AU OUTREACH eNews

August 2024 Volume 2, Issue 22

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OUTREACH SPOTLIGHT

I am excited to hear the stories the Outreach community has yet to tell, and I am looking forward to uplifting these stories for the Auburn family to hear. 

OLLI member takes leadership role in Creekline Trails of Opelika

This spring, Creekline Trails of Opelika, a citizen-led project to “connect neighbors to nature,” opened the first segment of its ambitious masterplan to create miles of public trails and greenspaces along the main creeks throughout Opelika. Mike Akins, instructor and Chair of the Technology Committee for the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Auburn (OLLI), served as Acting Coordinator of the Advisory Board to help open the Pepperell Branch-Waverly Trail. “This trail is one of the few paved, wheel-friendly, ADA-compliant trails in the Auburn-Opelika area that runs through a natural urban forest alongside a beautiful creek. We like the idea of conserving this natural forest, not a formal park,” said Mike. “Serving with a long list of leaders, neighbors, and volunteers has been my privilege.” 

Part of the restoration of these greenways means clearing them of invasive plants and encouraging the return of native flora and fauna. Recently, while helping clear the trail of invasive species, Akins encountered a mother and her disabled son using a wheelchair. The mother told him how much the new trail meant to her because it was one of the few places her son could get out in nature. Mike is a prime example of how OLLI members serve as leaders and volunteers to make our community better. “Trails and greenspaces seem to remind neighbors what they have in common – with nature and each other.”

Visit creeklineopelika.org to learn more about Creekline Trails of Opelika. Visit auburn.edu/olli to learn more about OLLI at Auburn. 

SAVE THE DATE!

Outreach & Engaged Scholarship Symposium

Empowering Partnerships to Advance Beyond Boundaries

September 3-4, 2024

at the Auburn University Hotel and Dixon Conference Center

The 2024 Symposium will:

• Emphasize the importance of mutually beneficial relationships and showcase successful partnerships that empower both academia and the community, fostering successful solutions and growth.
• Encourage interdisciplinary collaboration and boundary spanning initiatives and explore how engaged scholarship transcends traditional academic silos, connecting diverse fields and perspectives.
• Encourage sharing of best practices throughout the lifespan (from inception to completion) of outreach and engagement partnerships.
• Encourage student STEM/STEAM communication, engagement and outreach.

Save the date of September 3-4, 2024. Visit auburn.edu/outreach/facultyengagement/symposium.htm

to REGISTER NOW and learn more about our symposium schedule and events.

CALL FOR NOMINATIONS!

Award for Excellence in Faculty Outreach

Committee Chair - Chippewa Thomas - thoma07@auburn.edu

The Auburn University Award for Excellence in Faculty Outreach honors the engagement of exemplary faculty members and demonstrates the tremendous impact Auburn’s outreach has on our community, state, nation, and beyond. This award, and a $5,000 honorarium, will be presented annually to one Auburn faculty member for distinguished outreach contributions which exemplify the qualities and purposes of reciprocal and beneficial community engagement, and which exceed expectations for the person’s career stage and job responsibilities. Nominations will be reviewed by a peer committee.

Criteria

Nominees should have distinguished careers in which outreach and community engagement play an integral part. All full-time Auburn faculty including those with extension appointments are eligible. Activities to be considered for this award should exemplify engagement characterized by collaboration, reciprocity and mutuality, in fulfillment of the University Faculty Handbook (Chapter 3) definition of outreach as “the function of applying academic expertise to the direct benefit of external audiences in support of university and unit missions.” Specific criteria address the characteristics of the engagement within a community, needs addressed, mission compatibility, scholarship generated, and impact documented.

Submission Nominations  JUNE 7 – SEPTEMBER 20, 2024

In recognition of life-changing research, outreach, instruction and creative scholarship, Auburn University’s Office of the Provost will present several faculty members with the university’s highest honors at the 2024 Faculty Awards ceremony.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE DETAILS

MARK YOUR CALENDAR:

AUGUST 6 - 29, 2024

GRE Live Online Course

 Tuesdays & Thursdays, 6:00 P.M. - 9:00 P.M.

 Online

25S1A001 Basic Photography Digital 08/01/24-8/29/24 Thursdays from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM CST $112.00 - COURSE FULL

25S1A002 Photoshop: Getting the Picture You Want from the Picture You Took 09/05/24-10/03/24 Thursdays from 6:30 PM to 9:00 PM CST $112.00

25S1A003 American Sign Language I 09/03/24-10/08/24 Tuesdays from 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM CST $99.00

25S1A005 Watercolor Crash Course: Victory Garden Barn 10/26/24-10/26/24 Saturday from 12:30 PM to 4:30 PM CST $69.00

25S1A008 Driver's Education October 16th to 20th 10/16/24-10/20/24 Wed 5:00 PM to 7:30 PM CST (Classroom), Sat/Sun from 7:00 AM to 3:00 PM CST (Driving) $219.00

Follow some of our programming on social media:

GEAR UP Achieve

GEAR UP Achieve - Facebook

Circle K International at Auburn

(student led community-service organization)

Circle K International at Auburn University - Facebook

MARK YOUR CALENDARS!

Alabama OLLI Day 2024 Signature Event

August 7, 2024 | 4:00 - 7:30 PM

Jay and Susie Gogue Performing Arts Center at Auburn University

910 S College St, Auburn, AL

Award-winning author and New York Times contributor Margaret Renkl reads from her book “The Comfort of Crows: A Backyard Year” accompanied by projected illustrations. Joining her to discuss their collaboration on the book is her brother, artist Billy Renkl.

Hosted by OLLI at Auburn in 2024.