Campus Conversation: Start of Spring Semester

Last Thursday's Campus Conversation discussed updates for the Spring 2021 semester, providing updates on academics and campus life and answering some of the community's pivotal concerns and questions. Here are some key takeaways from the conversation:

-The Provost Council met last Thursday to assess the situation for March classes, and the decision will be announced by February 15.

-Student organizations have to submit a request to run any on-ground events, and the decision to run them or not will depend on the prevailing conditions.  AUC encourages hybrid and virtual events.

-COVID-19 rates are flattening at AUC – KPIs and triggers are being monitored and the decision of scaling on-campus presence up and down is based on these KPIs.

-AUC is currently working with Prime Speed testing units to continue providing PCR tests but also antigen testing and making it available for on-campus student residents.

-Given the pandemic, the tuition matter remains as is – AUC will not be able to decrease tuition since its operating costs aren't going down, and tuition is driven by operating costs. However, there aren't any final decisions regarding next year's tuition yet. 

-On grading policies, the University Senate is currently comparing AUC's policies in relation to other US-based universities and will give their recommendations by the end of the academic year. 

-The library is being revamped to ensure that it continues to meet the needs of the AUC community in the future. 

-School-based commencement dates: June 2 and 3: Spring 2020 Commencement; June 9 and 10: Fall 2020 Commencement; June 17, Spring 2021 Commencement.

-The Office of the Registrar will announce Ramadan schedules soon.

-The study days issue is currently being discussed with the Office of the Registrar, and will be addressed in the next Campus Conversation .