Faculty_1964-71_120

THE AMERICAN UNIVERSITY IN CAIRO Cairo, May 23, 1968. TO : Members of the Faculty FROM: President Bartlett As faculty members v/i 11 recall, at the last meeting of the faculty I suggested the desirability of a University self-study project. Its objectives would be to examine some of our assumptions, processes and programs. Six years ago the University embarked upon its present lines of work. It would seem appropriate after that length of time to examine what we are doing. More pressing than issues of programs, to my judgement, are questions relating to techniques and processes in our academic life. In all probability following a systematic review we will conclude that many of our present processes are sound, while certain others need attention. In any event the effort should produce an increased degree of common understanding among the members of our community on what we are trying to do and how v/e can best proceed. At the last faculty meeting it was suggested that I circulate a list of some of the issues I mentioned at random to illustrate elements for possible inclusion in a self-study program. Such a list is attached below. At the meeting I also expressed the thought, assuming faculty members believe the self-study idea is a good one, that a University commission might be set up to formulate a plan of action. The task of the commission would be to identify topics for consideration and to select means for tackling them. It might, for example, wish to arrange for special weekend conferences or it might recommend inviting visiting specialists to accelerate whatever processes it feels are desirable. I can conceive of such a commission consisting of 2 or 3 full time administrators, 3 or 4 elected by the faculty at large and 2 or 3 students presumably elected by the new student parliament. I offer these suggestions for a mechanism only to provide a specific proposal. Obviously any number of alternatives would be feasible. The first decision to be taken is whether anything is to be done. Then appropriate tactics can be devised