Hey incoming freshmen!
Here is it! The sneak peek at the special gift that is sure to get you War Eagle Ready! It will be arriving soon to a mail box near you. What could it be?
War Eagle!
Sneak Peek
Auburn University Medical Clinic: Where Health and Wellness Meets the Auburn Family
The Auburn University Medical Clinic’s mission is “to provide high-quality, efficient and convenient health care with compassion, dedication and professionalism.” The facility began serving Auburn University students, faculty, and staff as well as the greater Auburn community in 2005 with an unwavering commitment to achieving its mission. And I should know!
One of my earliest visits to the Medical Clinic occurred during the spring semester of my sophomore year. It was a beautiful afternoon and I was leaving Goodwin Hall with a heavy backpack on my back and my alto saxophone safely in its case in my left hand. In one moment, I was laughing with my friends walking down a hill close to the amphitheater and falling in slow motion in the next. After hearing an unusual *pop*…
… I had managed to land sitting on my left foot. With the help of my friends, I thought I could literally walk the injury off with a night of elevating my leg and icing my ankle with a bag of frozen green peas – college students are nothing if not resourceful. It was immediately evident the next morning, though, that I needed help from a medical professional and the Medical Clinic was the obvious choice. After an X-ray and a consultation with a doctor, my severely sprained ankle was on the mend.
One of my more recent visits was less embarrassing (thankfully, I’ve been more surefooted ever since) but equally memorable. In July 2018, I visited the Medical Clinic for a much more routine reason. At this time, I was nearly two years into being an admissions advisor and it was just days after learning about my dad’s cancer diagnosis. There were more unknowns and questions than certainty and answers in my life on the day of my visit. It was only after a couple weeks of waiting and worrying later than we learned that his cancer was treatable. Needless to say, my visit to the Medical Clinic that day was surrounded by unique circumstances. As I was waiting in my exam room, I was consumed with worry about my dad. When Dr. Owens walked into the room, I could have never predicted the ways in which she was going to help me. We talked about the reason for my visit and the medicine I need to take, and then the conversation somehow shifted to my dad. She listened intently and asked to pray over me. I left the Medical Clinic that day having received a level of care and concern I didn’t even know I needed.
Months later, I had a follow-up visit and, coincidentally, was treated by Dr. Owens again. She asked about my dad quickly after entering the exam room. I was amazed by her memory – how many patients had she seen since my visit? I was grateful to pass along the good news that he was responding well to treatment and even more grateful for her compassion for me and a loved one of mine that she had never even met.
Dr. Owens is undoubtedly extraordinary… along with every other doctor, PA, nurse, phlebotomist, receptionist, and staff member at the Auburn University Medical Clinic. If you’re anything like me, reader, you probably feel like this level of care and concern is a rarity in today’s world. But it’s the rule – not the exception to it – in the Auburn Family, and there is no better embodiment of the Auburn Family than the Auburn University Medical Clinic.
Highlights of Resources
- The Auburn University Medical Clinic is a fee-for-service facility, meaning that you will only pay for services when you use them.
- They have contracts with most major insurance companies and can work with students who are uninsured or take advantage of Auburn University’s Student Health Insurance.
- Making an appointment over the phone or requesting an appointment through your patient portal is easy and the digital kiosks make the check-in process even more efficient.
- In keeping with the Auburn University Medical Clinic’s mission, there are a variety of services available to help ensure students’ holistic health and wellness. Some of the resources housed within the facility include:
- Women’s Health provided by Lee OB/GYN
- Miller Clinic for chiropractic care
- While the facility has a variety of services, it does not currently have specialists like dentists or optometrists but will gladly refer you to a local option that will best meet your needs.
Overall, I can confidently speak from a variety of personal experiences that the Auburn University Medical Clinic is an invaluable resource to the Auburn community. Whether you are coming from near or far, rest assured that the folks at the Auburn University Medical Clinic will embody the spirit of the Auburn Family to ensure your health and wellness.
It’s all Greek to me.
With 4 different councils and 50 chapters to choose from, Auburn has a wide variety of ways you can get plugged in to Greek Life. Click on the video links below to hear from our Council Presidents and see how you can get involved today.
Alena Crews
President, Multicultural Greek Council
Mason Blevens
President, Interfraternity Council
Madison Birckhead
President, Panhellenic Council
Ronny Isaac
President, National Pan-Hellenic Council, Incorporated
Greek Life Facts
Demographics:
- 7,682 men and women make up the Auburn Greek Community.
- Greek men and women represent approximately 31% of the total undergraduate population.
Service and Philanthropy
- Greek students annually donate over $500,000 to local and national philanthropic efforts and charities as well as over 120,000 hours of service to local, national, and international organizations.
History:
- The first fraternity founded at Auburn University was Sigma Alpha Epsilon – founded in 1878.
- The first sorority founded at Auburn was Kappa Delta founded in 1922.
- Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. was founded in 1972 becoming the first NPHC organization to join the Auburn Greek community.
- The Multicultural Greek Council’s first organization was Omega Delta Phi Fraternity, Inc. founded in 2016.
Are you ready to go Greek?
The Auburn Family: Parents Included!
College isn’t just uncharted territory for the students. Parents, too, are entering a new frontier in their roles as guides and advisors, and often they wish they had a map.
Karen Askins, Birmingham resident and mother of recent graduate, Devon Askins Hughes, has offered some valuable insight for your student as they begin their college career. Karen served on the board of the Auburn University Parents’ Association during her daughter’s time as a student at Auburn, and her advice is something that will not only propel your student forward in their chosen career paths, but set them up for success in the future.
- Encourage your students to get to know their professors – all of them – each semester. Have them take the time to go by and visit during office hours. Your student might never know which professor will end up being a true mentor and the very one they might look to for a reference or letter or recommendation in future years.
- Have your student stay connected with their advisors. Should they be affiliated with more than one college, utilize both advisors. Advisors will be extremely helpful as they approach completing their academic career at Auburn and move on to gainful employment. Advisors will be key at helping them take that next step as they prepare for the future – from career planning and assistance with graduate applications to resume building.
- Have your student consider volunteering and earning service hours in an area that will align with their intended major. In this way, your student will benefit Auburn and the community while gaining valuable insight and knowledge into an intended future career. That’s a win-win.
- Encourage your student to become meaningfully involved in Auburn. Seek out organizations that they can benefit and will benefit them. Encourage them to pursue a leadership role as they grow in that organization. Also encourage them to stay involved for the long haul, demonstrating dependability, responsibility and consistency. All of these attributes will grow them personally as well as serve as a plus on their resume. This real life experience will transfer to the job market.
- One of Devon’s Deans encouraged her to seek a minor. At first she was resistant to the idea but she decided to take her advice. Pursuing her minor has been enriching to her academic experience and gave her the priceless opportunity to study abroad.
- Have your student invest time in public speaking courses. These are proving very beneficial to my daughter not only in a multitude of classes as she gives presentations but also as she entered mock interviews, interviews for letters of recommendation or reference and now medical school interviews.
- Don’t procrastinate. My daughter has found each year at Auburn to prove more academically challenging as she further delves into her major. Not only does the class load become heavier, the process of preparing applications and resumes becomes very important. Staying on top of all the responsibilities while they are small details rather than giant projects will be key…and less stressful.
- Internships fill up quickly. Your student needs to start searching intern possibilities during the fall or winter for summer positions. It’s never too soon to start interning and learning on the job.
- Letters of reference. My daughter has learned that professors prefer about a five-month lead-time for letters of reference. Hopefully your student will have established mentor relationships with certain professors. Your student will want to ask for letters of reference early on to allow the professor plenty of time to draft a wonderful reference on their behalf.
“I must add that I have learned these thoughts from my daughter. Early on in her college career I encouraged her to reach for the stars, and she took advantage of the opportunities Auburn University had to offer. Auburn has prepared her beyond measure. I could not be more thankful for this Loveliest Village. Auburn lives out the Creed. War Eagle to that!” –Karen Askins
After Devon’s graduation from Auburn University in the spring of 2018 with a degree in Biomedical Sciences (Pre-Med), Devon began Medical School at the University of South Alabama in Mobile, Alabama. It’s our hope that these lessons learned and shared by Devon’s mother will help you to continue being an encouraging parent, and now part of the Auburn Family!
We look forward to seeing you on the plains – War Eagle!
Missy Estes
AU Facebook Frames: Tell the World You’re Auburn Bound!
Ready to share your Auburn love with your friends? Click the download links below to add some War Eagle flair to your FB page! You can also search for the frames on Facebook using “Auburn Class of 2024”
We look forward to seeing you online and on The Plains soon!
How Do I Get Involved at Auburn?
Okay, you’ve done it! You have made the decision and Auburn University is where you’ll be attending college for the next four years. Congratulations!
Now, you’re starting to think about the fall semester and all the things you want to experience – meeting new people, figuring out where your classes are, going to football games, not to mention joining a few clubs and organizations!
At Auburn, we have over close to 600 student organizations that range from social organizations, community service based organizations, faith based organizations, groups that share common interests, and many more. As an incoming freshman, it may be overwhelming thinking about all the things that you can do on campus. So, where do you start? Don’t worry, I’ve made you a list.
Welcome Week
Welcome Week serves as Auburn University’s official welcome to new and returning students. So, it’s definitely something to look forward to! Events throughout Welcome Week introduce students to Auburn life and involvement opportunities, to help them make Auburn their home away from home. Welcome Week is typically packed with over 100 activities across campus sponsored by organizations, departments, academic units, campus ministries, and more – there is something for everyone! Many of the events are going to have the things that freshman like to hear – free stuff! Whether it’s free food or a free t-shirt and koozie, it’s a great way to adjust to your first few weeks on campus.
O-Days
O Days on the concourse are a great way to meet people from various organizations. These happen throughout the semester on Wednesdays from 10am to 2pm. So, as you’re leaving class and heading to get lunch at the Student Center, pay attention to the organizations that are out there! You never know what groups you might see!
AU Involvement Ambassadors
If you are looking to get involved or are unsure where to start, go see the Involvement Ambassadors. They can help you find involvement opportunities and determine which are best for your personal interests. The Involvement Ambassadors can provide one-on-one consultations with students, AUinvolve tutorials, and they even host their own Involvement Webinar Series for student organizations. Set up an appointment with an ambassador to get plugged in with an organization today!
AU Involve Webpage
If you don’t have the time to meet with an AU Involvement Ambassador or if you want to do a little research before you even get to campus, make sure to check out the AU Involve webpage. This is a great tool for students to explore all of the official campus organizations at Auburn. You can search by keyword, categories, etc. A group’s page will give a brief overview of the organization, contact information, meeting days and times and more!
You will find that Auburn students are very active and engaged on campus – over 19,000 students are involved in various organizations! It’s one of the things that makes Auburn such a unique and happy place. So, don’t wait to add your name to one of the many groups on campus. We can’t wait to see you!
