Response to Funding Suspension
February 2, 2025
Dear AUC Community,
We have a long-standing commitment to ensuring that no continuing student is forced to leave the University due to an inability to pay. Last week, 200 of our current students had their scholarship funding suspended, pending review. Within 48 hours, we informed our students — some only in their first semester at AUC, others in their last, and everything in between — that we would cover their tuition, housing and educational expenses for Spring 2025. We will offset the cost for the spring semester through budget savings and fundraising because of our deep commitment to the education and well-being of our students.
In addition to the 200 current students already at AUC, another roughly 125 students had dreams of joining the University. Some were accepted to start this semester. Others were part of an English-language bridge program that supports outstanding students with a year of intensive English training to allow them to pass the English required for their academic program at AUC. We understand the painful situation these students now face and wish we could accommodate them. We simply do not have the financial resources. Although we could not find the funds for this spring, we deferred their acceptance to the University and will make every effort to fundraise to support them in joining AUC in the future.
There are also 113 grant-sponsored staff members who administer the suspended scholarship programs at AUC and other universities. Their positions have also been suspended. To help them during this transition, the University will cover their basic salary for three months as they seek alternative roles at AUC or elsewhere.
Throughout the past week, the number of individuals — previous scholarship recipients, alumni, faculty, staff and friends of AUC — who have expressed an interest in contributing funds to support new and continuing students has been inspirational. We’ve created this online web page for anyone who wishes to make a gift of any size.
We will continue to provide any updates once information becomes available.
Sincerely,
Ahmad Dallal
President
The American University in Cairo