Author: kmm0025

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Auburn University: It’s a Land-Grant Thing

Are you familiar with Auburn University’s central purpose? If not, check out our mission statement describing that purpose below!

“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.”1

The very first clause of that mission statement sets the tone for who we are as an institution and, conveniently, the rest of this blog post – it’s a land-grant thing.

If you’re anything like me, I wasn’t actually familiar with the term “land-grant” before enrolling at Auburn. And yet, I was unknowingly already familiar with several land-grant institutions. Each state has at least one, many have multiple. Did you know that many of Auburn’s most beloved rivalries in the SEC are also land-grant institutions? The University of Georgia, Mississippi State University, and LSU just to name a few. While each of these universities have their own unique culture and charm, they have some noteworthy similarities because of their land-grant designation.

Land-Grant Institutions: A Mini-History Lesson

The higher education system in this country dates back to the founding of Harvard College in 1636. The first college in what is now the United States was founded in 1636. For roughly 200 years, most colleges in this country were private liberal arts institutions that were primarily geared towards educating young, wealthy, white men interested in pursuing careers as civic or religious leaders. Beginning in the mid-1800s, leaders in the federal government began discussions of supporting a higher education system that was geared towards preparing more people for a variety of careers – agriculture and engineering, in particular.2

Those discussions resulted in the passage of the Morrill Land Grant Act of 1862, which established land-grant institutions across the country. Auburn (then called the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Alabama) received its land-grant status in 1872. Since then, we have been keenly aware of the responsibilities we have to help “provide practical solutions to pressing societal problems.” More specifically, we have a responsibility to: 1) educate our students, providing them with practical and technical skills to prepare them for life; 2) drive forward-thinking research that advances knowledge; and 3) transform these on-campus successes into improving our local communities through outreach and service.3

Should you choose to attend Auburn, know that you will benefit from this land-grant lineage. You’ll be equipped with practical, hands-on opportunities both inside and outside of the classroom that will prepare you for a lifetime of continuous improvement and service to others. Our hope is that your life will be improved from your time at Auburn and that you will pay that forward by helping to improve the lives of everyone you interact with moving forward.

From Humble Beginnings to Modern-Day Advancements

As the old adage goes, “a picture is worth a thousand words.” So what better way to wrap up this post about Auburn’s land-grant lineage than with several pictures? Enjoy!

Then and Now: Engineering

This picture was taken in the early 1890’s and shows students using lathes and other equipment in the Machine Room of the Mechanical Arts Laboratory.4

The Theme Park Engineering and Design student organization is housed within the Samuel Ginn College of Engineering. Pictured here: Two students (and hopeful future theme park developers) enjoying their research on Disney’s TRON Lightcycle Run. Learn more about TPED here.

Then and Now: Agriculture

It may be a bit blurry, but this picture shows several women who were students at Auburn in the early 1900’s. They were enrolled in a horticulture class and are shown here tending to on-campus gardens as part of the course.

Look at this technological advancement! The College of Agriculture has created the Transformation Garden. Pictured here: A student working inside a high-tech vertical farm shipping container that has been outfitted with LED lights that help with photosynthesis. Learn more about the Transformation Garden here.

Then and Now: Architecture

This unidentified student is shown here in an architecture lab circa 1937.

The College of Architecture, Design and Construction celebrated the 30th anniversary of Rural Studio this year. Pictured here are faculty and students on-site at a current project. Learn more about Rural Studio here.

Then and Now: Human Sciences

Order up! Several home economics students were completing a cooking class assignment in the kitchen lab in 1930.

Pictured here: A current Horst Schulze School of Hospitality Management student staying cool under pressure preparing food for a 200-person event in the world-renowned Tony and Libba Rane Culinary Science Center. Learn more about the Rane Center here.

Footnotes

  1. https://auburn.edu/about/visionandmission.php ↩︎
  2. There are several resources to learn more about land-grant history, but I highly encourage everyone to read Adam Harris’ The State Must Provide. ↩︎
  3. https://auburn.edu/about/visionandmission.php ↩︎
  4. Historic photographs courtesy of Auburn University Photographs Collection ↩︎
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Auburn Abroad: An Admissions Advisor’s Adventure in Australia

As an undergraduate student here at Auburn, I really wanted to study abroad but never committed to making that dream a reality. During my time as a master’s student, I realized just a little too late into my program that the College of Education had an opportunity for graduate students to study abroad in Australia. Needless to say, I was disappointed in my poor planning and had resigned myself to continuing to live vicariously through other students who were studying abroad.

Everything changed for the better and my dream of studying abroad became a reality after I began working on my Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration a couple of years later. I am incredibly grateful for the support that I received from this office, which allowed me to spend three incredible, life-changing weeks in Australia during the summer of 2019.

During those three weeks, we learned about the Australian education system, toured a variety of schools across all levels of education, and engaged in several immersive experiences that centered the lives and culture of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Our trip began in Hobart, Tasmania – now one of my favorite places on earth. The bulk of our time was spent in and around Sydney, the capital of New South Wales. Because of my education and professional interests in higher education, I completed a brief internship at the Nura Gili: Centre for Indigenous Programs at the University of New South Wales where I was able to learn more about national policies, initiatives, and programs that help to support Indigenous student success at Australian universities.

From Left to Right – Picture 1: The Auburn (Tiger) Family was represented on the ferry to the Museum of Old and New Art in Hobart, Tasmania; Picture 2: This Aboriginal dot painting is located at the Booderee National Park and Botanic Gardens – the only Aboriginal-owned botanic gardens in Australia; Picture 3: The Three Sisters (rock formation on left-hand side of picture) is located in the Blue Mountains of New South Wales; Picture 4: The Sydney Harbour Bridge at Circular Quay (pronounced like “key”) at sunset one evening.

While this brief summary of my experience cannot fully encompass its true impact, I will end by my saying my life as graduate student, higher education professional, and human being are better for the time I spent in Australia. Like Auburn Abroad said in their blogpost earlier this summer, studying abroad is “an excellent opportunity for students to broaden their horizons through cultural immersion and international experiences.” Ultimately, I’m grateful that this dream became a reality of mine, and I hope that all of you will consider studying abroad during your time as an Auburn student!

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Summers in Auburn

Alright, students. I think it’s important to preface this post with a very clear statement of my love for all of you. I love that my job is centered around working with you as you aim to further your education. I love that so many of you similarly fall in love with my hometown of Auburn, AL – The Loveliest Village on the Plains. With all of that in mind, are we all on the same page about my feelings for all of you? Great! Because I also must admit that I kinda love summers in Auburn when there are just fewer of you in town. I always have. I always will… There’s less traffic, minimal wait times at restaurants, and a generally slower pace that makes for a nice reprieve from the energetic hustle-and-bustle of the academic year.

While I’ve never been the biggest fan of the heat and the humidity of Alabama summers, there’s something special about a season that comes with more sunlight to savor the experiences that accompany the consistent smell of freshly mowed grass and the sounds of cicadas and crickets chirping. This post won’t be an exhaustive list of all of the special things that take place during Auburn summers, but these are some of my favorites – coming from a food-loving, music-loving, and small-town charm-loving Auburn native.

Downtown Auburn

With the few blocks that compromise Downtown Auburn, there are several incredible restaurants. Several have outdoor seating, which make for my favorite dinner environment in the summer. Be sure to check out a former blog post by fellow admissions advisor, Jan. Jan prides herself on knowing the perfect restaurant – type of food, price point, and atmosphere for any meal, so you can trust her recommendations for the Best Food in Town! I would also encourage all of you to follow The Auburn Downtown Merchants Association’s Instagram: @downtownauburn. This is a great way to keep up with the comings and goings in downtown. They even have a highlight for events that are taking place during that current season. A couple of my favorites take place in the summer!

For example, SummerNight Downtown Art Walk will be taking place on June 11th this year. A couple of streets will be shut down to thru-traffic and downtown becomes even more walking friendly for folks to enjoy (and even purchase) the talents of many of our local artists.

@auburnartsassociation

Cheers on the Corner is another favorite event of mine that will be taking place on July 30th this year. This is a similar set up – streets are closed to thru-traffic and there will be over 20 stops in the downtown area where attendees can sample a small bite to eat from one of our many local restaurants.

@downtownauburn
Local Parks

We have several parks in town that are worth exploring during the summer. Be sure to check out a former blogpost from my colleague, Rebecca. She describes many of Auburn’s Most Loved Parks in greater detail along with several pictures!

But for a brief synopsis – If you want…

… to hike, mountain bike, or enjoy water in multiple forms (lake, waterfall, creek) – check out Chewacla State Park.

… to take a peaceful, meditative walk – check out Town Creek Park. This is also where one of our local farmers markets, City Market, takes place every Saturday from late-May to late-August.

@citymarketauburnal

… to walk/run, visit the dog park, or enjoy various festivals – check out Kiesel Park.

Surrounding Areas: Downtown Opelika; Waverly, AL; and more!

I also highly encourage you to explore our local surroundings like Downtown Opelika and the even smaller town of Waverly, Alabama. Clayton Ann, a fellow admissions advisor, recently wrote about several must-sees in Downtown Opelika. Opelika is a quick drive from Auburn University’s campus and is home to several blocks of restaurants, coffee shops, and music venues. It’s also worth following @downtownopelika on Instagram to keep up with events. One of my favorite bands, St. Paul and the Broken Bones, was featured at a local music festival that took place there just a few years ago. The Auburn/Opelika area is also home to several incredibly talented local musicians so you’re never going to be far away from musical entertainment. Another top music venue from local and visiting musicians alike is the Standard Deluxe in Waverly, AL. Just a short drive up Highway 280, this venue is home to a bi-annual “280 Boogie” as well as a favorite of musical acts throughout the summer as well.

@standard_deluxe

Auburn is also centrally located in the southeast so you’re only a couple of hours away from bigger cities like Birmingham and Atlanta. And depending on the direction you drive, you’re only 3-4 hours away from the beaches of Alabama and the Florida panhandle or the southern portion of the Appalachian Mountains.

I’ll wrap up this post by shamelessly spamming you with a picture of my part German Shepherd, part Pitt Bull, part Tasmanian Devil of a dog, Maddox. Let it serve as proof that a sunny day in Auburn will put a smile on anyone’s face. And if you want to experience everything that this town and the surrounding areas have to offer this summer, schedule a visit! We’ll be offering campus tours starting Monday, June 7th through the end of July. At the time of this posting we’re at capacity for most of our tours in June, but I highly encourage you to check our tour registration form for our availability.

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The Auburn Creed: Part II

Welcome to the second part of The Auburn Creed series! As Jeremy so perfectly described in a previous post, the Creed is a set of ideals that we, in the Auburn Family, all try to live by. While I appreciate The Auburn Creed in its entirety, I connect most strongly to the second stanza:

“I believe in education, which gives me the knowledge to work wisely and trains my mind and my hands to work skillfully.”

Growing up, I was never the kid you would find running around on any athletic field winning MVP awards. True story: I was given the “Best Effort” award when I played little league soccer in the third grade. When I discovered this award in a childhood scrapbook many years later, I was: 1) mortified, and 2) entirely convinced that my coaches just scrambled to give me an award that year. “Best Effort” seems like a stretch considering you would most regularly find me, the goalie, daydreaming about doing literally anything other than exerting energy on the soccer field while the offense stayed busy on the other side of the field scoring points. I was what you would describe as an “indoorsy” kid (and now I’m just an “indoorsy” adult). I found solace in the classroom. It’s where I was most comfortable and where I put in my best effort. So from a very traditional sense, the in-class educational experience is where I thrived growing up.

Looking back on my time as an undergraduate student, I’m grateful that Auburn University provided with me endless opportunities to grow as a person and a life-long learner. I want to tell you about three of those opportunities now:

  1. Member of the Auburn University Marching Band – I encourage you to check out a previous post about the Auburn University Marching Band written by my good friend and colleague, Andrew McGill. Andrew and I were both freshmen in the AUMB back in 2009. He does such a good job of describing the traditions, responsibilities, and magical moments that come with being in the AUMB. For me, this four-year experience taught me what it truly means to be a team player. I was one member of 380, but we could only perform at our best as a group if every single member put their best effort into every practice, every performance, every moment. It taught me the importance of being responsible and punctual: “If you’re early, you’re on time. If you’re on time, you’re late. If you’re late, we’ve got a problem.” It taught me how to enjoy the fruits of our labor and how to support the Auburn Tigers win, lose, or draw. What I wouldn’t give to run out of the tunnel for a pregame performance one more time…
  2. Undergraduate Research Assistant at the Juvenile Delinquency Laboratory – For six semesters during my last two years as an undergraduate student, I was a research assistant in the Juvenile Delinquency Laboratory at the Mount Meigs campus. This opportunity gave me the hands-on experience to apply what I was learning as a psychology and sociology double major in a real-world setting. It was where I was introduced to working with and helping a population of young adults who had experienced trauma, violence, and victimization at young ages. It was where I began to learn about our judicial system, the systemic issues and inequities in our country, and my own (now deep-seated) commitment to social justice.
  3. Peer Advisor in the Department of Psychology – Let me let you in on a little secret. I loved Auburn so much and was so unsure of what I wanted to do after graduation that I took what I like to call – a victory lap. Otherwise known as a fifth year. During this second senior year, I had the privilege of being a Peer Advisor for the Department of Psychology. Among other things, I got to work with our incoming freshmen during their academic advising sessions of Camp War Eagle one summer. This opportunity taught me that my love for Auburn and my love for helping others could come together as a career. This experience led me to a graduate assistantship in the Office of Undergraduate Admissions and now to my job as an Admissions Advisor. I continue to do what I love on a daily basis – connecting with prospective students and helping them learn about all of the opportunities available to them at Auburn so that they may grow and evolve as life-long learners themselves.

I am a two-time alumna of Auburn University and I’m back in school for a third round now. I don’t take any moment of learning and growth that I’ve had at Auburn for granted. A big reason why is because of my grandfather. He was born and raised on a dairy farm in a small farming community in South Carolina. He dropped out of school at a young age to work on the farm to help provide for his mother and many brothers and sisters after his father’s death. Though not formally educated, he was one of the most educated people I have ever known. He knew how to fix anything. He would lend a helping hand to those he loved without hesitation. He worked hard until the day he died my senior year at Auburn. He was the embodiment of the Auburn Creed. Every time we spoke on the phone from the time I was in kindergarten throughout college, he would always start off by asking, “How’s school going?” I got to have the formal education that he didn’t. His hard work and sacrifices and that of all others that came before me have provided me with the opportunity to experience Auburn University to its fullest.

So I challenge all of you reading this today to seek out a variety of educational experiences during your time at Auburn University. Don’t be like me as a third grade soccer player and instead earn that “Best Effort” award both inside and outside of the classroom. Don’t take any moment for granted. And be on the lookout for the next part of The Auburn Creed series coming soon!

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Auburn University Medical Clinic: Where Health and Wellness Meets the Auburn Family

The Auburn University Medical Clinic’s mission is “to provide high-quality, efficient and convenient health care with compassion, dedication and professionalism.” The facility began serving Auburn University students, faculty, and staff as well as the greater Auburn community in 2005 with an unwavering commitment to achieving its mission. And I should know!

One of my earliest visits to the Medical Clinic occurred during the spring semester of my sophomore year. It was a beautiful afternoon and I was leaving Goodwin Hall with a heavy backpack on my back and my alto saxophone safely in its case in my left hand. In one moment, I was laughing with my friends walking down a hill close to the amphitheater and falling in slow motion in the next. After hearing an unusual *pop*…

… I had managed to land sitting on my left foot. With the help of my friends, I thought I could literally walk the injury off with a night of elevating my leg and icing my ankle with a bag of frozen green peas – college students are nothing if not resourceful. It was immediately evident the next morning, though, that I needed help from a medical professional and the Medical Clinic was the obvious choice. After an X-ray and a consultation with a doctor, my severely sprained ankle was on the mend.

One of my more recent visits was less embarrassing (thankfully, I’ve been more surefooted ever since) but equally memorable. In July 2018, I visited the Medical Clinic for a much more routine reason. At this time, I was nearly two years into being an admissions advisor and it was just days after learning about my dad’s cancer diagnosis. There were more unknowns and questions than certainty and answers in my life on the day of my visit. It was only after a couple weeks of waiting and worrying later than we learned that his cancer was treatable. Needless to say, my visit to the Medical Clinic that day was surrounded by unique circumstances. As I was waiting in my exam room, I was consumed with worry about my dad. When Dr. Owens walked into the room, I could have never predicted the ways in which she was going to help me. We talked about the reason for my visit and the medicine I need to take, and then the conversation somehow shifted to my dad. She listened intently and asked to pray over me. I left the Medical Clinic that day having received a level of care and concern I didn’t even know I needed.

Months later, I had a follow-up visit and, coincidentally, was treated by Dr. Owens again. She asked about my dad quickly after entering the exam room. I was amazed by her memory – how many patients had she seen since my visit? I was grateful to pass along the good news that he was responding well to treatment and even more grateful for her compassion for me and a loved one of mine that she had never even met.

Dr. Owens is undoubtedly extraordinary… along with every other doctor, PA, nurse, phlebotomist, receptionist, and staff member at the Auburn University Medical Clinic. If you’re anything like me, reader, you probably feel like this level of care and concern is a rarity in today’s world. But it’s the rule – not the exception to it – in the Auburn Family, and there is no better embodiment of the Auburn Family than the Auburn University Medical Clinic.

Highlights of Resources

  • The Auburn University Medical Clinic is a fee-for-service facility, meaning that you will only pay for services when you use them.
  • They have contracts with most major insurance companies and can work with students who are uninsured or take advantage of Auburn University’s Student Health Insurance.
  • Making an appointment over the phone or requesting an appointment through your patient portal is easy and the digital kiosks make the check-in process even more efficient.
  • In keeping with the Auburn University Medical Clinic’s mission, there are a variety of services available to help ensure students’ holistic health and wellness. Some of the resources housed within the facility include:
  • While the facility has a variety of services, it does not currently have specialists like dentists or optometrists but will gladly refer you to a local option that will best meet your needs.

Overall, I can confidently speak from a variety of personal experiences that the Auburn University Medical Clinic is an invaluable resource to the Auburn community. Whether you are coming from near or far, rest assured that the folks at the Auburn University Medical Clinic will embody the spirit of the Auburn Family to ensure your health and wellness.