End-of-Year Message
June 1, 2025
Dear AUC Community,
This has been a remarkable year with many achievements to celebrate, our fair share of challenges we faced together, and loved members of our community we lost. As we approach the final stretch of the academic year, I extend my deepest gratitude to all of the members of our community who have worked hard all year to advance our many priorities.
Last month, the Board of Trustees held its May meeting in the United Arab Emirates for the first time. In addition to the regular board meetings, we strengthened our relationships with partners and University supporters we’ve cultivated over the past few years. Notably, the board approved our budget for next year and discussed an initial five-year budget projection. They also endorsed our faculty tenure recommendations, reviewed construction progress on the campus expansion, and discussed fundraising strategies for Campus 2026, scholarships, and other key priorities.
Our approved balanced budget for next year includes a provision for salary increases for both staff and faculty. All eligible staff members will receive salary increases that range from 10% to 22% based on performance evaluations. Faculty members and administrators whose salaries are denominated in dollars will receive salary increases averaging 2%. Despite the challenges we faced due to the loss of USAID grant funding, our decision not to increase tuition for our students, and the imperative to balance the budget, we prioritized salary increases as part of our continuing commitment to our employees. For staff members whose salaries are in EGP, next year will be the fourth consecutive year of meaningful salary increases. With this upcoming budget cycle, we will have raised salaries on average by 102% to 94% for the majority of our staff at levels 1 to 9 since July 2022. Salaries for staff levels 10 and above have increased on average between 81% and 72% in the same period. We understand the financial pressures everyone is facing and will continue to do our best to support our staff within the University’s capabilities and limitations. This is a testament to our culture of care and our appreciation of the deep commitment of our staff to striving for excellence in their service to AUC.
Carrying forward a tradition from last year, we will announce the winners of the 2025 President’s Service Excellence Awards at our final Campus Conversation of the academic year on June 12 at Moataz Al Alfi Hall. Please join us in celebrating the winners and for an informal discussion.
Later this month, we will hold commencement ceremonies for the Class of 2025. Commencement is one of our most important accomplishments of the year, reminding us of our mission and inspiring us to continue to strive for excellence as we celebrate another remarkable group of graduates, following in the footsteps of generations of alumni, who will make a positive difference in their community and the world.
For those who are observing, I wish you and your loved ones a blessed Eid Al Adha. To the entire AUC community, I wish you a relaxing summer break and look forward to seeing you again in the fall.
Sincerely,
Ahmad Dallal
President