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End of Academic Year Message

  1. About AUC
  2. AUC Statements
  3. End of Academic Year Message

June 3, 2026

Dear AUC Community, 

I hope you had a restful break last week and that those celebrating Eid al-Adha had a joyful holiday with friends and family — a welcome break from final exam season. As the academic year draws to a close, we prepare for the commencement ceremonies, the most momentous event in a university’s life. Congratulations in advance to our graduates and all the parents who sacrificed for decades to bring their children to this moment of achievement, as well as families, faculty members, staff, and fellow students who consoled each other along an arduous road of intellectual struggle. We look to your energy, ideas, and sense of purpose as you embark on the next chapter, always connected to the AUC alumni community. 

This year has not been without challenges for our region, many of them still unresolved. Despite these challenges, AUC continues to thrive and advance our ambitious agenda. In addition, the achievements of our faculty, alumni, and students demonstrate daily the depth of our impact and contributions. Last month, the Board of Trustees convened in New York for its regular May meeting, which included customary review of the budget, tenure cases, and regular updates. We shared progress on the three campus expansion projects — Technology, Research and Innovation Lab, Extended Education Hub, and NextGen Student Housing — that remain on track for completion next year. These and other transformational projects position AUC at the forefront of learning and understanding. We also shared our progress on Fall 2026 student recruitment, fundraising strategies, and graduate studies at AUC. In New York and Washington, D.C., we hosted alumni receptions for friends and supporters who were eager to learn about AUC. 

Our approved balanced budget for next year includes provisions for salary increases for staff and faculty. For eligible staff members, these will include a minimum increase to recognize inflationary pressures, in addition to merit increases based on individual performance. As a reminder, this will be the fifth consecutive year of substantial salary increases for staff. Next year’s budget also features a significant increase in the scholarship and financial support budget for students, bringing our annual financial support for students to more than a third of the annual tuition revenue. While the budget includes campus enhancements, upgrades in IT and physical infrastructure, and absorbing the inflationary impact of increased operating costs, investing in and supporting students, faculty, and staff remains our top priority. 

Exemplifying the importance of staff and their contributions, we will announce the winners of the 2026 President’s Service Excellence Awards at our last Campus Conversation of this academic year on Monday, June 8, at 1 pm in Moataz Al Alfi Hall. Please join us to celebrate the winners and for an interactive discussion with the audience as we reflect on the year. 

I thank our dedicated faculty who motivate students through their knowledge and deep care; our staff on the front lines of delivering an exceptional student and campus experience; and our students and alumni who inspire us to ensure AUC is at the forefront of a future-ready education. A few decades ago, AUC was a small, liberal arts University serving a privileged few. Today, it is one of the most unique educational institutions in the region — a place that combines academic excellence and intellectual creativity with a courageous culture of empathy and deep commitment to justice and the public good. I offer my gratitude and congratulations to all members of our community who make tireless contributions to AUC's transformative journey.  

Sincerely, 

Ahmad Dallal
President