AUBG October Board Meeting Discusses Enrollment, COVID-19, Strategic Plan and Development Function
The regular October AUBG Board of Trustees meeting took place virtually Oct. 17-18. The primary topics were AUBG’s enrollment, the current status and plans for dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, a new 5-year strategic plan and building an effective development function.
The Board recognized as one of the university’s strongest achievements the fact that AUBG kept enrolment similar to last year despite the challenges caused by the global pandemic. This is an impressive accomplishment in a time when many universities around the world are experiencing dramatic hits to their enrolment. Notably, AUBG’s total enrolment is higher than it was from 2016-2019.
“The whole Board is extremely thankful to all members of the AUBG community for your support and patience during this unprecedented and challenging time, and to the alumni for continuing to help us meet the occasion and fulfill the ABF match,” said Victoria Entwistle, Acting Chair of the AUBG Board of Trustees. “We appreciate our students’ willingness to work with the AUBG administration to support continuity and excellence in their educations, and to the faculty and staff who have worked and continue to work tirelessly to keep our community safe and reflect the real spirit of excellence of which AUBG is so rightly proud.”
Board members expressed deep gratitude to the faculty for their ongoing hard work to continue to provide AUBG students with the best possible learning experiences during the pandemic. The current circumstances are draining and stressful for faculty, and Trustees truly appreciate their commitment to AUBG’s students. The board is particularly thankful to Interim Provost Robert White for his leadership and organizational skills in moving the university’s academic programs to hybrid teaching.
The Board also discussed the five-year strategic plan and its identified priorities. The plan includes core initiatives arranged around the themes of democracy, diversity, and community, and its most distinctive feature is the establishment of a new, interdisciplinary Center for Democratic Citizenship to enhance AUBG’s focus on its founding ideals. The proposed new mission statement, “An international university educating democratic citizens,” reflects this renewed focus. The plan envisions long-term enrolment growth, an enhanced Skaptopara campus, and a robust range of graduate and lifelong learning programs. Interim President Evans committed to host forums for campus constituencies in the near future to receive feedback on the plan.
Special Advisor to the President for Advancement Ani Manavyan presented her work to improve and support the university’s fundraising. Currently the primary focus is raising the remaining $200,000 (out of $500,000) from the alumni by end of 2020. ABF has pledged to match it dollar for dollar. Manavyan has been in contact with the AAA, Trustees, alumni and external stakeholders to develop a vision and plan for supporting the university.