Strategic Plan Central Focus to Board of Trustees Visit

During its Cairo meeting last week, the Board of Trustees primarily discussed the draft of AUC¹s five-year strategic plan and reflected on where they see AUC in the next 100 years. The plan lays the foundations for the University¹s advancement as it approaches its centennial in 2019.

“The plan focuses mainly on the student, not just in terms of enhancing the University experience, but also as an institutional commitment to learning in everything that we do,” said Mohamed Nagib Abou Zeid, chair of the Strategic Planning Steering Committee that drafted the plan.

The board was also presented with the results of last year’s (fiscal year 2013) budget and the different measures taken to reduce the University's deficit, including a three-year staffing plan to improve efficiency, the freezing of salaries for this fiscal year, a reduction in spending on supplies and services, introduction of bus fees for faculty and management, and denomination of tuition half in U.S. dollars and half in Egyptian pounds. “We have made progress on the plan we set last year to address the budget deficit," said President Lisa Anderson in a message to the AUC community at the beginning of the academic year. “The plan is designed to ensure that no single constituency bears the brunt of the budget reductions and, at the same time, preserves our core commitment to academic excellence.”

In addition, the trustees attended meetings with students, faculty and staff to learn firsthand about life on campus and new initiatives at the University. Discussions included the impact of the budget deficit and austerity measures, as well as feedback on the strategic plan. The board also met with deans, representatives of the faculty senate and Egyptian government officials, along with routine presentations on a range of topics, from academic affairs and student affairs to institutional advancement, finance and resource planning. They also participated in a faculty panel discussion on Egypt's political economy, dined with professors in their homes, toured the graphic design exhibition in the Sharjah Art Gallery and attended a musical performance at the Malak Gabr Arts Theater.

The trustees meeting is one of three that take place each year: two in New York and one in Cairo. “The Cairo visit is an excellent opportunity for the board to visit the campus, engage in interactive discussions with various University constituencies and learn about new initiatives,” said President Anderson. “The main focus of this meeting was the University’s strategic plan, which will help us build on our strengths and focus on our priorities as AUC prepares to celebrate 100 years of education and service.”

Distinguished for their professional accomplishments in the areas of business, law, education, diplomacy, philanthropy and scholarship, AUC’s trustees are all volunteers who dedicate their time and resources to supporting the University. Coming from the United States, Egypt and elsewhere in the region, board members include Nobel laureates, ambassadors, corporate CEOs, philanthropists and university professors. The trustees do not receive a salary or compensation; they provide financial support and volunteer their time and expertise to the University.

To view a list of the members of the Board of Trustees, clickhere.