Auburn University

Auburn University
Name	Auburn University
Established	1856
Type	Public land-grant research university
Endowment	$1.1 billion (2022)
President	Christopher B. Roberts
City	Auburn
State	Alabama
Country	United States
Students	33,015 (Fall 2023)
Faculty	1,430
Campus	College town, 1,843 acres
Colors	Burnt orange and navy blue
Nickname	Tigers
Affiliations	University of Alabama System Board of Trustees, APLU, ORAU

Auburn University is a public land-grant research institution located in Auburn, Alabama. Founded in 1856 as the East Alabama Male College under the guidance of the Methodist Church, it is the state's second-largest university and a senior military college. The university is classified among "R1: Doctoral Universities – Very high research activity" and is renowned for its programs in engineering, agriculture, architecture, pharmacy, veterinary medicine, and business. Its athletic teams, the Auburn Tigers, compete in the NCAA Division I Southeastern Conference.

History

The institution was chartered in 1856, opening its doors in 1859 as a private liberal arts school under the auspices of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. In 1872, control was transferred to the State of Alabama under the Morrill Land-Grant Acts, making it the state's first land-grant college and renaming it the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Alabama. The school became the Alabama Polytechnic Institute in 1899, a name it held for over half a century before adopting its current name in 1960 by an act of the Alabama Legislature. Key historical figures include President Luther Duncan, who expanded its agricultural mission, and George Petrie, who introduced the first football team to the Deep South in 1892. The university was racially integrated in 1964, with Harold A. Franklin becoming its first African American student.

Academics

Auburn comprises twelve colleges and schools, including the Samuel Ginn College of Engineering, the College of Agriculture, and the Raymond J. Harbert College of Business. It offers over 150 undergraduate majors and is particularly noted for its engineering programs, its top-ranked College of Veterinary Medicine, and the only architecture program in Alabama. The university manages significant research initiatives through centers like the National Center for Asphalt Technology and the Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station. It holds the Carnegie R1 designation for high research activity and participates in the NASA Space Grant Consortium.

Campus

The main campus spans over 1,843 acres in Auburn, Alabama, featuring a mix of historic and modern architecture. Notable landmarks include the Samford Hall clock tower, the Ralph Brown Draughton Library, and the Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art. The campus also encompasses the Auburn University Regional Airport and the Donald E. Davis Arboretum. Significant recent additions include the Brown-Kopel Engineering Student Achievement Center and the Tony and Libba Rane Culinary Science Center. The university operates a secondary campus in Montgomery, home to the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences.

Athletics

Auburn's athletic teams, known as the Auburn Tigers, compete in the Southeastern Conference. The football team plays at Jordan-Hare Stadium and has won two national championships (1957, 2010) under coaches like Shug Jordan and Gus Malzahn. The men's basketball team, based in Neville Arena, has made multiple Final Four appearances. The university's swimming and diving program, led by coaches David Marsh and Richard Quick, has won numerous national championships. Rivalries with the University of Alabama in the Iron Bowl and with the University of Georgia are central to its athletic identity.

Student life

Student life is governed by the Student Government Association and features over 500 student organizations, including a robust Greek life system with chapters from the North-American Interfraternity Conference and the National Panhellenic Conference. The university is one of six senior military colleges in the U.S., hosting Army, Navy, and Air Force ROTC units. Major campus traditions include the "Auburn Marching Band", "A-Day" for spring football, and "Hey Day" to promote community. The student-run Auburn Plainsman newspaper and WEGL radio station are prominent media outlets.

Notable alumni and faculty

Distinguished alumni include Tim Cook, CEO of Apple Inc.; Jimmy Wales, co-founder of Wikipedia; Octavia Spencer, Academy Award-winning actress; and Charles Barkley, Hall of Fame basketball player. Notable former faculty include David H. Hubel, Nobel laureate in Physiology or Medicine; George Washington Carver, pioneering agricultural scientist; and Ken Mattingly, NASA astronaut who flew on Apollo 16. In politics, alumni include former U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and former Governor of Alabama Kay Ivey.

Category:Universities and colleges in Alabama Category:Land-grant universities and colleges Category:Southeastern Conference Category:Educational institutions established in 1856