College of Liberal Arts case statement

COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS

W

ith an ambitious strategic plan in place, the College of Liberal Arts is positioned to continue providing students with an enriching educational experience both inside and outside the classroom.

Because This is Auburn is a $1 billion campaign to propel our university forward through a renewed commitment to our students, a continued promise to our state, and a shared responsibility to the world. With your support of our $22.9 million campaign goal, we can enhance our efforts to prepare graduates for rewarding careers, fulfilling lives, and service to their communities.

We challenge our students to learn in new ways, think beyond the obvious, and work across disciplines.

We graduate informed, well-educated citizens ready to lead in today’s global society. Through the efforts of a dedicated, nurturing faculty, the college is on course to better educate and inspire our students to shape the future of our state, nation, and world. Donors’ support during this campaign is vital to providing our students and faculty with opportunities to reach new and greater heights.

TOTAL GOAL FOR THE COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS:

$22.9 million

“The College of Liberal Arts fosters learning, inspires creativity, and promotes leadership and personal responsibility. Our graduates leave us possessing a passion for knowledge and a drive to succeed in today’s global society. With your support, we will start a new chapter for our students to engage, explore, and grow.”

— Joseph A. Aistrup

Dean, College of Liberal Arts

PRIORITIES

for the College of Liberal Arts Because the university’s core curriculum emphasizes the importance of English composition, literature, history, and the social sciences in developing educated citizens, the College of Liberal Arts’ influence is felt throughout campus and by every Auburn undergraduate student.

Whether students major in one of 38 Liberal Arts degree programs, or benefit from our course offerings as part of the core curriculum, we strive to provide a student-centered learning environment that is among the very best at Auburn. To advance our mission of becoming the preeminent college on campus, we have identified major initiatives in each of the campaign’s four focus areas. We seek your support to sustain and strengthen these areas, which are vital to the success of our graduates and the future of our college.

58

NEW ENDOWED STUDY ABROAD SCHOLARSHIPS

to enhance global awareness

3

NEW ENDOWED PROFESSORSHIPS

to increase our success in recruiting high-quality faculty

$4.5 MILLION

Students

$9,900,000

for a new Band Practice Facility to provide adequate rehearsal space for our band programs

Faculty

$1,500,000

Programs $7,000,000

Facilities

$4,500,000

300

TOTAL DEAN’S CLUB MEMBERS

to fund urgent scholarship needs

Students Students are the heart of the college and our top priority in this campaign. Many students find their dream of a college degree restricted due to limited financial resources or the rising costs of studying and living away from home. Through this campaign, we seek to endow new scholarships to provide both need-based and merit-based support for students like Kevin Lazarus, a senior double majoring in psychology and Spanish and recipient of the National Scholars Presidential Scholarship and the college’s Humanities Scholarship. By increasing the availability of endowed undergraduate scholarships that reward academic performance and recognize financial need, we can ensure students of all backgrounds have access to an Auburn degree. In addition, we plan to increase the availability of study abroad scholarships to enhance students’ global awareness; undergraduate research funding to bolster our students’ marketability as they seek post-graduate employment or graduatelevel study; fellowships and assistantships in every discipline to grow our enrollment of top graduate students; and funding for students seeking practical experience in their chosen fields through internships and community initiatives.

$9.9 million

Programs

Faculty

Facilities

Essential to a rich, fulfilling academic experience is stimulating students’ creative thinking and fostering innovative faculty teaching. Campaign support for our programs will increase the college’s visibility by expanding students’ learning experiences and the faculty’s capacity for interdisciplinary research and teaching.

Unique opportunities exist for donors to name our School of Communication and Journalism and Women’s Leadership Institute, as well as to endow the Mock Trial Competition team program, Africana Studies program, and the Community and Civic Engagement Initiative.

The quality of our faculty and their concern for our students’ academic and personal well-being are among our many strengths. Recruiting, developing, and retaining faculty who are considered experts in their respective fields and who also engage our students through exceptional teaching are paramount. Philanthropic support is essential to our ability to expand research and creative activities, explore innovative instruction, and foster interdisciplinary collaborations. Campaign support will endow new professorships and fund faculty start-up expenses — both providing the college with a competitive edge in retaining and recruiting faculty.

The college is home to the Auburn University Bands, which include the award-winning Auburn University Marching Band and five other ensembles numbering 400-plus student-musicians representing every college and school. These programs have outgrown their space in Goodwin Hall — a space intended to accommodate only 250 members.

Although Auburn has committed to constructing a new Band Practice Facility, the college must raise a portion of construction expenses through private gifts.

Your investment in this facility will guarantee that the soundtrack of the Auburn experience continues for generations to come.

$7.0 million

$1.5 million

$4.5 million

Your gift to Auburn has

REAL IMPACT

“I look forward to making a difference in the lives of children, as well as having my siblings follow in my footsteps as members of the Auburn Family.”

— Chasity Burney

Senior, Communication Disorders

Growing up, I always knew I wanted to attend college. Because I would be the first from my family to attend college, I felt pursuing a college education would allow me to be a positive role model for my five brothers and sisters. Both of my parents are huge Auburn fans and encouraged me to tour campus my senior year of high school. During the tour, I decided I wanted to be a part of the Auburn Family.

I applied for several scholarships offered by the College of Liberal Arts as a way of relieving some of the financial obligations associated with attending college. As a result, I received the Dean’s Club Annual Scholarship my freshman year. Continuing to receive that support for an additional three years has been an honor and a blessing. Without this scholarship, the Provost Leadership Undergraduate Scholarship (PLUS), as well as others I have received, I would not have access to the high-quality education I am receiving from the college’s outstanding faculty and academic programs.

After graduating with my bachelor’s degree in communication disorders, I plan to continue my education at the graduate level, eventually pursuing a doctoral degree in speech-language pathology. I look forward to making a difference in the lives of children, as well as having my siblings follow in my footsteps as members of the Auburn Family.

The four years I studied at Auburn — 1977 to 1981 — were some of the best years of my life. My professors, some of whom I spent as much time with outside of class as inside of class, helped guide me through my undergraduate years and shaped who I am today. They taught me, among other things, the importance of discipline and organization in my academic and professional success. The student body was diverse, and I formed friendships that continued well past the 11 years I lived abroad after graduation. Auburn’s school spirit is unparalleled when compared to other colleges and universities.

“I give to Auburn, and specifically the College of Liberal Arts, so I can help provide other students… with the same positive, enriching experience I had at Auburn, and to prepare them for their careers after graduation.”

A liberal arts degree is foundational by nature. As president of Coca-Cola’s global McDonald’s division, I can say that my degree in public relations — and the classes I had in both oral and written communications, economics, accounting, and public relations — provided me with an understanding of so many important critical facets of business.

I give to Auburn, and specifically the College of Liberal Arts, so I can help provide other students — including my youngest son, Roberto, a high school junior who hopes to attend Auburn himself — with the same positive, enriching experience I had at Auburn, and to prepare them for their careers after graduation.

— Javier C. Goizueta ’81 Public Relations

College of Liberal Arts 317 Biggin Hall, Auburn, Alabama 36849 (334) 844-1483 | libart1@auburn.edu cla.auburn.edu B E C AU S E@AU B U R N . E D U | B E C AU S E . AU B U R N . E D U Auburn University is an equal opportunity educational institution/employer.