022, making this next academic class the most academically accomplished, diverse applicant pool in Auburn’s history with higher average ACT scores and GPAs than any other class.

41 New Avenues to Career Readiness
Auburn’s growing student population has increased the need for academically diverse majors and degree programs. In the past 10 years, Auburn has added over 40 different degrees available to students. The Department of Music, which was named a Yamaha Institutions of Excellence in 2021, recently added new Bachelor of Music tracks in both Commercial Music and Composition/ Technology. With these degrees, students will acquire the skills needed to compose video game music, film scores, or be a singer/songwriter artist in the music industry. As industries evolve, Auburn continues to expand its offerings to ensure that students are the most prepared graduates in their fields.

17 Dimensions of Sustainability Success
In the past decade, Auburn has renewed its dedication to protecting the environment and has continued to be a model for University-driven sustainability efforts. Through 17 Sustainable Development Goals, or SDGs, Auburn is able to strategically address several global and local challenges. These different SDGs have contributed to initiatives such as The Rural Studio, Alabama Water Watch and Auburn’s Styrofoam-free campus.

Auburn Partnerships Launch Students to Success
Delta Airlines
In 2018, Auburn was selected as one of the initial partners to launch the Delta Propel Pilot Career Path Program. Students selected for the program will be matched with a Delta pilot as a mentor, and the students will receive a qualified job offer from Delta, placing them on the path and accelerated timeline to become a Delta pilot. Auburn and Delta are leading the way on a global scale, modeling how education-corporate partnerships can be transformative for students and the industry.

Regions Bank–Financial Wellness
Auburn University has partnered with Regions Bank to provide a financial wellness program for students across campus. This partnership was established to help students learn practical money management and prepare for the financial futures. The program platform Next Step provides a variety of content in saving, budgeting, homeownership and many other essential finance resources. iGrad is another featured platform that uses artificial intelligence to customize financial education for students based on their needs and goals, setting students up for long-term success regardless of their career paths.

NASA
Auburn’s partnership with NASA was established to collaborate on building components of a spacecraft to allow humans to return to the Moon. In 2019, NASA awarded Auburn $5.2 million toward their National Center for their Additive Manufacturing Excellence to develop these processes and techniques. This partnership is essential to the future of space exploration missions and advancement.

2x the Community Support
Tiger Giving Day, a 24-hour donation push, began in 2015 and has continued to grow with the support of the Auburn Family. Last month, the 2022 Tiger Giving Day received donations from over 5,000 donors to fund 51 projects. With record-setting engagement from the Auburn University community, the student experience will improve immensely – from new music equipment to scholarships promoting diversity, equity and inclusion.

It’s Good to be #1
R1 Research Institution
In 2018, Auburn received a research milestone with R1 Carnegie Classification. To receive this designation, universities must have awarded at least 20 research/scholarship doctoral degrees and invested at least $5 million into their research expenditures. Auburn’s dedication to research has earned them this designation of being a “very high research activity” university.

America’s Happiest Students
“The Loveliest Village on the Plains” has been a town motto for years, but now has official backing by the Princeton Review. In 2020,  Auburn ranked among the top 16 universities in the country for the “happiest students” category—beating out some 370 other schools. Of the 140,000 students surveyed, Auburn’s unique, timeless charm and welcoming campus put AU on top of this competitive review.

No. 1 University in Alabama
Forbes, Niche and Money have all ranked Auburn University as the No. 1 university in the state of Alabama. With an overall grade of “A” Auburn consistently scores well in areas of academics, student life and professors. With many incredible colleges in Alabama, Auburn being ranked at the top by several sources is a testament to the quality of the Auburn experience.