AU faculty discuss strategic plan

In an effort to look ahead, Auburn University looked to its faculty for suggestions.

AU officials got feedback on the school’s strategic plan in a question-and-answer session on Monday hosted by the Auburn chapter of the American Association of University Professors.
The strategic plan, a long-range plan aimed at setting university priorities, is in formation.

Issues Monday included international recruiting, financing and faculty evaluations, among others.

To Blake Gerard, associate professor of English at Auburn University at Montgomery, the plan’s approach to recruiting international students was flawed. He read a prepared speech by the AUM chapter president of AAUP.

“… Our administration has spoken of attracting literally hundreds of Chinese students from the People’s Republic of China,” Gerard read. “AUM has no dedicated office to assist or oversee international students.”

In his reading, Gerard suggested before such recruitment takes place, that emphasis be put on student services for currently enrolled students.

One faculty member said he thought international students ought to be given tools by the university to succeed.

Throughout the country, universities are concentrating on global education, AU President Dr. Jay Gogue said.

“The goal ought to be that our graduates are able to work in a world that’s very different … and it’s an international world,” he said.

One way to accomplish that is to bring in international students and foster contact between students, he said.

“But if the number’s too high or the number’s inappropriate, then you all make sure you don’t do it,” he said. “You can’t bring in international students and not have some kind of support mechanism…”

One faculty member voiced his approval of ideas in the draft but worried about expenses they might incur.

Gogue said that some programs would be costly, but others, such as unifying university policies, would take time rather than money.

“I would hope in the first year, going into a huge budget scenario that’s unsure, again that you select things that are important and put a few in that are not costly… then, when you come around for the first year’s review, hopefully, you’re able to add more of those items that are richer in terms of cost.”

A draft of the strategic plan and ways to voice opinion can be found on Auburn’s Web site, http://www.auburn.edu.