Navigating Resources for Success: A Guide for Auburn University Students

Auburn University offers a wealth of resources designed to support students throughout their academic journey. Whether you're a freshman just starting out or a senior preparing for graduation, understanding and utilizing these resources can significantly enhance your college experience. This guide provides an overview of key resources available to Auburn students, helping you make the most of your time on the Plains.

Getting Involved on Campus

Involvement Ambassadors: Your Guide to Campus Organizations

Here at Auburn, students have countless opportunities to become involved on campus, whether you are a freshman, a senior or anything in between. With so many places one can go, many students often feel overwhelmed by the multitude of options available to them for getting involved. There is something for everyone with over 500 on-campus organizations. Involvement Ambassadors (IA) help students navigate through Auburn’s many organizations and excel at assisting students in finding opportunities that suit them. These approachable, enthusiastic students have a broad insight into the different student organizations and student populations on the Plains. With 30 members, the Involvement Ambassadors have a team fit to serve each member of the Auburn family uniquely and work hard to ensure that all students find a home here.

Now acting solely as a Student Activities Organization, the Involvement Ambassadors are more focused on outreach than ever. Students can find them tabling on the Haley concourse every Wednesday, as well as at various outreach events, including the Involvement Fair and classroom visits. The IA team not only will just sit down with students and connect them with the organizations best suited for them but will enjoy doing it! IA has grown in both outreach capability and size in the past few years and is equipped with all the tools they need to work with every student. Their broad perspective of organizations partly comes from the fact that so many of them are deeply involved themselves. If you are a student looking to get involved, looking to find a home, or looking to meet new people, the Involvement Ambassadors are here for you.

AUinvolve: Your One-Stop Shop for Campus Activities

AUinvolve is a valuable resource for finding information about student organizations, including dues, meeting times, and required commitments. Students like Ian Maurelli and Delaney Donovan have successfully used AUinvolve to discover and join organizations that align with their interests.

Camp War Eagle: Starting Your Auburn Journey Right

Camp War Eagle (CWE) is Auburn’s two-day summer orientation program for new freshmen! At CWE, incoming freshmen meet their CWE Orientation Counselor and other incoming freshman students, learn more about campus resources to help them be successful at Auburn, and register for fall classes with their academic advisor. This past summer, over 6,000 incoming freshmen attended CWE. Our current students also have the opportunity to be a Camp War Eagle counselor for the summer! Admitted students can begin to register for their CWE session in March. There is not an advantage to attending an earlier session, and each session holds a certain number of spots in core classes for registration.

Academic Support and Resources

First Year Seminars: Easing the Transition to College

Taking a First Year Seminar at Auburn University is a smart way to ease the transition into college life while building a strong foundation for academic and personal success. These small, discussion-based classes help new students develop essential skills like time management, connect with campus resources, and explore their goals and identity in a supportive environment.

Exploratory Advising Center: Finding Your Academic Path

The Exploratory Advising Center is where Auburn University works with students who are unsure about their majors and want to spend time exploring all the options available to them. Students who are undecided when it comes to their major can enroll in exploratory major classes. Auburn University teaches EXPL1010 in the fall and EXPL1020 in the spring. Students can select a major and move from the exploratory major at the end of fall or spring semester. Some students figure out their major quickly, while other students need more time. The instructors (career counselors and academic advisors) want to help these students and don’t judge them if they need more time to figure out their major and / or career.

To help students figure out their majors and career paths, Auburn University takes them on a journey that teaches them about themselves, various majors, and career possibilities. The academic advisors in Exploratory advising work to provide students with the best advice possible as students explore different majors. The goal is to keep students on track to graduate in four years. While the Academic Advising Team works mainly on the academic side to assist students, the Career Counseling Team works with students to help them learn about different careers in which they might be interested. Assessments are sometimes used to assist students in narrowing down their options. In all cases, the career counselors discuss what the student is thinking to assess where the student is and where they might be wanting to go. Theoretically, academic advising and career counseling are two different things. In reality, some of the work each team does overlaps with the other. Auburn University also assists students who want to or need to change their majors. When a student come to the office for this reason, they may start with academic advising or with career counseling, depending on the student’s needs. With major changing students, Auburn University goes through the same process of advising them as with exploratory major students. This assistance is given in a less formal setting than a classroom and is usually done through assessments and / or discussion in a one-on-one setting.

Pre-Health Programs: Preparing for a Career in Healthcare

Thinking about a career in healthcare? Pre-Health Programs works with Auburn students who are interested in becoming doctors, dentists, optometrists, physician assistants, physical therapists, occupational therapists, anesthesiologist assistants, pharmacists, and veterinarians. They provide students the foundational knowledge and professional guidance necessary to explore their options, prepare for professional school, and - when they are ready - apply. Pre-Health Programs provides the foundation for a successful professional healthcare career. Through tailored advising, they empower students to reach their individual goals. Pre-Health Programs has a track record of success. Each year they assist over one hundred students as they apply to professional school. Students who regularly engage with Pre-Health Programs are more successful in their applications.

Auburn Abroad: Expanding Your Horizons Through Study Abroad

Auburn Abroad remains dedicated to enhancing the student experience by providing efficient, flexible, and accessible advising services. With the introduction of Advise Assist, students are seamlessly matched with the right coordinator, ensuring that their questions are addressed promptly and effectively. The additional walk-in hours reflect our understanding of students’ busy schedules, offering them the opportunity to connect with advisors when it best suits their needs. Whether through scheduled appointments or convenient walk-ins, Auburn Abroad is committed to guiding students through their study abroad journeys, providing personalized support every step of the way.

Read also: Auburn Student Statistics

In our office, we strive to implement a scheduling system that is convenient for both students and Auburn Abroad Coordinators. After careful consideration, we are excited to announce that we have transitioned to Advise Assist, Auburn’s official scheduling platform. This new system is designed to simplify the process for everyone. This system significantly enhances coordination and streamlines scheduling, benefiting both students and Auburn Abroad Coordinators. By using Advise Assist, students are automatically connected to their designated coordinator based on their college affiliation. This seamless process eliminates the guesswork for students, ensuring they are paired with the right advisor who is best suited to answer their specific questions and provide tailored guidance. Not only does this save time for students, but it also helps coordinators manage their appointments more efficiently, allowing for smoother communication and more productive meetings.

To better support students with busy and unpredictable schedules, Auburn Abroad Coordinators offer walk-in hours in addition to scheduled appointments. These walk-in hours provide students with the flexibility to access advising services without the need for a prior booking, making it easier to fit into their often-packed calendars. Whether students have last-minute questions, urgent concerns, or need quick guidance on study abroad opportunities, walk-in hours ensure they can get the support they need in a timely manner. This approach is especially valuable for those balancing academic commitments, extracurricular activities, and part-time jobs, as it removes the pressure of finding a specific time in advance to meet with an advisor. By making themselves more available through walk-in hours, the Auburn Abroad Coordinators aim to reduce stress for students and offer personalized, on-the-spot assistance, ensuring that students can make informed decisions even when time is tight.

Career Development and Success

Career Discovery & Success: Your Partner in Career Exploration

After undergoing some changes over the last few years and transitioning from being the University Career Center to now being Career Discovery & Success, some people may be wondering exactly what we do. The Campus Career Closet is still going strong on the third floor of Mary Martin Hall. As always, students are welcome to take advantage of the Campus Career Closet to get four items of professional clothing free of charge each academic year. In addition to the clothing being free, students are welcome to keep the clothing. Students in the Colleges of Forestry, Agriculture, Education, and Human Sciences have Career Strategists to assist them as they search for jobs. Carlos Acosta (Forestry & Agriculture) and Jelisa Bass (Education & Human Sciences) serve students by assisting them with job searches, résumé and cover letter reviews, mock interviews, and more. Our Career Connections Team works to host career fairs and bring employers to campus to interact with our students. The Stay Local career fair and Disney Day on the Plains are examples of the work being done by the Career Connections Team.

Campus Career Closet: Dressing for Success

The Campus Career Closet, located on the third floor of Mary Martin Hall, provides students with four free items of professional clothing each academic year, which they are welcome to keep.

Resources for Specific Student Populations

Military-Affiliated Students: The Auburn Student Veterans Association (ASVA)

Auburn University’s military community is a valued and important part of the AU tradition. Dr. Rucksacks to Backpacks is an initiative created to assist veterans with technology needs. Students, with financial need, apply for electronic devices necessary for their academic success. The Professional Clothing Locker provides interview attire to military-affiliated students in need. The ASVA is a 501(c)(3) organization that provides student veterans and military-affiliated students with resources to support the body, mind, and spirit through higher education into employment. Hosted by the ASVA, the annual Gala provides an opportunity for members of the community to come together to help raise monies for Veteran scholarships. During the week of Thanksgiving, the Auburn Student Veterans Association (ASVA) partners with the Campus Veterans Association (CVA) at the University of Alabama to complete a 151-mile ruck mark from Jordan-Hare Stadium to Bryant-Denny Stadium. Participants will carry a 22-pound rucksack in honor of the 22 veterans a day who lose their lives to suicide. Whether regarding benefits or programs and events, the VRC aims to serve the military-affiliated population and help lead them to their next stop.

Out-of-State Students: Finding Your Home on the Plains

Making the move to college is a big step, and for out-of-state students coming to Auburn University, it’s more than just a new school - it’s a whole new environment. Whether you’re from across the state line in Georgia or across the country in California, welcome to Auburn! Moving away from home can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re adjusting to new weather, regional culture, and possibly your first taste of sweet tea. The Auburn Creed isn’t just words - it’s a way of life here. Getting involved is especially important for out-of-state students at Auburn because it helps turn a new and unfamiliar place into a true home. Joining clubs, attending events, and connecting with others can ease homesickness, build lasting friendships, and create a strong support network. The more you’re engaged, the more Auburn feels like your community, not just your campus.

Financial Assistance

Scholarships

GetEducated.com Distance Learning Scholarship: Offers $1,000 scholarships.
Association of Certified Fraud Examiners Ritchie-Jennings Memorial Scholarship Program: Provides scholarships ranging from $1,000 to $10,000.

Additional Resources

Online Learning Requirements

For online students, it's important to note the requirements. You will need a webcam and a quiet place to take exams alone. Be responsible for any proctoring fees. Up your exams may arise.

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