Auburn University facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Auburn University

Former names	East Alabama Male College (1856–1872) Agricultural and Mechanical College of Alabama (1872–1899) Alabama Polytechnic Institute (1899–1960)
Motto	"Research, Instruction, Extension" "For the Advancement of Science and Arts"
Type	Public land-grant research university
Established	February 7, 1856; 169 years ago (February 7, 1856)
Accreditation	SACS
Academic affiliation	ORAU ACES Sea-grant Space-grant
Endowment	$1.1 billion (2023)
Budget	$1.72 billion
President	Christopher B. Roberts
Provost	Vini Nathan
Academic staff	1,432 (2021)
Administrative staff	3,915 (2021)
Students	33,015
Undergraduates	26,874
Postgraduates	6,141
Location	Auburn , Alabama , United States
Campus	Small City, 1,841 acres (7.45 km2)
Colors	Burnt orange and navy blue
Nickname	Tigers
Sporting affiliations	NCAA Division I FBS – SEC
Mascot	Aubie the Tiger

Auburn University (also called AU or Auburn) is a large public university in Auburn, Alabama, USA. It is a "land-grant" university, which means it received land from the government to help teach farming and mechanical skills. Auburn is one of the biggest universities in Alabama. It has over 26,800 undergraduate students and more than 6,100 graduate students. In total, over 33,000 students attend Auburn.

Auburn was started in 1856 as the East Alabama Male College. It was a private school focused on liberal arts and connected to the Methodist Church. In 1872, it became a state-run land-grant university and changed its name to the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Alabama. In 1892, it became the first four-year school in Alabama to allow both male and female students. Its name changed again in 1899 to Alabama Polytechnic Institute. Finally, in 1960, it became Auburn University. This new name showed that the school offered many different subjects, not just agriculture and mechanics.

In 1967, another campus was opened in Montgomery. It is also part of the Auburn University system.

History of Auburn University

Old Main, the first building on Auburn's campus, was destroyed by fire in 1887.

Auburn University was officially started on February 1, 1856, as the East Alabama Male College. The Methodist Church guided the school starting in 1859. Reverend William J. Sasnett was its first president. The college opened in 1859 with 80 students and 10 teachers.

Auburn's early years were greatly affected by the American Civil War. Classes were held in a building called "Old Main." But the college closed during the war because most students and teachers left to join the army. The campus was used as a training area for the Confederate Army. "Old Main" even became a hospital for wounded soldiers.

To remember Auburn's role in the Civil War, a special cannon lathe was given to the college in 1952. This machine was used to make cannons for the Confederate Army. Today, it sits on the lawn next to Samford Hall.

After the Civil War

The school reopened in 1866 after the Civil War ended. This was the only time the college has ever closed. In 1872, the State of Alabama took control of the school from the Methodist Church. This was due to money problems. The state made it a land-grant institution, which meant it received federal land to sell for funding. Because of this, the school was renamed the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Alabama in 1872.

Land-grant schools were also supposed to teach military skills. In the late 1800s, most students at the college were part of a cadet program. They learned military tactics to become officers. Each county in Alabama could send two students to the college for free.

Samford Hall in the 1890s.

At first, Auburn focused on engineering and farming. This changed with William Leroy Broun, a teacher who believed in both science and classic studies. In 1892, two important things happened: women were allowed to attend the college, and football became a school sport. Football soon became the most popular sport. In 1899, the college was renamed the Alabama Polytechnic Institute (API) because of Broun's ideas.

Auburn students training as cadets in 1918.

On October 1, 1918, almost all male students aged 18 or older joined the United States Army. They became part of the Student Army Training Corps on campus. These students received honorable discharges two months later when World War I ended. API faced tough times during the Great Depression. Teacher salaries were cut, and fewer students enrolled. By the end of the 1930s, the school had mostly recovered. But then World War II started.

As war approached in 1940, there was a big need for engineers and scientists. The U.S. Office of Education asked engineering schools to quickly train more people. API joined this effort, offering college-level courses to thousands of adults, including many women. These courses helped fill the need for engineers and other technical workers during the war. They also helped API by providing jobs for teachers when fewer students were attending due to the draft.

During the war, API also trained U.S. military personnel on campus. Between 1941 and 1945, Auburn trained over 32,000 troops. After World War II, many military members returned to college using the GI Bill, which offered free education. This caused Auburn's enrollment to more than double in five years.

Name Change to Auburn University

The current Auburn Athletics logo.

In 1960, the Alabama Legislature officially changed the school's name to Auburn University. This new name showed that the school had grown beyond its original focus on agriculture and mechanics. It now offered many different academic programs. However, people had been calling it "Auburn" for many years before this official change. For example, the football stadium was called "Auburn Stadium" when it opened in 1939.

From the Civil Rights Era to Today

Before 1963, Auburn University only allowed white students. This changed in 1964 when Harold A. Franklin became the first African-American student to be admitted. He had to go to court to get into the graduate school. He finally received his master's degree in history in 2020. The first degree given to an African-American student at Auburn was in 1967.

In 2018, the university started a speaker series called Critical Conversations. This program helps promote racial diversity on campus.

Academics at Auburn

Samford Hall houses administrative offices at Auburn University.

Auburn University is known for its strong academic programs. U.S. News & World Report ranked Auburn as one of the top national universities. It is also ranked highly among public universities.

Auburn is a founding member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). This conference includes many large public universities in the Southern U.S. Auburn has been very successful in raising money for the university. In 2017, it raised over $1.2 billion in a fundraising campaign. This was the first time a university in Alabama raised over $1 billion.

Auburn's College of Architecture was the first in the country to offer a degree in interior architecture. Its Rural Studio program is also well-known for helping communities.

The Samuel Ginn College of Engineering has a long history of teaching engineering. It is one of the largest engineering programs in the U.S. In 2001, Samuel L. Ginn, an Auburn graduate, gave $25 million to the college. This helped Auburn create the first Bachelor of Wireless Engineering degree in the United States. Auburn was also the first university in the Southeast to offer degrees in software engineering.

Ross Hall, home to Auburn's Department of Chemical Engineering.

Auburn has focused on training undergraduate engineers. The Ginn College of Engineering is now working to grow its graduate programs.

Auburn's Economics Department has been ranked among the best in the world. The MBA Program in the College of Business is also ranked in the top ten percent of MBA programs in the nation.

Auburn offers ROTC programs for the Air Force, Army, and Navy/Marine Corps. Many Auburn graduates have become high-ranking officers in the military. Two Auburn alumni, Hugh Shelton and Richard Myers, served as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Auburn has also graduated six astronauts, including T.K. Mattingly from the Apollo 13 mission. Many Auburn engineers and scientists work for NASA.

Auburn University has its own airport, which is used for flight education. The Auburn University Aviation Department is fully approved by the FAA. In 2015, Auburn was the first university in the nation to get FAA approval for a new Unmanned Aircraft Systems Flight School.

The Old Rotation on campus is the oldest continuous agricultural experiment in the Southeast, started in 1896.

Colleges and Schools

Auburn University has 13 colleges and a graduate school:

• College of Agriculture, started in 1872
• College of Architecture, Design and Construction, started in 1907
• Raymond J. Harbert College of Business, started in 1967
• College of Education, started in 1915
• Samuel Ginn College of Engineering, started in 1872
• College of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences, started in 1984
• Honors College, started in 1979
• College of Human Sciences, started in 1916
• College of Liberal Arts, started in 1986
• College of Nursing, started in 1979
• James Harrison College of Pharmacy, started in 1885
• College of Sciences and Mathematics, started in 1986
• College of Veterinary Medicine, started in 1907

Campus Life

Hargis Hall, built in 1888.

Auburn's campus is mostly laid out in a grid pattern. The northern part of campus has most of the engineering buildings and older administration offices. The middle section has buildings for Liberal Arts and Education. The southern part has science and math buildings, as well as fine arts.

Over the years, many new buildings have been added or renovated. In 2004 and 2005, parts of some roads were closed to cars to make the campus more friendly for walking. New buildings like the Science Center complex (2005) and the Shelby Center for Engineering Technology (2008) have been built. A new Student Center also opened in 2008.

Katharine Cooper Cater Hall.

Recently, many older buildings have been updated or replaced. The Mell Classroom Building was added to the library in 2017, offering new learning spaces. A new nursing school building also opened in 2017. In 2019, the Brown Kopel Engineering Student Achievement Center and a new Graduate Business Building were finished.

More recent projects include a large academic classroom and lab complex for 2,000 students. A new 800-seat dining hall opened in 2021. The Tony and Libba Rane Culinary Science Center, completed in 2022, helps students get real-world training in food and hotel management. A new education building is planned for 2024. The STEM+Ag Complex, opening in 2025, will be Auburn's largest investment in academic facilities.

Student Activities

Auburn students at Camp War Eagle orientation.

Auburn offers many activities and events for students. New students can attend Camp War Eagle or Successfully Orienting Students to learn about college life. Welcome Week helps new and returning students feel at home. Hey Day is a long-standing tradition where everyone wears nametags and greets each other.

Dining Options

Auburn recently built a large Central Dining Hall, which opened in Fall 2021. It has space for over 800 people and eight different food stations. Students can also eat at other dining halls, popular restaurant chains like Chick-fil-A, and food trucks.

All students can get meal plans to use at on-campus dining spots. Auburn's dining services work to reduce food waste and packaging. They also use a local campus garden for fresh food. Auburn is a leader in helping students who might not have enough food. The Campus Food Pantry is available for students who need it.

Student Housing

Auburn's campus housing includes 30 residence halls in nine areas, housing 4,800 students.

• The Quad is the oldest housing area, built during the Great Depression. It has ten buildings for undergraduate students, mostly with double rooms and shared bathrooms.
• The Hill has six buildings, mostly for undergraduates. It includes two tall dorms. Rooms are similar to The Quad, with double rooms and shared bathrooms.
• The Village was built in 2009 and has eight buildings for 1,500 students. Many rooms are suites with four single bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a shared living area and kitchenette.
• Cambridge Hall is a five-story hall for 300 undergraduate students. Rooms are double occupancy with shared bathrooms.
• South Donahue opened in 2013 near the baseball stadium. Most suites have two bedrooms, private bathrooms, a living room, and a kitchenette. Each suite also has a washer and dryer.
• 160 Ross offers luxury apartments with four-bedroom/four-bathroom or two-bedroom/two-bathroom options.

Health and Recreation

Auburn's recreation center is a large, five-story building. It has a running track, basketball courts, a pool, and a rock climbing wall. It was named one of the best facilities in 2014.

Auburn has over 20 Club Sports, open to all students. These include basketball, volleyball, and water skiing. Students can also play Intramural Sports like flag football.

Students have access to a Medical Clinic on campus with exam rooms and lab equipment. The Student Counseling and Psychological Services office is also in the clinic. The clinic also has a pharmacy and other health services.

Student Groups

Auburn has many student organizations. These include the Student Government Association, Black Student Union, and International Student Organization. There are also service groups like Auburn University Dance Marathon.

The Auburn Plainsman is the student-run newspaper. It has won many awards for student journalism. Other student media include Eagle Eye TV, WEGL 91.1 FM radio, and The Glomerata yearbook.

The Auburn University Marching Band has over 350 members. It won a prestigious award in 2004.

Greek Life

About 33.6% of Auburn's undergraduate students are part of Greek life (fraternities and sororities). Auburn's Greek system became fully integrated later than some other universities. The first African-American student joined a historically white sorority in 2001. In 2018, an African-American student became the first person of color to lead a historically white Greek organization on campus.

Student Support

Auburn students have many resources to help them. They can get help with academics from advisors, tutors, and writing centers. The Office of Accessibility helps students with special learning needs.

The Auburn Office of Inclusion and Diversity works to make the university a welcoming place for everyone. The Auburn Cares office helps students during emergencies or difficult times. The Veterans Resource Center supports military-affiliated students.

Auburn Athletics

Aubie, the Auburn University Tiger Mascot.

Auburn University's sports teams are called the Tigers. They compete in Division I-A of the NCAA and are part of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). "War Eagle" is the famous battle cry and greeting used by Auburn fans. Auburn has won 24 national championships in various sports. This includes five in football, eight in men's swimming and diving, and five in women's swimming and diving. Auburn's colors, burnt orange and navy blue, were chosen by George Petrie, Auburn's first football coach.

Football

The undefeated Auburn Tigers football team from 1913.

Auburn's football team plays its games at Jordan-Hare Stadium. This stadium can hold over 87,000 fans. Auburn's first football game was in 1892 against the University of Georgia. This is one of the oldest rivalries in the Deep South. Auburn had its first perfect season in 1913, winning a national championship.

Auburn has won twelve SEC Conference Championships. They play their biggest rival, Alabama, every year in a game called the Iron Bowl.

Three Auburn players have won the Heisman Trophy: Pat Sullivan (1971), Bo Jackson (1985), and Cam Newton (2010). John Heisman, for whom the trophy is named, coached at Auburn from 1895 to 1899.

Jordan–Hare Stadium in 2005.

In 2004, Auburn had a perfect 13–0 season and won the SEC championship. However, they were ranked behind two other undefeated teams and did not play in the national championship game.

In 2010, Auburn won the 2011 BCS National Championship Game against Oregon. They finished the season with a 14–0 record. This included amazing comeback wins against rivals like Alabama in the Iron Bowl. The team was led by coach Gene Chizik, offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn, and Heisman Trophy winner Cam Newton. In 2013, under coach Gus Malzahn, Auburn again had dramatic wins against Georgia and Alabama. They won the SEC Championship but lost in the national championship game.

The Auburn tradition of rolling Toomer's Corner after a sports win.

Auburn's 1913, 1957, and 2010 teams are recognized as national champions.

Swimming and Diving

Rowdy Gaines swimming for Auburn.

Auburn's swimming and diving program has been very successful. They have won many NCAA championships for both men and women. The men's team won five national titles in a row from 2003 to 2007. The women's team won five national championships in six years. Many Auburn swimmers have competed in the Olympic Games. Famous Auburn swimmers include Olympic gold medalist Rowdy Gaines and César Cielo Filho.

Men's Basketball

The Auburn men's basketball team has had periods of success. Its most famous player is Charles Barkley. Other Auburn players have gone on to play professional basketball.

Women's Basketball

The Auburn University women's basketball team has also been very competitive. They have won four regular season SEC championships and four SEC Tournament championships. They have appeared in the NCAA women's basketball tournament many times. Auburn played in three national championship games in a row from 1988 to 1990.

Baseball

Auburn Baseball has won six SEC championships and appeared in the College World Series four times. Samford Stadium-Hitchcock Field at Plainsman Park is considered one of the best college baseball facilities. Many Auburn players have gone on to play in Major League Baseball, including Bo Jackson and Frank Thomas.

Women's Golf

Auburn's Women's Golf team has become very strong in recent years. They have won seven SEC Championships.

Track and Field

The Auburn women's track and field team won its first national title in 2006 at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships.

Equestrian

Auburn's equestrian team won the national championship in 2006, 2008, and 2019.

Traditions

Auburn University has many traditions. These include a creed, an alma mater, a fight song, a battle cry, a mascot, and special game-day traditions like an eagle flying over the football field.

Colors

The official colors are:

Fight Song

Auburn University's fight song is called "War Eagle". It was written in 1954 and 1955 and became the official fight song in 1955.

Auburn's Eagles

Nova, War Eagle VII.

Auburn has two eagles that are part of their educational flight program. One of these programs is the pregame flight. Before Auburn football games, an eagle handler releases an eagle. The eagle flies around the stadium and then lands in the middle of the field. Auburn has used both golden eagles and bald eagles for this.

Spirit is the only bald eagle Auburn has used. He was found as a baby with an injured beak and could not be released back into the wild. Tiger, also known as War Eagle VI, was born in captivity in 1980. She flew before Auburn football games from 2000 to 2006.

Aubie the Tiger

Auburn's mascot, Aubie the tiger, first appeared in 1959. He was created by artist Phil Neel and was on the cover of Auburn's football game programs for 18 years. Aubie is still Auburn's official mascot. He has won the most National Mascot titles in history, with ten.

War Eagle Chant Theories

There are several stories about how the "War Eagle" chant started:

• In 1892, during a game against Georgia, a Civil War veteran's pet eagle flew away and circled the field. As Auburn scored the winning touchdown, the eagle dove to the ground and died. Fans saw this as a good sign and started yelling "War Eagle."
• At a pep rally in 1913, a cheerleader said the team would have to fight like "war." At the same time, an eagle emblem fell onto a student's hat. When asked what it was, he yelled "War Eagle."
• In a 1914 game, Auburn players tried to tire out an opponent named "Bald Eagle." They kept running the ball his way, saying "bald eagle." The crowd misheard and started yelling "War Eagle."

Toomer's Corner

The tradition of rolling Toomer's Corner with toilet paper after big wins started in the 1950s. It is believed that the owner of Toomer's Drugs, Sheldon Toomer, would throw his receipt paper into the trees to celebrate an Auburn road victory. This tradition is very famous.

In 2010, after Auburn beat Alabama, someone poisoned the large oak trees at Toomer's Corner. The trees did not survive and have been replaced several times since then.

Media and Publications

• The Auburn Plainsman – The student-run newspaper, which has won many awards.
• WEGL 91.1 FM – The campus radio station run by students and faculty.
• Eagle Eye TV – Auburn University's student-run news station.
• The Auburn Circle – A student magazine that publishes poetry, art, and stories.
• The Glomerata – Auburn University's student-run yearbook, started in 1897.
• Southern Humanities Review – A literary journal published at the university.
• Encyclopedia of Alabama – Auburn hosts the offices and servers for this online encyclopedia about Alabama.
• Auburn University Office of Communications and Marketing – Auburn University's official news source.
• Auburn University's official YouTube channel – Features videos about the university.

Notable People from Auburn

Auburn has many famous alumni who have done great things in different fields. Some well-known alumni include:

• Tim Cook, the CEO of Apple.
• Octavia Spencer, an Academy Award-winning actress.
• Jimmy Wales, who helped create Wikipedia.
• NBA star Charles Barkley.
• NFL quarterback Cam Newton.
• NFL star and MLB player Bo Jackson.
• Kay Ivey, the current governor of Alabama.
• NASA astronauts Ken Mattingly, Jim Voss, and Jan Davis.
• Lloyd Austin, who served as the Secretary of Defense.

Images for kids

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  Auburn University's main logo.

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  The official seal of Auburn University.