Auburn University
PA-6: Support for Underrepresented Groups

Educational Opportunities Resource Center (EORC) – The mission of the EORC is to foster an inclusive academic environment for students at Auburn University. The EORC serves as a resource for disadvantaged students; implements best practices for recruiting and retaining students from diverse backgrounds; provides underrepresented students with information about financial aid, careers, tutoring, mentoring, and other success strategy skills; and bridges the gap between international and domestic students. Provost Leadership Undergraduate Scholarship (PLUS) Retention Program – The PLUS program was instituted to increase diversity among the undergraduate student population at Auburn University, with an emphasis on students from underserved populations. The program assists seventy students per year financially by providing a $2,000 scholarship per academic year renewable up to four years, and supports them academically and socially to ensure that they are successful at Auburn University. Retention activities include peer mentoring, workshops on time management and study skills, tutoring and counseling services, leadership opportunities, and enrolling new students in freshman level core classes together. https://cws.auburn.edu/diversity/pm/FundingPriorities/PLUS Providing Peer Opportunities for Developing Students (P2ODS) – The P2ODS Program is designed to mentor and empower underrepresented and disadvantaged students to excel in academics and leadership. The goal of the program is to increase the retention and graduation rate of students at Auburn University. Activities of the P2ODS program include participation in Diversity events, group and individual mentoring sessions, leadership training, and lectures on academic and career success strategies. https://cws.auburn.edu/diversity/pm/p2ods Summer Enrichment Experience (SEE) Program – SEE is an intensive four-week residential summer program for more than 30 underserved students. The program is staffed by Mathematics and English faculty, graduate teaching assistants, counselors, and academic advisors. Students take two classes designed to prepare them for freshman-level coursework and participate in parallel workshops supplementing the classroom instruction. The aims of the program are to increase enrollment for underserved populations, increase students’ mathematics and English skills, expose students earlier to various fields, develop study and time management skills, and introduce students to a network of faculty, staff, and fellow minority students. https://cws.auburn.edu/diversity/pm/prospective Alabama Alliance for Students with Disabilities in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (AASD-STEM) – AASD-STEM is a collaborative effort involving Auburn University, Tuskegee University, Alabama State University, Auburn University Montgomery, Southern Union State Community College, and eight public school districts in East-Central Alabama. The goals of the Alliance are to a) increase the quality and quantity of students with disabilities entering college, emphasizing Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics disciplines; and b) completing associate, baccalaureate, and graduate degrees in STEM disciplines. The Alliance is accomplishing these goals by providing scholarships, research experiences, and mentoring opportunities to high school students, undergraduate, and graduate students. https://cws.auburn.edu/diversity/pm/stem Women in Science and Engineering (WISE) Institute – The goals of the WISE Institute are to create, promote, and encourage a supportive and friendly campus environment that is welcoming for and attractive to women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM); develop and strengthen alliances with external communities to support diversity in and outside of Auburn University; and assist Auburn University in its efforts to recruit and retain female students in STEM. The WISE Institute supports women in Science and Engineering fields at every academic level. Undergraduate and graduate students participate in workshops, speaker series, mentoring with faculty, learning communities, and seminars. The WISE Institute provides faculty members with professional development through presentations, networking opportunities, skills building, and leadership seminars. https://cws.auburn.edu/wise/ College of Sciences and Mathematics (COSAM) Summer Bridge – The COSAM Summer Bridge Program is an intensive four-week residential program for talented and highly motivated minority students from populations traditionally underrepresented in the sciences and mathematics who want to get a head start in their college careers. This program, which takes place on the main campus of Auburn University, emphasizes academic preparedness, development and enhancement of study and time management skills, establishment of academic and social support, and career awareness. Chemistry and Mathematics faculty, graduate teaching assistants, counselors, and academic advisors staff the program. http://www.auburn.edu/academic/cosam/departments/diversity/summerbridge/ Summer Engineering Enrichment Program – The Alabama Power Academic Excellence Program Summer Engineering Enrichment Program is a comprehensive three-week residential program for highly motivated minority students who want a head start in their engineering career. The Engineering Enrichment Program takes place on the main campus of Auburn University, emphasizing academic preparedness, development and enhancement of study strategies, establishment of social support networks, and exposure to valuable campus resources. The program is staffed by engineering faculty, counselors, graduate teaching assistants, and upper level engineering students. http://www.eng.auburn.edu/admin/aep/summer-enrichment-prgrm.html Alabama Power Academic Excellence Program – The Alabama Power Academic Excellence Program in the College of Engineering is an academic support program for first and second-year students designed to enhance the recruitment and retention of under-represented minority engineering students at Auburn University. It has been in existence since 1997 and has been the catalyst for graduating some of the nation’s brightest minority engineering students. Recruitment activities include working with the counselors and teachers at local high schools and community colleges with strong math and science programs to make them aware of the wealth of opportunities that exist in engineering. http://www.eng.auburn.edu/admin/aep/

Auburn University has anti-discrimination and harassment policies that prohibit acts of discrimination or harassment based on race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, religion, national origin, age, disability, and protected veteran status. Responsibility for investigating and addressing possible violations of these policies rests with the AU Office of Affirmative Action/Equal Employment Opportunity. Potential hate crimes are reported to the Auburn City Police and/or the Auburn University Department of Public Safety & Security. Actions taken in response to violations are dependent upon and responsive to the facts of the complaint or report. Actions taken during the previous three years include, but are not limited to: required educational programming regarding discrimination/harassment; receipt of letter of reprimand; notice of probationary status; demotion of employee; removal of supervisory responsibility/authority; suspension from work; suspension from university enrollment; and expulsion from university enrollment. Effective August 17, 2015, Auburn University employs a full-time Diversity Student Advocate. This individual develops and implements initiatives that make Auburn University welcoming for all underrepresented and disadvantaged students and international students. Duties include counseling, mediation and conflict resolution; developing and implementing operations that address issues of bias; explaining university policies and procedures and working with appropriate offices on campus to resolve conflicts and problems; recruiting, training, evaluating and supervising student advocates; and serving as a campus "ad hoc" committee chairman for diversity, providing consultation with teams working to address issues or student problems. Student Affairs has been the previous point of contact for instances of discrimination and bias.

Campus map showing gender neutral bathrooms https://cws.auburn.edu/map Responsible party for discrimination response: Office of Affirmative Action/Equal Employment Opportunity