Coronavirus Messages

Dear AUC Community, 

As we enter the third week of the Fall 2022 semester, we are happy to report that vaccination rates of our faculty, students and staff is at almost 98%. At the same time, the rates of COVID-19 cases continue to remain extremely low. Based on these factors, I announced in Thursday’s Campus Conversation we will be reducing some of our current restrictions and facilitating a smoother access to campus for everyone. 

Masking

Effective immediately, masking will be optional on AUC’s campuses and on AUC transportation. As per the CDC recommendations for communities with low levels of infections, those who are at higher risk of severe illness or who are immunocompromised should consider wearing a mask. Anyone, regardless of their individual risk, can choose to wear a mask at any time. Those experiencing symptoms should stay home and report to the clinic via the self-check tool. 

Self-Check

As of Tuesday, September 27, it will no longer be required to complete the self-check tool in order to access campus. The tool continues to function as a way for any symptomatic community members to report their status to the clinic. The medical team will continue to follow up with all cases, recommending isolation and/or testing in accordance with our reporting protocols. 

Visitors

Visitors to AUC campuses are required to show proof of vaccination. At the New Cairo campus, unvaccinated visitors should present a negative antigen test from the day of the visit. Antigen tests are available at the walk-through station next to Gate 5, or the drive-through station at Gate 2. For the Tahrir campus, unvaccinated visitors are required to wear a mask the entire time they are on campus. 

Athletic Facilities

All members of the AUC community who have access to campus may use the athletic facilities. Please use the booking system on AUC Connect in order to make your reservations for the athletic facilities. 

As always, the health and safety of our community remains our top priority, and we are continuing to monitor the situation closely. Should there be changes within AUC or Egypt that require us to shift back to more restrictive measures, we remain prepared to do so.

Sincerely,

Ehab Abdel-Rahman, Provost

Dear AUC Community,

The seasonal flu vaccine is now available at the AUC New Cairo and Tahrir Clinics as part of our prevention and wellness program.

Any member of the AUC community wishing to take the flu vaccine is welcome to schedule an appointment from 9 am to 3 pm, Sunday to Thursday. The type of flu vaccine available is INFLUVAC, the cost is EGP 190, and it will be accessible on a first-come-first-served basis.

To schedule an appointment, call extension 3916/3912 at the New Cairo clinic or send an email to [email protected]; for Tahrir Campus Clinic, call extension 6474.

For anyone who is planning to receive a COVID-19 vaccine or booster, remember that the CDC has advised that COVID-19 vaccines and flu shots may be given simultaneously.

Please note that the Ministry of Health representatives will be on campus this week only on Wednesday, September 21, and Thursday, September 22 to provide COVID-19 vaccine second doses for the students, faculty, and staff, who received their first doses on August 24, 25, 31 and September 1, 2022, in addition to booster shots.  Shots will be administered by the Ministry of Health at the AUC New Cairo clinic starting from 9:30 am.

For any further inquiries, send an email to [email protected]

Regards,

Shereen Shaker

Vice President for Management and Operations

Dear AUC Community,

A gentle reminder that as of September 11, 2022, campus access will be granted upon your vaccination status approval.

If you are vaccinated please upload the proof on the vaccination status form or upload the medical exemption report on the vaccination status form for our physicians to review and approve. Upon approval, the self-check will reflect a green thumbs up.  

Please also note that the Ministry of Health representatives will be on campus next week only on Wednesday, September 21, and Thursday, September 22  to provide COVID-19 vaccine and booster shots and the second doses of vaccination for the students, faculty, and staff, who received their first doses on August 24, 25, 31 and September 1, 2022. 

If you received the first dose of the vaccine on the mentioned dates please refer to the AUC Clinic for your second dose with your vaccination card from 9:30 am, on a first come first serve basis.  

Shots will be administered by the Ministry of Health at the AUC New Cairo clinic starting from 9:30 am.

Required Documents:

• The Original National ID or Passport and a printed copy.
• AUC ID
• Any medications or prescriptions if you have any chronic illness.

For any further inquiries, send an email to [email protected].

Regards,

Shereen Shaker
Vice President for Management and Operations

Dear AUC Community,

COVID-19 vaccine and booster shots are available on campus on a walk-in basis for all members of the AUC community this week on Wednesday, August 31, and Thursday, September 1. Pre-registration is not required.

Shots will be administered by the Ministry of Health at the AUC New Cairo clinic starting from 9:30 am.

Required Documents

• The Original National ID or Passport and a printed copy.
• AUC ID
• Any medications or prescriptions if you have any chronic illness.

Remember to upload your proof of vaccine and booster doses to the online form.

Shereen Shaker

Vice President for Management and Operations

Dear AUC Community,            

In order to facilitate campus access for new or returning students, faculty, and staff (Egyptians and Foreigners) who are not yet vaccinated, the University is collaborating with the Ministry of Health and Population to provide COVID-19 vaccinations on campus. 

Dates: 

Vaccinations will be available on campus on the following days:

• Wednesday, August 24
• Thursday, August 25
• Wednesday, August 31 
• Thursday, September 1

Time: 

9:30 am each of the four days. Please note that vaccines will be available on a first-come, first-served basis for walk-ins with no advance registration or sign-up required. 

Location 

AUC New Cairo Clinic. The vaccinations are managed by the Ministry of Health.

No Confirmation SMS

Note you will NOT get any further SMS or email to confirm your attendance. Pre-registering through the government’s online registration system and bringing the 20-digit registration number that will be sent from the MOH system before you come to the clinic will save time during the process. If you are not able to pre-register on the MOH system, you will have to do so on the same day of receiving your vaccination at the clinic.

If you are unable to come to campus on those four days, you may still register and receive your vaccine through the MOH hotline 15335.

Medical Condition

According to the MOH anyone experiencing fever, cough, or loss of taste and smell is not eligible to take the vaccine.  

Vaccine Type 

The type of vaccine being provided is regulated according to the Ministry of Health and we have no information on what will be available on each date.

Required Documents

• The original national ID or passport and a printed copy.
• AUC ID.
• Any medications or prescriptions if you have any chronic illness.

Proof of Vaccination

Remember to upload your proof of vaccination to the online form and allow a few days for processing before campus access is granted. 

For any further inquiries, send an email to [email protected].

Regards,

Shereen Shaker
Vice President for Management and Operations

Dear AUC Community, 

We look forward to welcoming everyone to campus for the Fall 2022 semester.  A special welcome to our new students and new faculty who will be joining AUC in the coming -- I look forward to welcoming you all in person at your orientation programs. While the world is in a much better place in responding to the pandemic and we continue to transition to normal, below are some precautions that remain in place for the start of the semester later this month. 

Vaccinations

Among the most important mitigation factors in dealing with COVID-19 is the widespread availability and effectiveness of vaccines. AUC will continue to require vaccination for campus access. Faculty, staff and students who have already uploaded proof of vaccination do not need to do so again.

All new faculty, staff and students (including those below age 18), must upload proof of vaccine through the AUC vaccination status form found here in order to access campus. For those who are medically unable to receive a vaccine, you may upload a medical exemption request. Such a request must include a report from your doctor indicating that the vaccine could have adverse reactions due to a medical condition. 

To facilitate vaccinations for new members of the community, the Ministry of Health and Population will be administering vaccinations at the New Cairo Campus during orientation (August 24, 25, 31, and September 1) from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. We will be sending further details regarding vaccinations on campus.

We also encourage all members of the community who have not already received booster doses to do so as soon as possible and upload proof to the online form.  

Sports facilities will continue to be available only to vaccinated members of the community.

Daily Self-Check Tool 

To encourage members of the community to remain vigilant in monitoring their health, the Online Self-Check will be required daily before coming to campus. 

Masking

Masking remains a requirement in all of AUC’s indoor spaces including classrooms, meeting rooms and all common spaces such as elevators. Masking is also required on all AUC buses. 

Alumni and Visitors 

Alumni and visitors will need to show proof of vaccination or a negative antigen test on the same day of the visit to access campus. Antigen testing is available either at the drive thru at Gate 2 , walk through outside Gate 4 (both units operate seven days a week from 10 am till 10 pm)  or the antigen testing station at Pepsi entrance (Saturday till Thursday from 8:30 am till 9 pm – cash only). Hours are subject to change by Speed Lab.

Remote Work

With the return to fully face-to-face teaching, remote work arrangements are no longer in effect and all staff are expected to return to fully in-person operations. 

AUC’s scientific committee continues to review CDC and other guidelines related to isolation times and testing requirements. We will update the community regularly on our  continuing response to the pandemic and transition to normal operations. 

I thank each of you for your cooperation in following these guidelines. Individually and as a community we will all do our part to keep AUC healthy and safe, and to ensure a successful Fall 2022 for everyone.

Sincerely,

Ehab Abdel-Rahman, Provost

Dear AUC Community,

Ministry of Health and Population representatives will be on campus on Tuesday, June 28 and Wednesday, June 29, 2022, to resolve any vaccination registration issues for AUC members or their dependents who have received their vaccinations on campus (their system can only serve the ones vaccinated on campus).

You need to check if your vaccination doses are registered on the MoHP system through any of the following options:

1. Contact the MoHP hotline at 15335

2. Check online through this link

If any of your doses are not registered on the MoHP system, you need to visit to the AUC New Cairo Clinic on the above-mentioned dates from 9 am to 3 pm, with your vaccination card and the National ID (Or a passport for non-Egyptians), to have your registration finalized.

In addition, on the same assigned dates, MoHP representatives will facilitate the booster doses for the current AUC members who received their two doses on campus and six months have elapsed since their second dose date, noting that these members will receive individual emails with all the details.

For any inquiries, please send an email to [email protected].

--
Dr. Hussam Aldine Hassan
MBBCh, MSc Vascular Surgery, MSc Occupational Medicine, NEBOSH IGC OHS
Chief Health and Safety Officer 

Dear AUC Community,

We would like to welcome you all as we start the summer semester and we would like to remind you all of the campus guidelines link here as we start another full face-to-face instruction.

Please be reminded that masks are still required in all AUC indoor spaces when you are with other people and when riding AUC buses. 

We will continue to provide updates on measures and any changes to guidelines. If you have any questions, please contact the medical services team at the hotline 01280001039 or via email at [email protected].

Shereen Shaker

Vice President for Management and Operations

Dear AUC Community,

We continue to closely monitor the health and safety situation on campus.

Please be reminded that masks are still required in all AUC indoor spaces when you are with other people (including CIB unit, meeting rooms, offices, and elevators) and when riding AUC buses. 

With thanks to all of you for your ongoing cooperation.

Regards,

Shereen Shaker

Vice President for Management and Operations

The University is collaborating with the Egyptian Ministry of Health and Population to facilitate booster doses for current AUC members who have received their two doses on campus, and six months have elapsed since the second dose date.
Kindly note that no alumni nor dependents are allowed in this round.

The number of doses: 200 doses per day, first come first served.

When and Where: The booster vaccination will take place on Monday and Tuesday, May 30 and 31, 2022, from 10 am at the AUC New Cairo campus Clinic (The vaccination process will be monitored and regulated by The Egyptian Ministry of Health; the AUC Clinic is only providing the physical space).

Confirmation SMS

You will not get any further SMS or any email to confirm your attendance.

Vaccine Type 

The Egyptian Ministry of Health determines the type of booster that will be available on any given date.

Required Documents

• Your Hardcopy vaccination card is mandatory
• The Original National ID or Passport
• AUC ID
• Any medications or prescriptions if you have any chronic illness.

For further inquiries, send an email to [email protected].

Dear AUC Community, 

We continue to closely monitor the health and safety situation and make adjustments to our COVID-19 protocols when appropriate. We will notify the community whenever there are changes. 

Please be reminded that masks are required on all AUC buses at all times, as well as in all indoor spaces when you are with other people (including offices, meeting rooms, common spaces, and elevators). 

With thanks to all of you for your ongoing cooperation.

Regards,

Shereen Shaker

Vice President for Management and Operations

Dear AUC Community,

With the decreased numbers in antigen testing around campus, kindly note that the AUC New Cairo campus will now have a total of three testing stations instead of five, all operated by Speed Medical as follows:

• Pepsi Entrance Station, from 8:15 am to 10:00 pm
• Portal Entrance Station, from 8:15 am to 4:00 pm
• Bassily Auditorium Station, from 10:15 am to 8:00 pm

The units mentioned above are not working on Fridays or official holidays but continue to work on Saturdays.

We will continue to provide updates on measures and any changes to guidelines. If you have any questions, contact the medical services team at the hotline 01280001039 or via email at [email protected]

Shereen Shaker
Vice President for Management and Operations

Dear AUC Community,

As discussed during last week's campus conversations first hybrid session, over the coming months, we will continue to gradually ease pandemic-related restrictions on campus in preparation for resuming as close to normal of our operation as possible. You can watch the session through this link.

While we relax measures, we are carefully monitoring the situation on campus, as well as national and international trends and guidelines. We remain fully prepared to reinstate any measures that are relaxed as needed.

Optional Outdoor Masks

Effective Sunday, April 3 wearing a mask outdoors will be optional and security guards will not require masks at the gates before entry to the campus. Masks will continue to be required indoors when you are with other people and in classrooms.

Classroom Testing

As of next week, we will stop the mandatory testing of all classroom contacts. We will only require testing for those with symptoms. The medical services office will continue to manually trace contacts of positive cases of any faculty, staff, or student, based on the duration and proximity of their contacts. Testing of symptomatic contacts will continue. We will continue to provide updates on measures and any changes to guidelines. If you have any questions, please contact the medical services team at the hotline 01280001039 or via email at [email protected].

Wishing you all a Happy Ramadan.

Shereen Shaker

Vice President for Management and Operations

Dear AUC Community,

We are pleased to report a new round of booster shots will be available on campus in collaboration with the Egyptian Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP) for current AUC students, faculty, and staff who received their initial vaccination and haven't yet received their booster doses.

Please fill in this online form by latest Thursday, March 17^th   at noon if you wish to receive your booster dose on campus, and please note the following details:

Who:

·If you have been vaccinated in Egypt, but have not yet received your booster dose, you can receive your booster at the New Cairo campus clinic, provided at least 6 months have elapsed since the date of the second dose and you are registered on the MOH system.

·If you have received your initial vaccination outside Egypt (never registered on the MOH system nor received any doses in Egypt), you can register on the MOH website and your booster will be registered on the MOH system as received the first dose only of a vaccine (not the full course). 

·Kindly note no alumni or dependents are allowed in this round.

Number of doses:

·200 doses per day on a first-come, first-served basis

When and Where:

·The booster vaccination will take place starting Sunday, March 20^th, 2020.

·AUC New Cairo clinic. The vaccination process will be monitored and regulated by the Egyptian Ministry of Health and Population.

Confirmation SMS:

·Please note you will NOT get any further SMS or any email to confirm your attendance. If you fall into the category listed above, please proceed to the clinic and note that doses will be given on a first-come, first-served basis.

 Vaccine Type 

·The Egyptian Ministry of Health determines the type of vaccine that will be available on the given date.

 Required Documents

·Your hardcopy vaccination card is mandatory.

·Your National I.D. or Passport.

·AUC ID.

·Any medications or prescriptions if you have any chronic illness.

For further inquiries, please send an email to [email protected]

Regards,

Dr. Hussam Aldine Hassan

Chief Health and Safety Officer 

Dear AUC Community,

The University is collaborating with the Egyptian Red Crescent to facilitate booster doses for current AUC students, faculty, and staff who received their initial vaccination outside Egypt.

Kindly note the following details:

• This round is only for Egyptians or foreign nationals who received their initial vaccination outside Egypt (never registered on the MoHP system nor received any doses in Egypt).
• You can receive your dose at the AUC clinic on the New Cairo campus (The vaccination process will be monitored and regulated by the Egyptian Red Crescent, the AUC New Cairo Clinic is providing the physical space).
• The Type of Vaccination available will be Johnson and Johnson as a single dose vaccination for those who need to be registered on the Egyptian Ministry of Health system you will be registered as received the first dose only of a vaccine (not the full course).  
• No alumni nor dependents are allowed in this round.
• If you wish to receive the booster dose please fill in this google form no later than Thursday, March 10, 2022, at noontime to be able to provide you with further details.

If you wish to receive other vaccine types, it has to be through the Egyptian Ministry of Health outside campus, you can register on the MoHP website and you will be directed by the MoHP to a health center to receive the first dose of the available vaccine in the center and you will be registered on the MOH system as received the first dose only of a vaccine (not the full course).   

For further inquiries, please send an email to [email protected]

Regards,

Dr. Hussam Aldine Hassan
MBBCh, MSc Vascular Surgery, MSc Occupational Medicine, NEBOSH IGC OHS
Chief Health and Safety Officer

In light of changes to testing guidelines from the CDC and our benchmarking with other universities, we have updated our own testing protocols. The changes adopted in many countries around the world reflect the shift brought on by the Omicron variant and the availability of booster shots and vaccines. We have updated our processes in alignment with such practices, and with the dual objectives of protecting the health of the community while minimizing disruptions to teaching and learning. 

We have developed this flowchart to explain requirements based on your symptoms, vaccination, and booster status. Isolation periods for people who are vaccinated and boostered will differ based on symptoms, and we expect that disruptions to classes will decrease. Our requirements for testing have also changed based on symptoms, vaccination, and booster status, as well as a recent infection. In some cases for asymptotic contacts who are both vaccinated and boosted, the University no longer requires testing.  Please make sure to record your vaccination status (including 2^nd dose and/or booster) on the vaccine upload tool to ensure you are addressed correctly in our automated system and by the medical services team.

As a reminder, boosters are being administered on campus by the Red Crescent for various groups. Please look out for emails about booster shots and be sure to go to any appointment you receive through the Ministry of Health. 

We have three days remaining in this booster round with the Red Crescent on campus so we would like to encourage you to go ahead and take this opportunity to get your booster shot if you have been vaccinated in Egypt and 6 months have elapsed since your second dose date. The vaccinations will be administered at the AUC clinic at the New Cairo Campus. For the next 3 days, Pfizer will be provided which is not guaranteed in the coming rounds.

Dates: Thursday, Sunday, and Monday, March 3, 6 and 7, 2022 (No appointments needed).

Times: From 10:00 am to 2:00 pm, 100 doses per day on a first comes first-served basis.

Required documents: Hardcopy vaccination proof, National I.D. or Passport, and AUC I.D.

Kindly note that no alumni nor dependents are allowed in this round.

Please refer to the updated Spring 2022 Campus Guidelines link for current information.

For any further inquiries, send an email to [email protected]

Regards,

Shereen Shaker

Vice President for Management and Operations

Dear AUC Community,

The University is collaborating with the Egyptian Red Crescent to facilitate booster doses for current AUC students, faculty and staff who received their two doses through the Egyptian Ministry of Health in Egypt, whether on or off-campus. 

 Who

• Egyptians or foreign nationals who registered for their initial doses with their passports (and not with an Egyptian ID number).
• If you have been vaccinated in Egypt, but have not yet received your booster dose, you can receive your booster at the clinic on the New Cairo campus, provided at least 6 months have elapses since the date of the second dose and you are registered on the MOH system.

- Kindly note no alumni or dependents allowed in this round.

Number of doses

• 150 doses per day on a first-come, first-served basis

When and Where

• The booster vaccination will take place on Thursday, February 24, 2022, from 10 am to 4 pm or until doses run out.
• AUC New Cairo clinic. The vaccination process will be monitored and regulated by the Egyptian Red Crescent.

Confirmation SMS

• Please note you will NOT get any further SMS or any email to confirm your attendance. If you fall into the category listed above, please proceed to the clinic and note that doses will be given on a first-come, first-served basis.

Vaccine Type 

• The Egyptian Red Crescent determines the type of booster that will be available on the given date.

Required Documents

• Your hardcopy vaccination card is mandatory.
• Your passport
• AUC ID
• Any medications or prescriptions if you have any chronic illness.

We recognize that this is short notice and will be announcing future opportunities for booster shots on campus, as soon as we coordinate them with the Egyptian Red Crescent. 

For further inquiries, please send an email to [email protected]

Dr. Hussam Aldine Hassan

MBBCh, MSc Vascular Surgery, MSc Occupational Medicine, NEBOSH IGC OHS

Chief Health and Safety Officer 

Mob: +20 0120 4444 648 

Ext:  4172

Mail: [email protected]

Dear AUC Community, 

We are pleased to announce that, in collaboration with the Egyptian Red Crescent, we will facilitate booster shots on campus for all members of the AUC community who received their first two doses through the Ministry of Health starting this week. 

Eligible community members who were vaccinated on campus will receive individual emails informing them of the date allocated for their booster shot, based on the date they received their second dose of the vaccine.

Members of the AUC community who were vaccinated at any Ministry of Health vaccination site off-campus should contact the clinic via email at [email protected] to schedule booster doses if six months have elapsed since their second vaccine dose and they have not been able to get their booster shots.

As we continue to work together to keep our campus community safe and our operation fully face-to-face, booster shots are an essential tool in our response. According to the CDC, booster shots have been shown to provide improved protection against COVID-19 infection. In particular, booster shots are effective in reducing severe illness and death.

For any further inquiries, send an email to [email protected].

Regards,

Shereen Shaker

Vice President for Management and Operations

Dear AUC Community, 

We look forward to returning back fully face-to-face on Sunday and remind you to remain diligent in following all safety measures:

• Get your booster shot as soon as possible 
• Wear a face mask at all times — indoors and outdoors — except if you are alone
• Maintain physical distance
• Avoid confined spaces and clusters of people 
• Wash your hands and frequently use sanitizers as needed

We particularly would like to stress on the importance of the requirement to keep masks on during the entire duration on AUC buses. Please click here to view the updated Spring 2022 bus schedule (February 13 to April 1, 2022).

For traffic safety please note that Gate 1 will be an entry-only gate and Gate 2 will be an exit-only gate as of Sunday 13 due to the proximity of a newly introduced U-turn due to the Monorail works that may lead to collisions.  Gate 6 will be open for access to Gate 2 parking lots.  Other gates (4 & 5) are operating normally. 

As we continue to work together to keep our campus community safe and our operation fully face-to-face, booster shots are an essential tool in our response. According to the CDC, booster shots have been shown to provide improved protection against COVID-19 infection. In particular, booster shots are effective in reducing severe illness and death. If you receive an SMS from the Ministry of Health, please do go to the vaccination center you are referred to and take your booster shot. Please note that the Ministry of Health will provide boosters on campus only for those who received their vaccines on campus. 

Once you receive your booster shot, please update your vaccine record on our AUC system using the following link here. As we update our isolation times, those who are fully vaccinated and boosted will have different times than those who are not boosted.

Finally, we would like to share the Spring 2022 Campus COVID-19 Guide (Spring 2022 Guidelines) where you will find useful information on campus services and COVID-related guidelines. Like previous semesters, the daily online self-check here is still required before accessing campus daily, as are the weekly antigen tests for the medically exempt. In addition, full vaccination remains a requirement for bus access. 

We wish you all a safe and happy return to campus and look forward to seeing you next week.

Shereen Shaker

Vice President for Management and Operations

Dear AUC Community,

Further to President Dallal’s email of January 27, I am writing to confirm that we will resume our face-to-face classes on campus beginning Sunday, February 13. Our current period of online instruction has allowed us to proceed with our classes with minimal disruption.  It is now time to prepare for our return to campus.  

As we mentioned in Thursday’s Campus Conversation, our approach now, like nearly all universities inside Egypt and around the world, is to find the safest ways to continue to operate fully with COVID in our midst for the foreseeable future.

There is an increasing number of countries and universities around the world that are transitioning away from lockdowns and continuous isolation in this new phase of the pandemic. While we will move in the same direction at AUC, we will continue to apply all safety measures and follow a rigorous program of tracing and testing. We will soon be updating our testing and isolation policies in light of the shifting nature of the virus, to maximize both efficiency and safety based on the contagious, but less severe Omicron variants. 

Our return to campus requires that we all remain steadfast in applying the key strategies to protect ourselves and each other. Physical distancing should be maintained at all times. Masking remains mandatory for everyone on the AUC campus at all time, unless you are alone. Vaccines, including booster doses, continue to be the best way to limit the severity of infections. Our Medical Services team will shortly be announcing booster shots on campus for those who received their initial doses at AUC.  I remind the most vulnerable members of our community that we have implemented a process to request medical accommodations, which will be considered on a case-by-case basis. 

I am fully confident that as individuals and members of the AUC community, we will each do what it takes to ensure a safe return to campus. I look forward to welcoming everyone back on the 13^th, and to seeing our campus thrive with the energy of our students, staff and faculty.

Sincerely,

Ehab Abdel-Rahman, Provost

Dear AUC Community,

Like the rest of Egypt and the world, our campus community is experiencing a sharp increase in the number of COVID infections. To ensure an orderly start to the semester given the disruption we will face with the number of people who are currently isolated or sick, we will begin the semester as scheduled, but we are introducing a two-week transition period to online instruction as more members of our community pass through this stage of the pandemic.

During the two weeks from Sunday, January 30 to Saturday, February 12, the following will be in effect:

• Classes will be held online. A limited number of labs and courses which require face-to-face interaction will be held on campus. The Registrar will notify students before the first day of class if they are required to attend face-to-face for the next two weeks.
• Managers should continue to show flexibility, while ensuring all operations continue uninterrupted.
• Events should continue to be held virtually for the next two weeks.
• For up-to-date library hours, please check here.

Our campus remains fully open and operational during this two-week transition. All faculty, students and staff will continue to benefit from full access to campus, provided they are not sick or isolated. All faculty are expected to be in Cairo before the start of the semester on January 30, and are free to hold their online classes from their offices or rooms, if this facilitates better WiFi access.

A Changing Reality

I understand this temporary shift to online instruction will be a disappointment to many of our students and faculty who are eager to return to campus — an integral part of the educational experience. This decision is not taken lightly and we will ensure we fully utilize this time to prepare for our return to face-to-face instruction on Sunday, February 13. As we enter a new phase of the pandemic with the Omicron variant, many of our previous benchmarks, dashboards and guidelines for testing and isolation are no longer valid. For the majority of vaccinated individuals, exposure to Omicron yields flu-like symptoms and does not pose the level of medical risk that was common in prior variants. While the rate of infection continues to be high, medical guidance and evidence of previous waves suggest that this current wave will reach its peak and start to decline over the coming days. Our aim, therefore, is to minimize the disruption to our learning and teaching environment, as we reach greater levels of immunity in our community.

We are working closely with our Scientific Committee and medical experts to develop more meaningful and relevant metrics as we navigate this new phase of the virus. And we are currently developing updated guidelines for testing and isolation times, in alignment with the new recommendations issued by the CDC and practices at other universities. For those who were previously vaccinated at AUC, we expect booster doses to be available on campus as of next week through the Egyptian Ministry of Health and Population. Our medical team will be sending out individual emails with further details to all those who are eligible to receive their booster.

I thank all members of the AUC community for your continued flexibility and patience as we navigate this rapidly changing landscape. None of us can predict the future, but we remain vigilant and steadfast in our commitment to ensure we deliver on our educational mission and keep our community safe.

Sincerely,

Ahmad Dallal

President

Dear AUC Community,

I would like to start by expressing my deepest gratitude to the many members of the AUC community — faculty, students, staff — who have been working hard to see us complete Fall 2021 as our first fully face-to-face semester since the pandemic began. This is no small feat as we enter Spring 2022, equally determined to deliver the semester safely and prudently face-to-face.

Our plans for Spring 2022 remain unchanged. Our top priority is to keep the community safe while providing our students with a full face-to-face educational experience. As we continue to monitor the trajectory of the pandemic, we will share our current thinking in responding to the pandemic, and further updates or changes to our plans.

Our preparations for the start of the Spring 2022 semester are shaped by input from our COVID Response Task Force and the AUC Scientific Committee. In recent weeks, we have seen the emergence and rapid spread of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 in the whole world. With this rapid increase of infection cases, we are closely monitoring the situation on campus, in Egypt and globally, and are informed by guidance from national public health authorities, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and from the practices and responses by local and international universities and authorities to the current wave of the pandemic.

While Omicron is spreading much faster than all earlier variants of the virus; fortunately, it appears to be causing milder disease and less severe illness, especially for the vaccinated. In light of the significant shift in the nature of the spread and severity of illness, we need to continue to revisit the key variables, metrics and safety measures developed for earlier phases of the pandemic to guide our decision making going forward. We — like all institutions around the world — have to once again respond to the evolving dynamics of the pandemic.

Below are several updates.

Week of January 23 to 27

During this week prior to the start of Spring 2022, we are taking additional precautions. With the exception of student orientation, all events that are planned for this week will shift to be virtual or postponed to later dates.

We are also giving managers greater flexibility in determining needed staff presence on campus while ensuring that the University remains fully operational and that all services continue uninterrupted.

Contact Tracing Enhancements

During the Winter term, we introduced pilots for two new process enhancements that we will fully implement in Spring 2022.

The first is an enhanced automated process for managing the contacts and testing when positive cases are identified in the classroom. Students and faculty will now be notified immediately after the case is reported and informed of exactly when they need to test. Most importantly, the system will automatically block campus access until testing takes place.  

The second process enhancement is the introduction of optional seating charts, which permit more selective testing of individuals in close proximity to a positive case, as opposed to the entire class.

Postponing Fall 2021 Commencement

Due to the uncertainty around the trajectory of the current variant, and the large numbers of people who participate in commencement, we have decided to postpone the Fall 2021 commencements that were planned for February 2022. After careful consideration of all possible options, we felt it imperative to prioritize the health and safety of our graduates and their families, as well as AUC faculty and staff.

I know this is disappointing news for all of us, especially graduating students and their families. We continue to collectively work through the challenges of the pandemic and will plan ahead for the well-deserved celebration of graduation. By the end of February, we will reassess the COVID-19 situation and communicate new dates for the Fall 2021 commencements.

Accommodations for High-Risk Individuals

Recognizing that there are members of our community who are at a higher risk due to underlying medical conditions, we have established guidelines for those who seek accommodations due to being high-risk. You can find the full guidelines and the form to request such accommodations here.

Masking and Distancing

As we continue to adapt to the changing pandemic, we must remain vigilant in applying precautions, especially to protect those who are most vulnerable. I remind all members of our community that wearing a mask and maintaining physical distance are two essential precautions with proven results. Masks are required to be worn at all times at AUC, indoors and outdoors, unless you are alone.  If you are experiencing any symptoms or have been in direct contact with someone who is positive, please contact the medical services team immediately. Hotline: +2.012.8000.1039. New Cairo Clinic: +2.02.2615.4000. Tahrir Clinic: +2.02.2797.5000.

In addition to testing, masking, physical distancing and reduced density, the most significant pillar of our response to the pandemic is vaccination. Full vaccination is a requirement for members of our community and we are working to facilitate the booster shot.

I recognize the stress and uncertainty we continue to confront in the face of a rapidly evolving pandemic.  I appreciate the engagement of each member of our community as we continue to work together to deliver our academic mission, while protecting the health and safety of the entire community.

Sincerely,

Ahmad Dallal
President