AUBURN, Ala.—The Auburn University College of Agriculture’s Department of Fisheries and Allied Aquacultures is now the School of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Aquatic Sciences within the College of Ag.
The university’s Board of Trustees designated fisheries and three other large academic departments on campus as schools at its June meeting. Fisheries and allied aquacultures faculty and administrators had requested and College of Agriculture Dean Bill Batchelor had endorsed the change, saying the elevation of the department to the level of a school will allow the unit to grow its research, academic and outreach programs and expand its impact throughout the Southeast and around the world.
David Rouse, head of the former department, said the new designation also will increase the unit’s visibility nationally and internationally, enhance its ability to attract extramural funding and recruit top-notch students and faculty and align its name with similar programs at peer institutions.
“We are very pleased that the Auburn administration and board have recognized our program with the designation of school,” Rouse said. “We believe we have developed a world-class program at Auburn over the past 80 years, and becoming a school will help us expand our program even more.”
The School of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Aquatic Sciences will remain in the College of Agriculture but will be led by a director. Rouse said the administrative change will improve quality and allow for more rapid response to constituents and greater expansion into areas of need.
Auburn Provost Timothy Boosinger recommended the name change to President Jay Gogue and the board after determining the department met or exceeded the minimum requirements for attaining school status in terms of degree offerings, enrollment, faculty, student credit hours and prominence within its field.
