The check may have been made out for $1 million, but Auburn University President Dr. Jay Gogue said it was worth much more.
For every dollar “invested” in Auburn, he said the institution returns about $12 to the state. Auburn officials plan to divide a million-dollar gift made by Regions Bank on Tuesday between a new professorship in the School of Forestry and Wildlife Science and scholarships for the College of Business.
Gogue said he was grateful for the one-time commitment at a time when the university faces a large budget deficit. Auburn has to make up for a $40 million shortfall, including a $26 million reduction in state funding. The donation will help the university invest in areas that officials say will benefit the state. Gogue said forestry is one of the leading industries in the state with a $15 billion impact. A new distinguished forestry professorship will focus on product development and research, as well as identifying creative markets for the use of trees, he said.
By supporting more scholarships for the business college. Gogue said Auburn will be more apt to attract the best and brightest students from 16 states to the Plains. Arthur Ducote, Regions Central Alabama area executive, appeared on the Samford Hall lawn Tuesday morning to present Gogue with the check. “An investment like this drives the economy for all of us,” he said. Ducote also gave Gogue a Regions Cruiser bicycle.
‘’I’m confident after talking to Dr. Gogue this morning that he will be riding it around daily,” he said, with a laugh.
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