Support Faculty Services Office

Dina Touta has provided excellent leadership of the OFS and support to faculty. This office, under both her and formerly with Louise, has provided vital services for faculty over the years. Personally, outings within Cairo and elsewhere in Egypt have been wonderful networking opportunities for me with other AUC faculty (since I am usually buried in my own office and department) as well as opportunities for relaxation with my own family which recharges me for my work at AUC. I cannot understand why elimination and/or restructuring is even being considered. Why change something that requires none?

Since Louise St Laurent's days ,this faculty services unit has greatly contributed to the very well-being of AUC through support and integration of its faculty . Dina has continued admirably this function. In recent events ( e.g.to the Suez Canal , the new administrative capital....) , I was impressed with Dina's professionalism , personalized services and exceptional devotion to her job. It will be unwise to let go such precious but rare assets. On the contrary the institution shouldn't only keep such personnel but reward them

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!

Ms. Touta and the OFS are integral to the operation of AUC. A healthy and invigorated faculty is a productive faculty.

Read Mona Amer’s comment. I can’t say better and more precisely what I think!

I support the continuation of the faculty services office, which is a stakeholder equivalent to the office of student services. Both are needed.

I urge the University to reconsider because the FSO provides a very useful service.

I strongly support the pettion

Dina Touta makes the lives of AUC faculty much, much better. Losing her would diminish AUC in every way. I fully support her retention and promotion and the return of her former position as the Director of Faculty Services.

Faculty Services offers crucial services for faculty retention. There are high barriers to entry for foreign faculty members who take overseas jobs, and helping foreign faculty to navigate those barriers is an essential service in a well-functioning and highly-ranked university. My particular experience with Dina has been very positive and professional. The university will always need a point person who is no further than a phone call or email away from AUC faculty--even within a restructured office that serves a broader AUC community. I am happy that this person is Dina Touta.

From new faculty orientation to the excellent on- and off-campus activities throughout the year to the everyday services like the mail pouch, the Office of Faculty Services is an absolutely vital resource for AUC faculty and their families. Dina Touta performs her duties with such enthusiasm, efficiency, and effectiveness that I cannot even fathom why AUC would consider eliminating her position and the OFS.

The office of faculty services has been instrumental in easing my transition back to Egypt. The lounge provides a quiet space to read, reflect, recharge, and meet colleagues and visitors. The OFS has been an extremely valuable resource to faculty, under the competent direction, first of Louise, then Dina. I fully support keeping the office open under the competent direction of Dina Touta.

I second the comments made here. Dina is one of the most professional and effective staff members on this campus. I, too, found the assistance and support of the Faculty Services Offices invaluable when I moved from the US to Egypt. It doesn't really matter what you call it--some sort of office performing the function of Faculty Services is essential to the long-term health of this institution and Dina Touta is the person best equipped to run that office.

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.

I have argued for 10 years that Faculty Services is the ONLY successful strategy AUC has for faculty adjustment and retention. It has helped to: a) reduce anxiety over moving to Egypt - I was told, and I'm sure others were as well - to not worry, there was a well-oiled machine specialized in AUC's Faculty Services that would help me with the transition; b) adjust to the nuances and challenges of living in Egypt; c) prepare to be successful in our courses through the fantastic orientation program; d) develop social networks through activities, which builds place attachment and psychological sense of community with AUC; e) be exposed to and learn about Egypt, which builds place attachment with Cairo and Egypt; f) meet other professors and build ties, which enhances collaboration on research, teaching, and service, which became even more imperative in the isolated environment in the New Cairo campus; g) be updated on current events, news, and what's happening locally; f) have a much-needed place in the Faculty Lounge to take a quiet break on campus in the midst of the unusually high load on faculty at AUC (and all successful employee programs have these kinds of solace or break rooms); g) deal with the daily life issues of living in Egypt like purchasing large household items. Personally I was burned out last year and extremely distressed at the decisions and direction this university is going, and tired of the sometimes unbearable aspects of living in Egypt, and seriously discussing with my family the option of resigning (jumping ship before it sinks) and returning to the U.S., It was the inspiration faculty trip in Winter (which Dina designed in such a special way) that significantly renewed my energy and dedication to AUC and my affection for Egypt. Had it not been for that trip, I would not be back here this year, plain and simple. Faculty Services has been for decades one of the offices at AUC that works, and works well. Louise and now Dina have done fanta

Dina Touta's contributions do indeed project "the best and finest of AUC". Her support extends well beyond her job description and while difficult to quantify contributes qualitatively to life at AUC on a daily basis. Her leaving would be a huge loss.

I fully support the Faculty Services Office and the support of Dina.

This position and office are extremely important for faculty retention. Keeping good faculty here is increasingly difficult, particularly with the reduction of benefits. If AUC is serious about being a great institution of learning it needs excellent faculty. We are all willing to put up with less pay and some of the aggravations of Cairo as long as there are other aspects of life that are smoothed and are nice. I strongly urge that we keep this office open under the competent and helpful leadership of Dina Touta.

Dina does excellent and necessary work, and I have little faith that the admin has put any thought into how her role would be replaced.

Another step towards dismantling the university and transform it into some aberration beyond description...