History of Auburn University in Timeline

Auburn University is a large public land-grant research university located in Auburn, Alabama. As the second-largest university in the state, it enrolls over 34,100 students and employs 1,435 faculty members. Auburn is one of Alabama's two flagship public universities and is classified as an R1 doctoral university, signifying very high research activity.

1913: Origin of "War Eagle" yell

During a pep rally in 1913, a cheerleader's speech and the falling of an eagle emblem on a student's military hat led to the yelling of "War Eagle."

1913: Perfect Season and National Championship

In 1913, Auburn's football team had its first perfect season, going 8-0, claiming a second SIAA conference championship and the first national championship in school history.

1913: National Championship

The 1913 Auburn team has been recognized as national champions by various ranking organizations.

1914: Popularization of "War Eagle" yell

During a game against the Carlisle Indian Team in 1914, Auburn players and fans began yelling "War Eagle," leading to its popularization.

1914: National Championship

The 1914 Auburn team has been recognized as national champions by various ranking organizations.

October 1, 1918: API students join the United States Army

On October 1, 1918, nearly all of API's able-bodied male students 18 or older voluntarily joined the United States Army for short-lived military careers on campus, forming the academic section of the Student Army Training Corps. The students received honorable discharges two months later following the Armistice that ended World War I.

1929: Initial Campus Master Plan by Olmsted Jr.

In 1929, Auburn's initial campus master plan was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted Jr.

1937: First Bowl Appearance

Auburn's first bowl appearance was in 1937 in the sixth Bacardi Bowl played in Havana, Cuba.

1939: Opening of Auburn Stadium

In 1939, Jordan-Hare Stadium opened as "Auburn Stadium".

1940: API participates in "crash" engineering program

In 1940, as war approached, API (Auburn Polytechnic Institute) became an early participant in the Engineering, Science, and Management War Training (ESMWT) program, also known as a "crash" program. This initiative aimed to produce "instant engineers" to address the shortage of engineers and scientists needed for the defense industries. College-level courses, fully funded by the government and coordinated by Auburn's Dean of Engineering, were given in concentrated, mainly evening classes at sites across Alabama.

1941: API Trains US Military Personnel

In 1941, Auburn Polytechnic Institute (API) began training U.S. military personnel on its campus. During the war, between 1941 and 1945, 32,000 troops attended the university in some manner.

1945: API Trains US Military Personnel

By 1945, API had trained 32,000 troops between 1941 and 1945. API experienced massive growth caused by returning military personnel taking advantage of their GI Bill offer of free education following the end of World War II.

1952: Presentation of Cannon Lathe

In 1952, to commemorate Auburn's contribution to the Civil War, a cannon lathe used for the manufacture of cannons for the Confederate Army, recovered from Selma, Alabama, was presented to the college by brothers of the Delta chapter of the Alpha Phi Omega fraternity. The lathe remains on the lawn next to Samford Hall.

1954: "War Eagle" Written

In 1954 Robert Allen and Al Stillman wrote the song "War Eagle", which was later introduced in 1955.

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1955: "War Eagle" introduced as official fight song

In 1955, "War Eagle" was introduced at the beginning of the football season and served as the official fight song since. It was written in 1954 and 1955 by Robert Allen and Al Stillman.

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1957: National Championship

The 1957 Auburn team has been recognized as national champions by various ranking organizations.

1958: National Championship

The 1958 Auburn team has been recognized as national champions by various ranking organizations.

1959: Aubie the tiger's first appearance

In 1959, Aubie the tiger, Auburn's mascot, made his first appearance on the October 3 gameday football program versus Hardin-Simmons College.

1960: Auburn University Name Change

In 1960, recognizing that the school had expanded beyond its agricultural and mechanical roots, the Alabama Legislature granted university status, and the institution was officially renamed Auburn University. This change reflected the institution's evolution, having been unofficially called "Auburn" since at least 1939 when Jordan-Hare Stadium opened as "Auburn Stadium".

1960: Auburn University Receives University Status and New Name

In 1960, the Alabama Legislature granted Auburn Polytechnic Institute (API) university status, officially renaming it Auburn University. This change reflected the institution's evolution beyond its agricultural and mechanical roots.

1963: Auburn University racially segregated prior to 1963

Prior to 1963, Auburn University was racially segregated, with only white students being admitted.

1964: Integration begins at Auburn University

In 1964, integration began at Auburn University with the admittance of the first African-American student, Harold A. Franklin. Franklin had to sue the university to gain admission to the graduate school and was denied a degree after he completed his master's thesis.

1967: First Degree Granted to an African-American

In 1967, Auburn University granted its first degree to an African-American student.

1967: Southern Humanities Review Publication

In 1967, Auburn's literary journal, the Southern Humanities Review, began being published at the university.

1967: Charter of Auburn University at Montgomery

In 1967, the Alabama Legislature chartered an additional campus in Montgomery, leading to the establishment of Auburn University at Montgomery, which is now a member of the Auburn University system.

1971: Pat Sullivan Wins Heisman Trophy

In 1971, Auburn player Pat Sullivan won the Heisman Trophy.

1972: Jim Kennedy Graduates from Auburn

In 1972, Jim Kennedy graduated from Auburn with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. He later became the director of NASA's Kennedy Space Center.

1973: Auburn University Rugby Football Club Founded

In 1973, the Auburn University Rugby Football Club was founded and became one of only two club sports at Auburn with an endowment fund.

1980: Start of Historic Wrestling Season

The 1980-1981 season started with Tom Milkovich coaching Auburn, leading to a historic wrestling season. The wrestling program was discontinued after this season.

1980: Tiger Born

Tiger, also known as War Eagle VI, was born in captivity in 1980.

1981: Auburn University Places Top 10 in NCAA Wrestling

At the conclusion of the 1980-1981 NCAA Wrestling season, Auburn University became the first SEC team to place Top 10 in the country.

1982: First NCAA Appearance

In 1982, Auburn's women's basketball team made its first appearance in the NCAA women's basketball tournament.

1982: National Championship

Since 1982, only eight teams have claimed national championships in women's swimming and diving.

1983: National Championship

The 1983 Auburn team has been recognized as national champions by various ranking organizations.

1985: Bo Jackson Wins Heisman Trophy

In 1985, Auburn player Bo Jackson won the Heisman Trophy.

1986: Tiger given to Auburn University

In 1986, Tiger (War Eagle VI) was given to Auburn University.

1987: Outright Title

Auburn achieved its first outright conference title in 1987.

1988: National Championship Game

In 1988, Auburn played in one of three consecutive national championship games.

1989: Conference Title

Auburn won a conference title in 1989.

1989: SEC Championship

The Auburn women's golf team won an SEC Championship in 1989, marking one of their seven titles.

1990: National Championship Game

In 1990, Auburn played in one of three consecutive national championship games.

1992: SEC Conference Division

Since the division of the conference in 1992, Auburn's football team has won eight western division championships and made six trips to the SEC Championship game.

1993: Undefeated Season on Probation

In 1993, Auburn went 11–0 under Terry Bowden, but was on probation and not allowed to play in the SEC Championship game.

1993: National Championship

The 1993 Auburn team has been recognized as national champions by various ranking organizations.

1996: SEC Championship

The Auburn women's golf team won an SEC Championship in 1996, marking one of their seven titles.

1997: NCAA National Championship

In 1997, Auburn men won the NCAA national championship.

1998: Spirit given to Auburn for rehabilitation

In 1998, Spirit, a baby bald eagle with an injured beak, was given to Auburn for further rehabilitation.

1999: National Championships

Between 1999 and 2007, Auburn and Georgia each won nine straight national championships in women's swimming and diving (five Auburn, four Georgia).

1999: Economics Department Ranked 123rd in the World

In 1999, Auburn's Economics Department was ranked 123rd in the world by the Journal of Applied Econometrics, surpassing international institutions like INSEAD and the London Business School.

1999: Start of successful record

Since 1999, Auburn's women's golf team began its successful record of 854-167-13.

2000: Ongoing Construction Begins

Around the year 2000, Auburn began a period of ongoing construction. All recently constructed buildings have used a more traditional architectural style that is similar to the style of Samford Hall, Mary Martin Hall, and the Quad dorms.

2000: Spirit's First Flight

In 2000, Spirit, the bald eagle, had his first flight in Auburn's pregame flight program.

2000: SEC Championship

The Auburn women's golf team won an SEC Championship in 2000, marking one of their seven titles.

2001: Samuel Ginn's Gift to the College of Engineering

In 2001, Samuel L. Ginn, made a $25 million gift to the college and announced plans to spearhead an additional $150 million in support. This gave Auburn the first Bachelor of Wireless Engineering degree program in the United States.

2001: First African-American Student in White Sorority

In 2001, the first African-American student was initiated into a historically white sorority at Auburn.

2002: Tiger Flies at Winter Olympics

In 2002, Tiger flew at many different venues including the Winter Olympics.

2002: Second place finish in NCAA finals

The Auburn women's golf team finished second in the NCAA finals in 2002.

2003: Tom Slater named head coach

After a disappointing season, Tom Slater was named head coach of Auburn's baseball team in 2003.

2003: Increase in African American Faculty Percentage

Auburn University had increased its "Black or African American" faculty percentage from 4.3% in 2003 to 4.7% in 2025.

2003: WNIT Win

In 2003, Auburn won the WNIT.

2003: NCAA Championships

In 2003, Auburn's swimming and diving program won consecutive NCAA championships for both the men and women.

2004: Coach Ciampi Retirement

At the end of the 2003–2004 season, Coach Joe Ciampi retired from Auburn's women's basketball team, and Auburn hired Nell Fortner.

2004: Disappointing Season

Auburn Baseball had a disappointing 2003-2004 season, leading to a coaching change.

2004: SEC Championship and Undefeated Season

Auburn completed the 2004 football season with a 13–0 record, winning the SEC championship, the school's first conference title since 1989 and the first outright title since 1987.

2004: Samuel Mockbee receives AIA Gold Medal

In 2004, Auburn alumnus Samuel Mockbee, a MacArthur Genius, received the AIA Gold Medal.

2004: NCAA Championships

In 2004, Auburn's swimming and diving program won consecutive NCAA championships for both the men and women.

2004: Closure of Thach Avenue to Vehicular Traffic

In 2004, a significant portion of Thach Avenue was closed to vehicular traffic due to growing interaction issues between pedestrians and vehicles. The road was later converted from asphalt to concrete as part of an effort to create a more appealing walkway.

2004: Sudler Intercollegiate Marching Band Trophy

In 2004, the Auburn University Marching Band received the Sudler Intercollegiate Marching Band Trophy.

October 2005: Auburn women's golf team ranked #3 nationally

In October 2005, Auburn's women's golf team was ranked #3 nationally out of 229 total teams since 1999 by GolfWeek magazine.

2005: "It Begins at Auburn" growth campaign

In 2005, Auburn began the "It Begins at Auburn" growth campaign.

2005: NCAA National Championship

In 2005, Auburn men won the NCAA national championship.

2005: NFL Draft

In 2005, Jason Campbell, Carnell Williams, Ronnie Brown, and Carlos Rogers were all drafted in the first round of the NFL draft.

2005: Closure of Roosevelt Drive to Vehicular Traffic

In 2005, a similarly sized portion of Roosevelt Drive was closed to vehicles, continuing the movement towards a pedestrian-only campus. The road was later converted from asphalt to concrete as part of an effort to create a more appealing walkway.

2005: Completion of Science Center Complex

In 2005, the Science Center complex was completed. This complex contains chemistry labs, traditional classrooms, and a large lecture hall.

2005: SEC Championship

The Auburn women's golf team won an SEC Championship in 2005, marking one of their seven titles.

May 2006: Physicians Executive M.B.A. Program Ranked

In May 2006, Modern Healthcare ranked Auburn University's Physicians Executive M.B.A. (PEMBA) program ninth in the nation among all degree programs for physician executives.

September 2006: Jordan-Hare Stadium Ranking

As of September 2006, Auburn's Jordan–Hare Stadium has a capacity of 87,451, ranking as the ninth-largest on-campus stadium in the NCAA.

2006: NCAA Championships

In 2006, Auburn's swimming and diving program won consecutive NCAA championships for both the men and women.

2006: Mention in State of the Union Address

In 2006, David Bransby's work on switchgrass as a biofuel was mentioned in the State of the Union Address.

2006: Equestrian Team Captures National Championship

In 2006, the Auburn equestrian team won its first national championship in school history at the Varsity Equestrian Championships in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

2006: National Title at NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships

In 2006, the Auburn women's track and field team secured their first national title at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, scoring 57 points.

2006: Settlement of Legal Challenges

Since the settlement of legal challenges to the underrepresentation of African Americans in AU's faculty in 2006, Auburn has made efforts to increase diversity among its faculty.

2006: Tiger's Retirement

Tiger (War Eagle VI) retired after the Georgia game in 2006.

2007: NCAA Championships

In 2007, Auburn's swimming and diving program won consecutive NCAA championships for both the men and women.

December 13, 2008: Gene Chizik Hired as Head Coach

On December 13, 2008, Gene Chizik was hired as Auburn's new head coach.

2008: Beijing Olympic Games

In 2008, Brazilian César Cielo Filho won bronze (100m freestyle) and gold medal (50m freestyle) at the Beijing Olympic Games.

2008: John Pawlowski named head coach

In 2008, John Pawlowski replaced Tom Slater as the head coach of Auburn's baseball team.

2008: Equestrian Team Captures Hunt Seat National Championship

In 2008, the Auburn equestrian team captured the 2008 Hunt Seat National Championship.

2008: Opening of Shelby Center Phase I and New Student Center

In the Spring of 2008, Phase I of the Shelby Center for Engineering Technology opened, with regular classes being held starting with the Summer 2008 term. A new Student Center also opened in 2008.

2009: SEC Championship

As of 2009, the Auburn men have won the SEC Championship fifteen out of the last sixteen years, including the last thirteen in a row, and also won eight NCAA national championships.

November 2010: Toomer's Corner Trees Poisoned

In November 2010, following Auburn's victory over the University of Alabama in the Iron Bowl, an Alabama supporter poisoned the large live oak trees at Toomer's Corner.

2010: Cam Newton Wins Heisman Trophy

In 2010, Auburn player Cam Newton won the Heisman Trophy.

2010: Comeback Wins

In 2010, the Auburn Tigers had comeback wins over Clemson, South Carolina, Georgia, and Alabama, including a 28-27 victory over the Tide in the Iron Bowl after trailing 24-0.

2010: National Championship

The 2010 Auburn team has been recognized as national champions by various ranking organizations.

2011: Auburn's ranking in U.S. News & World Report

Among the other 12 pre-2024 merger peer public universities, Auburn was ranked fourth in the 2011 edition of U.S. News & World Report.

2011: BCS National Championship

In 2011, Auburn defeated Oregon 22–19 in the 2011 BCS National Championship Game to secure the school's second national championship.

2012: Full-Time African-American Faculty Statistics

As of 2012, African-Americans comprised 49 of the 1,192 full-time faculty members at Auburn University, representing 4.1% of the faculty.

2013: Undergraduate African-American Student Statistics

As of 2013, African-Americans comprised 1,828 of the university's 24,864 undergraduates, representing 7.35% of the undergraduate population.

2013: SEC West Win

In 2013, Auburn had two miraculous finishes against Georgia and Alabama to win the SEC West.

2014: Campus Recreation Center Named Facility of Merit

In 2014, Athletic Business named Auburn's 240,000 square foot campus recreation center as one of its Facilities of Merit.

2014: BCS National Championship Game

In 2014, Auburn fell short in the 2014 BCS National Championship Game to the Florida State Seminoles 34–31 in Pasadena, California.

2014: Death of Tiger

Tiger, also known as War Eagle VI, died in 2014 at the age of 34.

April 2015: FAA Approval for Unmanned Aircraft Systems Flight School

In April 2015, Auburn University was the first in the nation to receive FAA approval to operate a new Unmanned Aircraft Systems Flight School as part of the Auburn University Aviation Center.

2016: Toomer's Corner Replanted Trees Damaged by Fire

In 2016, the trees at Toomer's Corner, which were replanted after the poisoning in 2010, were damaged by a fire and had to be replaced again.

August 2017: Completion of Mell Classroom Building and New Nursing Building

In August 2017, the Mell Classroom Building was completed and attached to the Ralph Brown Draughon Library, offering a new flexible learning space. A brand-new 89,000 square foot building for the school of nursing was also finished in 2017.

2017: "Because This is Auburn" campaign raised over $1.2 billion

By 2017, the university raised over $1.2 billion in the "Because This is Auburn" campaign, being the first university in Alabama to raise over $1 billion as well as the most successful fundraising campaign in school history.

2017: Toomer's Corner Replanted Trees

In 2017, the trees at Toomer's Corner were replaced for the most recent time.

2018: "It Begins at Auburn" growth campaign reached $778.2 million

By 2018, the "It Begins at Auburn" growth campaign began in 2005 had risen to $778.2 million, the most successful in school history.

2018: Launch of Critical Conversations Speaker Series

In 2018, Auburn University began a speaker series named Critical Conversations to promote racial diversity on campus.

2018: First Person of Color President of White Greek Organization

In 2018, an African-American student became the first person of color president of a historically white Greek organization on campus.

2019: Ranked Happiest Students

In 2019, Auburn was ranked first by The Princeton Review's list of happiest students on college campuses.

2019: Equestrian Team Captures National Championship

In 2019, the Auburn equestrian team captured another national championship.

2019: Completion of Brown Kopel Engineering Student Achievement Center and New Graduate Business Building

In 2019, two significant projects were finished: the Brown Kopel Engineering Student Achievement Center and the opening of a new Graduate Business Building.

2020: Greek Population

As of Fall 2020, Auburn's total Greek population is 7,541 members, or about 33.6% of all undergraduate students.

2020: Auburn Ranked LGBTQ-Unfriendly by The Princeton Review

In 2020, Auburn University was ranked the 6th most LGBTQ-unfriendly campus by The Princeton Review in its rankings of 386 American campuses.

2020: Harold A. Franklin Awarded Master's Degree

In 2020, Harold A. Franklin was finally awarded his master's degree in history, years after he was denied the degree despite completing his master's thesis.

2021: The Auburn Plainsman Primarily Online

As of 2021, The Auburn Plainsman is primarily an online publication, though some special editions are still carried out in print.

2021: Opening of Central Dining Hall

In 2021, Auburn opened the $26 million Central Dining Hall, a 48,000 square feet facility with a capacity for more than 800 seats and eight different meal stations.

August 2022: Completion of Tony and Libba Rane Culinary Science Center

Completed in August 2022, the Tony and Libba Rane Culinary Science Center combines instructional and laboratory space with operational food venues and hotel spaces for experiential real-world training.

November 2022: Hugh Freeze Named Football Head Coach

In November 2022, Auburn named Hugh Freeze as the new football head coach.

2024: Closure of Office of Inclusion and Diversity

In 2024, Auburn University eliminated its Office of Inclusion and Diversity to comply with SB 129, a bill signed by Governor Kay Ivey that banned DEI initiatives.

2024: Auburn in the Southeastern Conference

In 2024, Auburn is a charter member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC), currently composed of 15 of the largest Southern universities in the U.S.

2024: Scheduled Opening of New College of Education Building

In 2024, the new college of education building is scheduled to open on the site of the former Hill dorms, featuring collaborative classrooms, instructional laboratories, up-to-date technology, and administrative spaces for faculty and staff.

2025: Increase in African American Faculty Percentage

Auburn University had increased its "Black or African American" faculty percentage from 4.3% in 2003 to 4.7% in 2025.

2025: Scheduled Opening of STEM+Ag Complex

In 2025, the new 265,000 square foot $200 million STEM+Ag Complex is scheduled to open, replacing older STEM-related and agricultural science facilities on the former Hill site. The complex represents Auburn's largest-ever investment in academic facilities.

2025: U.S. News & World Report Ranks Auburn

The 2025 edition of U.S. News & World Report ranks Auburn as tied for the 105th best national university overall in the U.S., 51st among public universities, and 171st in "Best Value Schools".