In 1999 Auburn University, with the approval of the Board of Trustees, established
the Peaks of Excellence Program. The Peak of Excellence in Transportation is one
of seven university-wide programs identified for priority funding from the university
based on a peer review competition. A team of external reviewers was selected
under the consultation of American Association for the Advancement of Science
(AAAS) in 1999 and they visited Auburn University campus to conduct an onsite
evaluation. The transportation proposal received very high ranking and was subsequently
funded as one of the seven Peaks.
The purpose of the peak's program is to establish the infrastructure needed to promote, enhance and nourish research in the selected areas. Fundamental emphasis is therefore to recruit and retain highly qualified faculty members in areas that complement existing expertise to position Auburn engineering to become a nationally and international recognized research leader in transportation.