AUC Statements 2020
December 31, 2020
From: AUC President
Subject: Congratulations and appreciation for 2020, optimism and best wishes for 2021
To all members of our AUC community who helped sustain our fine institution through this challenging year of truly special accomplishment, I extend my congratulations and deepest appreciation.
December 4, 2020
From: AUC Provost
Subject: Statement to AUC Community
Over the past weeks, the academic leadership and faculty held numerous meetings with students and Student Union representatives to discuss the concerns which fall within the purview of the Provost’s Council and consider various options to address them.
December 2, 2020
From: AUC Provost
Subject: Addressing Student Concerns
On December 1, 2020, the Student Union organized a demonstration to express their concerns, within the guidelines of AUC’s Freedom of Expression policy. We are proud of their commitment to express their thoughts in ways that are mindful of the policy and the COVID-19 pandemic guidelines.
November 22, 2020
From: AUC Provost
Subject: Winter and Spring 2021 Modes of Instruction
With the approach of the end of the Fall 2020 semester, know about the updates regarding Spring 2021 modes of instruction. While we still have to plan for a hybrid model of online and face-to-face classes, the many lessons we have learned over the past 8 months have enabled us to plan for a higher-density than we currently have for Fall, with significantly more classes being partially face-to-face in Spring 2021.
November 12, 2020
From: AUC Provost
Subject: Spring 2021 Advising Update
As we prepare for Spring 2021, we are working with schools and departments on their modes of teaching for the next semester. In order to ensure that students have full information on the mode of instruction for each course before advising begins, we will postpone the start of academic advising for Spring 2021 to November 22, by which time all courses and their specific teaching modalities will be posted online.
Please join me at our next Campus Conversation about the Spring 2021 semester, including mode of instruction, remote work policies and our continued management of the COVID-19 pandemic on Sunday, November 22 at 1 pm.
October 21, 2020
From: AUC President
Subject: Memorandum of Understanding with the Government of Egypt
The Memorandum of Understadning with the Government of Egypt, which amended AUC's 1975 Protocol with the Government of Egypt, provides for AUC to offer 30 scholarships each year to graduates of Egyptian public schools and confirms the exemption of AUC employees' salaries and wages from local taxes to the extent that they are covered by non-local sources of funding. Because non-local sources of funding -- such as foreign students' tuition, the annual contribution from the endowment, and grants and gifts -- at this time do not fully cover AUC's payroll costs, this exemption is only partial.
October 14, 2020
From: AUC President
Subject: Appointment of Ayman Abdellatif as the Senior Vice President
I am pleased to announce an organizational streamlining to advance AUC’s standing as an institution that is student-centered, faculty-lead and staff-enabled. AUC is unique in Egyptian higher education, but we cannot be complacent in the face of increasing competition globally and in Egypt.
October 12, 2020
From: Kristin Lord and Tarek Masoud, co-chairs, presidential search committee
Subject: Update on AUC's Presidential Search
We write now to provide you an update on the search for AUC’s next president, who will succeed Francis J. Ricciardone upon his retirement in June 2021. As co-chairs of the Presidential search committee, we are committed to conducting a search process that is rigorous, global, and inclusive. As we wrote in our initial message on August 5, finding an educator of the intellectual and moral calibre necessary to lead our University through its next 100 years will require the participation of all members of our community.
October 6, 2020
From: AUC President
Subject: Outcome of Misconduct Investigation
On September 5, the Office of Institutional Equity opened an investigation in response to reports that a group of current and former AUC students shared explicit photos of women on a WhatsApp group. The investigation found evidence of three WhatsApp chat groups active at various times — all of them since disbanded — engaged in sharing explicit photos and videos of women without their consent. None of the victims have come forward or filed a report. Nonetheless, the actions of the members of these groups, even as private individuals acting outside of any affiliation with AUC-approved student groups or activities, are in violation of AUC’s Anti-Harassment and Non-Discrimination Policy and Code of Student Conduct.
October 3, 2020
From: AUC Provost
Subject: Faculty Committee on AUC's Long-Term Fiscal Sustainability
As some of you are aware, many of us within the AUC community have been engaging in discussions about the university's long-term fiscal sustainability, and how this is impacted by our financial decisions and policies. In order to further drive these meaningful conversations, and to provide guidance to the AUC Trustees, I am announcing the establishment of a faculty committee of experts to guide such conversations.
September 27, 2020
From: AVP for Finance & CFO
Subject: AUC Compliance with Law No. 170
In reference to the below email, kindly be informed that after AUC’s August payroll was processed, the Ministry of Finance issued guidelines regarding the enforcement of the 1% salary deduction for solidarity contribution.
September 26, 2020
Subject: Update on Misconduct Investigation
The University is aware of the recent social media posts shared over the weekend. AUC takes these allegations seriously. AUC is currently investigating implicated individuals.
September 8, 2020
From: Vice President for Management and Operations
Subject: COVID-19 Contact Tracing System
For the past several months, the Office of Medical Services has been conducting contact tracing of all highly suspect or confirmed cases of COVID-19 to help determine who else on campus may have been exposed. Once those exposed have been identified, the medical services staff notifies them of their possible exposure, without identifying the individual. To enhance the current tracing system, the University will be adding WiFi data to help the clinic identify contacts of cases with the assistance of technology, in addition to the current interview process.
September 7, 2020
From: Office of the General Counsel and Compliance
Subject: Misconduct Investigation
The University is aware of several social media posts that contain allegations of serious misconduct among a WhatsApp group of alumni and possibly current students. AUC takes these allegations seriously and has launched an investigation. The University will take appropriate action against any individuals found to have engaged in misconduct.
September 1, 2020
From: AUC President
Subject: AUC President's Beginning-of-Term Message to the Community
I warmly welcome both new and returning AUCians to this bright new academic year, promising an unusual wealth of challenges and opportunities. I am utterly confident that the brilliant success of our students, faculty and staff in overcoming the unprecedented challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic through the past Spring and Summer terms will propel us to further achievement, fully commensurate to the risks and dangers we certainly will face together.
August 24, 2020
From: Senior AVP for HR
Subject: AUC Compliance with Law No. 170
Last week, the Egyptian Cabinet approved a new law to address the economic repercussions of the COVID-19 virus. This law no. 170 states that all organizations are required to contribute to the country’s economy by deducting and remitting 1% of the salaries of all employees, effective August 1, 2020, for a 12-month period. Net salaries of less than EGP 2,000 are exempt from this requirement.
August 5, 2020
From: Board of Trustees
Subject: AUC Board Launches International Search for AUC’s 13th President
The American University in Cairo’s Board of Trustees has launched a search for a successor to AUC President Francis Ricciardone, who will retire at the end of the 2020-2021 academic year. The Board formed a committee of ten trustees and five senior faculty members to conduct the search and to provide input to the Board. In accordance with the University bylaws, the full Board elects the president.
July 14, 2020
From: AUC Counselor, Ashraf Hatem
"The comments I made regarding allegations of sexual harassment require some clarification. Because of the university’s strict confidentiality policies, I am never aware of any complaints of this sort being filed by anyone. My comments were not intended to deny the accusations brought forth by the brave individuals who have spoken out. I regret any pain it may have caused them and I want to reaffirm AUC’s zero-tolerance policy against sexual harassment."
July 9, 2020
From: AUC Provost
Subject: Fall 2020 Plans
AUC is implementing a hybrid model of classes for Fall 2020, with an emphasis on maintaining a low-density campus. What exactly does this mean? We will have a mix of online and on-campus classes. Certain classes will have some face-to-face sessions on campus. Other classes will be fully online.
July 7, 2020
From: AUC President
Subject: A Message from the President
Recent media coverage of a vast number of serious allegations against an individual who was a student at AUC from 2016 to 2018 have brought to the forefront the important issue of sexual harassment.
July 2, 2020
Subject: A Statement from The American University in Cairo
In light of the stories circulating, we'd like to clarify that Ahmed Bassam Zaki is not a current student at The American University in Cairo.
June 21, 2020
From: Board of Trustees
Subject: Board Statement on the Retirement of President Francis J. Ricciardone
President Francis Ricciardone has given Chairman Richard Bartlett notice of his decision to retire from the presidency in June 2021. The Board expresses its profound gratitude for his commitment to lead the University through the extraordinarily challenging year ahead.
June 18, 2020
From: AUC President
Subject: Year-end Message from President Ricciardone
I write also to share with you that I have informed the Board of Trustees of my decision to retire at the end of the coming academic year, while reassuring them of my resolve to stay on to lead AUC through the year ahead. As AUCians, we instinctively discern opportunities in every challenge, and we can be certain of a new year rich in both.
June 7, 2020
From: Office of the VP for Student Life
Subject: Condolences for AUC Graduating Senior Mostafa M. Nabil Abouelfadl
It is with great sadness that we announce the death of AUC student Mostafa Mohamed Nabil Abouelfadl Ahmed.
May 21, 2020
From: AUC President
Subject: AUC's President End-of-Term Message to the Community
May 11, 2020
From: AUC Board of Trustees
Subject: Board of Trustees Statement of Appreciation
The Board of Trustees of the American University in Cairo wishes to recognize the selflessness, ingenuity, and dedication displayed by all members of the University community in coping with the disruptions of the coronavirus pandemic and completing successfully the Spring 2020 semester.
May 4, 2020
From: AUC President
Subject: President’s Operational Excellence Initiative
Over the past six weeks, our community has demonstrated AUC’s characteristic resilience, determination, agility and spirit of collaboration in the face of the global pandemic. We can take pride in having achieved the twin goals we defined at the outset of protecting the health and safety of our community and saving the spring term for our students
April 20, 2020
From: AUC Provost
Subject: Summer 2020 classes
In order to allow faculty who are teaching summer courses time to fully prepare and to give students the opportunity to make informed decisions about their course selection, we have decided to announce now that the Summer 2020 term will be delivered through online instruction.
April 5, 2020
From: AUC President
Subject: COVID-19 Update: Message from the President
We are fortunate that no AUCian has yet tested positive for COVID-19. Nevertheless, we must continue to do our full part to mitigate its relentless spread.
April 3, 2020
From: AUC Provost
Subject: Continuation of Remote Instruction for the Rest of Spring 2020
After consultation with faculty, chairs and deans, as well as the analysis of survey results, we have come to the decision to complete the spring semester through “online” learning.
March 25, 2020
From: AUC President
Subject: Extension of Online Teaching and Remote Work
Consistent with the guidelines of the Government of Egypt and international health organizations, we will extend our online learning and remote work to Thursday, April 16.
March 19, 2020
From: AUC President
Subject: Measures in Response to the Acceleration of COVID-19
We have just wrapped up a productive week of emergency preparations and planning. Thanks to fine work by the Provost and faculty, we are very well prepared to launch full-scope online learning next week.
March 13, 2020
From: AUC Provost
Subject: Shifting to Online Modes of Instruction
President Ricciardone separately has announced several new measures we are taking to ensure that AUC does its part to protect the health of our own community as well as the wider Egyptian public of which we are apart. This message is to explain in greater detail what we will be doing in our academic operations over the next several weeks.
March 13, 2020
From: AUC President
Subject: Taking Care of our People in a Time of Covid-19
The Covid-19 Response Task Force has continued over the rainstorm emergency weekend to assess developments both globally and among our students, faculty, and staff regarding the pandemic. The good news upfront: so far, we have no confirmed cases among our community; the handful of those with flu-like symptoms over the past week quickly left campus, were examined or tested, and have proven uninfected with the novel coronavirus.
March 8, 2020
From: AUC President
Subject: AUC's Response to the Coronavirus
Since last month, our Emergency Management Team has been monitoring the unfolding global emergency due to the spread of the Covid-19 coronavirus and planning for its potential impacts on our community and AUC’s operations. We have taken and are taking further precautions to mitigate the risks to the health of our students, faculty, staff, and visitors.
January 29, 2020
From: AUC President
Subject: Message from the President: AUC Next 100
February 11, 2019
From: AUC Board of Trustees
Subject: Statement from AUC's Board of Trustees
On this 100th anniversary of the American University in Cairo, the Board of Trustees expresses its deep pride in the University as a beacon of knowledge in Egypt and a center of intellectual, social and cultural life in the Arab world.