Dear Auburn Family,

You and your families are in our hearts and on our minds daily as we adjust to a world full of rapid change and increasing concern caused by the coronavirus pandemic. I am writing today to give you a brief update on where things stand at Auburn.

Let me begin by saying that, in times such as these, I’m especially grateful for land-grant universities such as Auburn. Our university was created, in part, to take on challenges that are often unforeseen and unpredictable. We are fortunate to be part of an institution that, at its core, stands on a network of knowledge and discovery connecting to people well beyond campus.

Creating solutions is a core component of our institutional identity, which should bring all of us comfort in today’s environment. Auburn is providing answers to the challenges before us, including innovative health and medical solutions, economic analysis, new learning techniques and much more. I encourage you to see how Auburn researchers and scientists are responding by visiting this site.

So much has changed in just the past few weeks. To help you stay informed, following is a summary of what may interest you most from around campus:

• Auburn is operationally open
  The university maintains regular operations, supported by dedicated staff, many working remotely while others are keeping mission-critical services running on campus. Although some services, including on-campus housing, campus dining, Auburn Libraries and the Recreation and Wellness Center are closed, many on-campus services remain open.
• Robust instruction continues
  Our faculty and students are adapting to new ways of teaching and learning. Our extraordinary faculty adeptly reimagined more than 5,000 classes, taking their instruction from in-person to remote delivery with inspiring enthusiasm. Auburn is one of the few institutions in the nation that never paused instruction during this transitional time. We expect to continue with all-remote instruction for two of the three summer sessions out of an abundance of caution.
• Spring commencement postponed
  We made the difficult decision to postpone spring commencement ceremonies, based on recommendations from public health officials. Today, we announced plans to combine spring and summer ceremonies on August 8 – 9, provided the pandemic has subsided. We are eager to celebrate our newest alumni when we are able to do so.
• On-campus events canceled
  With health and safety as our top priority, all on-campus events have been canceled through May 9. Likewise, the Southeastern Conference canceled all conference and non-conference competitions through the spring sport seasons. We also asked Auburn alumni clubs to postpone in-person meetings and adhere to CDC guidance through this same time period. Please visit the Alumni Association website for more information.

In an effort to keep you and the campus community informed, we have a COVID-19 information page with the latest from Auburn. It includes an opportunity to sign up for daily email updates.

Tough times forge character. If there has ever been a time to live the values of the Auburn Creed, this is it. Our family is scattered around the globe, but distance has never weakened our bond. In a time of social distancing and isolation, this is a truly wonderful and uniquely Auburn trait to have.

Thank you for your overwhelming support and for demonstrating the Auburn spirit, even during difficult times. Please stay healthy and safe.

Sincerely,
Jay Gogue
President