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| Visitor's
Bureau students celebrate first anniversary. |
Formally
launched a year ago, the Visitors' Bureau has already greeted and assisted
more than 2,274 campus visitors. Some are tourists from abroad; some are
royalty. Visitors also come from local organizations such as the YMCA,
UNESCO and ESCWA or are participants in conferences held on campus.
"This is an experiment, and one that has worked well elsewhere."
Dr. Waterbury said at the Bureau's opening on May 25, 1999. "It is
an effort to make the campus more accessible to visitors, including parents
and students from other schools."
The idea of a Visitors' Bureau at AUB originated with Dr. Waterbury
himself and was implemented by the Office of Information and Public Relations.
The Bureau operates out of the Main Gate building, where it occupies
an attractively furnished room with good seating, a television set and
four computers. At the computer terminals visitors can browse AUB's website,
while the TV set is used to show videos of the campus and its activities.
Brochures, campus maps and current AUB publications are arranged on the
table, free for the taking.
Run entirely by 18 students under the supervision of Miss Sana
Murad, the Bureau is often the first experience new comers have with the
University. Part of its job is to greet visitors and help them find any
information they need about AUB. The most popular of the Bureau's services,
however, is a 45-minute tour which includes a brief presentation of AUB's
history and a walk around the campus to see its principle sights...
Student guides undergo about 20 days of training, during which
they study AUB's history and learn about the campus. They also learn how
to handle visitors' requests for information and how to reply to questions.
Once the training is over, the new guides conduct practice courses tours
to check their skills and build confidence.
But the students say the real learning experience is in meeting
and interacting with visitors. "The Visitors' Bureau has become an
essential part of my university life…" says Samer Kahwajy, a
physics student. "I will never forget the ongoing experience I share
with warm friends and remarkable visitors."
Nadine Hassan, a Business Administration major, was just as enthusiastic
about her work at the Bureau. "Not only did I meet foreigners and
make very, very good friends," she said, "but also now I see
my university from a new perspective".
So pleased are the students about the Bureau's success that they
have published their own detailed activities report in booklet form. The
lively account names the various groups and outstanding individuals who
passed through the Main Gate and into the Visitors' Bureau. Many people
from the International Alumni Convention last June stopped by for the
tour. Other foreign visitors arrived with the First International Nursing
Conference. In July, the Bureau welcomed 29 North American students as
part of the AUB Alumni of North America summer program. The Visitors'
Bureau was also honored with royal visits from Jordan's Princess Haya
and Saudi Arabia's Prince Faisal Bin Sultan Al Saud.
In June 1999 Dr. David West, grandson of Robert Haldane West, of
West Hall fame, arrived on campus with his wife, sister and daughter.
Dr. West grew up on the campus, so on this occasion he played the role
of tour guide as he escorted a group of student guides through eh campus
of his childhood and regaled them with stories. Delighted with their guest,
the students wrote in the Bureau's memoirs: "Dr. West's visit will
remain for a long time one of the most enjoyed and cherished at the Bureau."
AUB Budget Deficit Gets Public
Airing
In a demonstration of their ongoing commitment to frankness and
transparency, members of the administration presented the draft budget
for academic year 2000-2001 to faculty, staff and students on May 22 and
23.
After introductory remarks by President Waterbury; Vice President
for Finance John Bernson took over the constantly misbehaving microphone.
Bernson reported that in a preliminary examination of the University's
financial situation, the budget deficit had amounted to a staggering 10.5
million dollars. However, through projected improvements in the efficiency
of AUBMC, administrative belt-tightening, a more optimistic view of endowment
support, and containment of supply and staffing, the budget committee
had whittled the deficit down to roughly half the initial submission.
Budget initiatives foreseen for the coming year include reductions
in the HIP subsidy, in NSSF loss, and in telephone costs; reduced academic
and management merit increases and increased housing rentals both on and
off-campus; implementation of 9-month contracts for all academics, integration
of the remaining "special pay" into base salaries, and a 4%
rise in tuition.
The economic climate in which the University will function in 2000-01
is cloudy, according to Bernson. Equity markets in the US are not expected
to grow as fast as they have in the past five years, thus University's
endowment revenues will be reduced. Bernson said that the University must
carefully balance all future investments with new sources of revenue,
while rigorously controlling costs. The University does, however, look
forward to increased US aid and fund raising support.
Bernson's presentation, illustrated by a series of overhead projections,
outlined some of the University's ongoing and proposed new capital projects
at an estimated cost of 12.3 million dollars: core labs, the renovation
of West Hall, redevelopment of hospital emergency services and the nursery
and delivery suite, lab equipment, phase one of the renovation of the
OPD, and major equipment for 2000-01.
Bernson frequently cautioned the audience: the budget presented
is provisional and therefore subject to change; the draft budget will
come before the Board of Trustees in mid-June. Three long-term objectives,
Bernson concluded, are in the forefront of AUB's financial planning: academic
excellence, and financial balance.
Provost Peter Heath then pointed out the need to face the University's
future with realism, and unrelenting emphasis on quality, and concern
for expanding regionality.
Dean of Medicine Nadim Cortas touched upon some problems specifically
related to AUBMC as it completes the transition from war-time to peace-time
operation. He emphasized the importance of clinical training for interns
and residents, and underscored the need for administrators and clinical
staff to "dialogue together".
Although specifically designated for faculty and staff, Wednesday's
meeting of some 100 people included approximately thirty medical students,
interns, and residents who wanted to discuss in detail their stipends
and general financial situation. When told such a discussion was inappropriate
at that meeting, the group, almost one third of the audience, walked out.
A lively question and answer period, with queries fielded by Waterbury,
Bernson, Heath, and Cortas, ended the two-hour session.
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