07/21/2006

Ag-based Institute Established at Auburn University

AUBURN, Ala. — Auburn University interim President Ed Richardson has launched an internal search for an interim vice president of a new institute for agriculture and natural resources at AU.

Richardson received approval from the AU Board of Trustees at its annual meeting June 30 to begin the formation of what is currently being called the Institute for Natural Resources. The official name of the institute will be determined after a year’s study.

Before recommending the creation of the institute to the Board, Richardson spent nearly two years consulting with internal and external constituents, including deans, administrators, faculty, the AU provost, leaders of state associations and others.

The institute will combine several agricultural and natural resource research, outreach and academic units under one umbrella and will establish a new vice presidential position at Auburn. Reporting to the new vice president will be the deans of the AU School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences and College of Agriculture, the directors of the Alabama Cooperative Extension System and Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station, the director of the Auburn University Environmental Institute and administrators of a new initiative focused on alternative energy.

"This institute will permit the university to better serve communities and better position Auburn University to effectively and efficiently respond to challenges faced by the state and nation in terms of meeting our agricultural and natural resource needs," Richardson said. He added that the move was also in line with peer institutions that already have such an institute in place.

Once on board, the new vice president will make further recommendations for organizing the institute, which has the strong support of the heads of the units involved in the merger.

Richard Guthrie, dean of the AU College of Agriculture and director of the Experiment Station, said he is pleased that the Board of Trustees approved the institute proposal and that he looks forward to assisting Richardson with plans for implementation.

“I believe the institute will position agriculture for a stronger future,” Guthrie said.

Richard Brinker, dean of the School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences, said that as the landscape of Alabama changes, it is important that AU maintains pace with those changes.

“The School of Forestry is committed to research and extension programs that address the needs of forest landowners and the citizens of Alabama,” Brinker said. “The institute has the potential to focus research and extension efforts so that Auburn can be more responsive to address new, emerging issues.”

Extension System Director Gaines Smith, saying Extension is excited about being a part of the institute, noted that it “furthers our land-grant university responsibilities of improving the lives and economic well-being of Alabamians.”

The institute has the support of the agricultural industry as well.

“Stakeholders have realized that Alabama agriculture has changed significantly over the past decades,” Alabama Cattlemen’s Association Executive Director Billy Powell said. “The formation of this institute will provide a great opportunity for Auburn University to better serve us in this rapidly changing world and address the 21st century needs of agriculture, forestry and other life sciences. We applaud Dr. Richardson for his leadership in getting this important mission accomplished.”

Richardson is expected to name the institute’s interim vice president at the Sept. 1 Board of Trustees meeting.

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News from:

Office of Ag Communications & Marketing

Auburn University College of Agriculture
Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station
3 Comer Hall, Auburn University
Auburn, AL 36849

334-844-4877 (PHONE) 334-844-5892 (FAX)

Contact: Jamie Creamer, 334-844-2783 or jcreamer@auburn.edu

For immediate release