MEMORANDUM
TO: Francis J. Ricciardone, President
Gordon A. Handke, Vice-President for Finance and Human Resources
Hanan Abdel-Meguid, Vice-President for Management and Transformation
Dr. Ehab Abdel-Rahman, Provost
RE: Office of Faculty/Engagement Services
We, the undersigned AUC faculty, are writing to express our strong support for the Office of Faculty Services (OFS) (recently renamed the Office of Community Engagement (OCE)), and for retaining Ms. Dina Touta as its Director. We request that funding for this Office continue to be allocated for the purposes of paying a fair and equitable salary to Ms. Touta as well as for covering the Office’s everyday operations, day tours, overnight trips and other social activities, which have traditionally been the purview of the Office.
Furthermore, we want to emphasize the essential role of this office in faculty retention, particularly in improving the lives of AUC faculty, and the high esteem in which we hold Dina Touta. Four of the five new AUC pillars—Internationalization, Quality of Education, AUC Experience, and Institutional Effectiveness—simply cannot be upheld without a centralized office where foreign faculty, who are a significant percentage, can receive support and assistance during their transition to Egypt and throughout their careers at AUC as expatriates. The OFS furthermore facilitates support for local faculty who, like all of us, often require assistance navigating the institutional terrain.
For many of us, the OFS is a lifeline. As such, the retention of a highly qualified and committed director is essential. We, therefore, also write to express our accolades for Ms. Touta’s performance over the past four and one-half years. Her expertise in travel and tourism is unmatched by any other staff member or office at AUC. The activities which she has arranged to date have been universally invaluable to our well-being. Her fairness and professionalism towards each and every faculty and staff member with whom she interacts are commendable. Her personal experience as an expatriate, her knowledge and experience of Egypt and the Arab region, her exceptional intelligence and excellent educational background, her strong managerial and linguistic skills, and above all her remarkable conscientiousness and dedication to her work comprise an ideal set of qualifications for the position of OFS Director—indeed Ms. Touta is perfect for the job.
In view of the above, we, the undersigned AUC faculty, believe that the AUC administration would be severely remiss were the OFS-sponsored activities, along with the centralized office, were terminated, and if Ms. Touta’s position were to be eliminated. These are possibilities which we have come to understand, to our dismay, the AUC administration is considering. We therefore urge you to reconsider any such plan of action. We are available at your convenience to discuss our position with you to reach an amenable and mutually beneficial resolution to this serious and heartfelt matter.
Updates
November 7, 2018
I really thought this might just fizzle out but seeing the response has completely changed my perspective on how much we can actually do here. It is just so wild to see everyone coming together like this because honestly I was terrified that no one would notice if the office disappeared entirely.
48 Comments
I second the comments here, Dina does a fine job, which is of great importance to the faculty. If the university wants to cut costs there is in other places plenty of administrative deadwood that can be cut out.
Dears, I urge you to reconsider your decision. When I arrived in Egypt, Dina was there to support me all way through. I never felt homesick because she was there! Again, please consider your decision because AUC needs someone who truly makes faculty and staff they're home!
I support the continuation of the faculty services office, which is a stakeholder equivalent to the office of student services. Both are needed.
It is essential for AUC to retain an office that enables faculty to send out overseas correspondence at least twice a month. Dina Touta has always provided this service professionally. If Dina cannot be reinstated, the faculty services office needs to be retained at its present location so that it can continue to perform vital faculty functions.
If it is not broke, why fix it (or abolish it)! This office and its services have proved to be valuable for over 50 years, peer universities in the States have similar services and faculty lounges. Why try to reinvent the wheel?
The office is essential for faculty well being and retention. In fact the university should be giving it more or less support. Canceling the office now would be a further sign that the university does not appreciate the faculty or care for their well being.
Dina has, from the word go, gone above and beyond in her work supporting us. We need people like Dina supported and protected.
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MEMORANDUM
TO: Francis J. Ricciardone, President
Gordon A. Handke, Vice-President for Finance and Human Resources
Hanan Abdel-Meguid, Vice-President for Management and Transformation
Dr. Ehab Abdel-Rahman, Provost
RE: Office of Faculty/Engagement Services
We, the undersigned AUC faculty, are writing to express our strong support for the Office of Faculty Services (OFS) (recently renamed the Office of Community Engagement (OCE)), and for retaining Ms. Dina Touta as its Director. We request that funding for this Office continue to be allocated for the purposes of paying a fair and equitable salary to Ms. Touta as well as for covering the Office’s everyday operations, day tours, overnight trips and other social activities, which have traditionally been the purview of the Office.
Furthermore, we want to emphasize the essential role of this office in faculty retention, particularly in improving the lives of AUC faculty, and the high esteem in which we hold Dina Touta. Four of the five new AUC pillars—Internationalization, Quality of Education, AUC Experience, and Institutional Effectiveness—simply cannot be upheld without a centralized office where foreign faculty, who are a significant percentage, can receive support and assistance during their transition to Egypt and throughout their careers at AUC as expatriates. The OFS furthermore facilitates support for local faculty who, like all of us, often require assistance navigating the institutional terrain.
For many of us, the OFS is a lifeline. As such, the retention of a highly qualified and committed director is essential. We, therefore, also write to express our accolades for Ms. Touta’s performance over the past four and one-half years. Her expertise in travel and tourism is unmatched by any other staff member or office at AUC. The activities which she has arranged to date have been universally invaluable to our well-being. Her fairness and professionalism towards each and every faculty and staff member with whom she interacts are commendable. Her personal experience as an expatriate, her knowledge and experience of Egypt and the Arab region, her exceptional intelligence and excellent educational background, her strong managerial and linguistic skills, and above all her remarkable conscientiousness and dedication to her work comprise an ideal set of qualifications for the position of OFS Director—indeed Ms. Touta is perfect for the job.
In view of the above, we, the undersigned AUC faculty, believe that the AUC administration would be severely remiss were the OFS-sponsored activities, along with the centralized office, were terminated, and if Ms. Touta’s position were to be eliminated. These are possibilities which we have come to understand, to our dismay, the AUC administration is considering. We therefore urge you to reconsider any such plan of action. We are available at your convenience to discuss our position with you to reach an amenable and mutually beneficial resolution to this serious and heartfelt matter.
Updates
November 7, 2018
I really thought this might just fizzle out but seeing the response has completely changed my perspective on how much we can actually do here. It is just so wild to see everyone coming together like this because honestly I was terrified that no one would notice if the office disappeared entirely.
48 Comments
I fully support this petition: OFS has been vital in managing shipments and post, social activities, and practical help with getting set up in Cairo. New faculty, in particular, need OFS to support them in their transition.
I second the comments here, Dina does a fine job, which is of great importance to the faculty. If the university wants to cut costs there is in other places plenty of administrative deadwood that can be cut out.
Dears, I urge you to reconsider your decision. When I arrived in Egypt, Dina was there to support me all way through. I never felt homesick because she was there! Again, please consider your decision because AUC needs someone who truly makes faculty and staff they're home!
I support the continuation of the faculty services office, which is a stakeholder equivalent to the office of student services. Both are needed.
It is essential for AUC to retain an office that enables faculty to send out overseas correspondence at least twice a month. Dina Touta has always provided this service professionally. If Dina cannot be reinstated, the faculty services office needs to be retained at its present location so that it can continue to perform vital faculty functions.
If it is not broke, why fix it (or abolish it)! This office and its services have proved to be valuable for over 50 years, peer universities in the States have similar services and faculty lounges. Why try to reinvent the wheel?
The office is essential for faculty well being and retention. In fact the university should be giving it more or less support. Canceling the office now would be a further sign that the university does not appreciate the faculty or care for their well being.
Dina has, from the word go, gone above and beyond in her work supporting us. We need people like Dina supported and protected.
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I fully support this petition: OFS has been vital in managing shipments and post, social activities, and practical help with getting set up in Cairo. New faculty, in particular, need OFS to support them in their transition.