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From the Chairman of the Board of Trustees
Dear Alumni and Friends,
As you read the pages of the 2005 Contributors Report, you will certainly be struck by the energy, growth, and impressive generosity that are propelling the University into its 140th year. An unprecedented level of donor support is enabling AUB to build and renovate its physical plant, expand academic programs, and provide vital financial support for students in need. You will find a detailed report of some of these initiatives in the enclosed article, “From Foundations to Renovations: A Year of Groundbreaking Efforts at AUB.” In addition to strong annual support, we are on our way to fulfilling the goal of the Campaign for Excellence: to build a new foundation of strength and stability for AUB’s future.
This report is a testament to our commitment to enhancing the University’s physical environment. We have ten major capital projects in progress for facilities that will house newly invigorated and expanded programs. While carefully preserving the integrity of the original campus design and mission, we will, over the next two to three years, transform both the campus and the lives of the students through the availability of better facilities and more extensive academic offerings.
All of this, however, should not overshadow the vital role people play in making AUB the great institution that it is. The University continues to recruit expert faculty and outstanding students. With its excellent reputation, the school is well positioned to attract a thriving community of international academics. Today, the student body is predominantly made up of Lebanese students who are bright and capable, but we have also had increasing success in recruiting the best of the entire region in order to build a stronger, more diverse student body. Currently, just twenty percent of AUB students hail from outside Lebanon. An increasingly diverse student body will enrich every aspect of the academic, cultural, and social university experience of all students.
It would be tempting to look at all that we have accomplished and rest on our laurels. But as we look forward to celebrating our 140th year of excellence, we know there is still much to do. We need to promote our identity as one of the longest established universities in the region. We need to provide unparalleled research and teaching facilities and professional development opportunities for highly qualified academics. And perhaps most importantly, we need to ensure that the most deserving young people in the region and beyond have access to an AUB education. In addition to the impressive annual and capital support realized in 2004–05, 1,465 of our donors contributed directly to financial aid—and 2,356 deserving students benefited from their generosity by receiving financial support. Thank you.
This report recognizes all of our donors who are securing the future of excellence for education in the Middle East. We will all be rewarded in the years to come.
Sincerely,
Dr. Thomas Q. Morris
Chairman, Board of Trustees
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