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Auburn University’s Board of Trustees convened Feb. 13, 2026, at Auburn University at Montgomery, moving forward several core priorities designed to elevate the student experience, expand academic opportunities and advance the university’s land-grant mission.

The board gave final approval for construction of four new support buildings for the Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station. Each facility will be approximately 2,500 square feet and is planned for construction at the E.V. Smith Research Center, Brewton Agricultural Research Unit, Autaugaville Research Center and the Chilton Research and Extension Center. These facilities will play a vital role in supporting field research, statewide agricultural innovation and modernizing the infrastructure of the experiment station.

These buildings represent a continued investment in agricultural research and the outreach opportunities these outlying units provide to the state.

“These new spaces expand AAES’s reach where it matters most – out in the fields and communities across Alabama,” said Arthur Appel, interim dean of the College of Agriculture and interim director of the Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station.

The board previously approved the recommendation of JMR+H Architecture of Montgomery, Alabama, as the architect for the overall project.

The board also moved forward in its ongoing work to evaluate the long-term future of the Haley Center, Auburn’s largest and most widely used academic facility. As part of this process, the meeting included the next step toward selecting an architect, a key milestone in the building’s comprehensive assessment.

“Haley Center has long been central to Auburn’s academic life. This evaluation is an important step in ensuring that our facilities continue to meet the evolving needs of our students, faculty and staff while advancing the university’s goals for excellence and innovation,” said Vini Nathan, provost and senior vice president for academic affairs.

The board also gave final authorization for construction of a new Analytical, Innovation and Manufacturing Laboratory within the Brown-Kopel Engineering Student Achievement Center. The project will build out 16,000 square feet of unfinished shell space into laboratories for electronics manufacturing, material analytics and advanced manufacturing. A new terraced entrance will be constructed off the Ginn Concourse to enhance access to the laboratory and bring natural light into the space. The project is financed by funds designated for this purpose within the State of Alabama’s FY23 supplemental appropriations.

The following academic items were approved and shared with the board:

  • The Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Management at Auburn University at Montgomery, a program designed to meet rising demand for highly trained health administration professionals. The new degree aligns with AUM’s ongoing efforts to prepare students for careers in high-growth fields while expanding opportunities for applied learning, internships and community engagement.

  • The graduate certificate in marketing within the Raymond J. Harbert College of Business. The 12-credit-hour designation will focus on customer-based strategy, marketing analytics and value creation to equip working professionals – especially Online MBA students – with high-demand skills. Designed to meet growing statewide industry needs, it will be Alabama’s only graduate-level marketing certificate and will enhance career advancement and workforce readiness without requiring additional faculty or resources.

  • The Master of Science in Architecture – Mass Timber Design option, focused on advanced design and applied research using mass timber and bio-based materials. The program replaces the former Public Interest Design Option and responds to growing industry demand fueled by recent mass timber investment in Alabama and the Southeast, offering one of the few such options nationally.