AMERICAN UNIVERSITY OPENS IN ARMENIA

After two years of planning the American University of Armenia (AUA) has become a reality. A privately endowed, independent institution of higher education serving an international student body, the University will initially comprise the graduate Colleges of Engineering, Business and Management. The Master of Engineering (M. Eng.) degree will be offered in Earthquake Engineering and in Industrial Engineer-ing. The degree of Master of Business Administration (MBA) will be offered in Human Resources Management and in International Business (Finance and Marketing). In future years, AUA will add new graduate fields and form an undergraduate university program. Presently located at 40 Bagramian Street, Yerevan, Armenia, AUA provides university education in accordance with the American system and standards of higher learning. The language of instruction is English, with all students entering, for the first semester, Intensive English and Computer Training Courses. Teaching staff will be recruited from major US universities. In conjunction with the University project, AGBU is sponsoring twelve special students from Armenia who are studying Business Management and Engineering at the University of California and the University of Southern California. Upon completion of their academic study, they will be accepted as teaching assistants at AUA. Dr. Mihran Agbabian, Chairman of the Department of Civil Engineering at USC and AGBU Central Board Member, has been appointed President of AUA. Dr. Armen Der Kiureghian, UC Berkeley Professor of Civil Engineering, will serve as AUA Dean of Engineering. The idea of a new university was originally conceived by Dr. Agbabian and Dr. Der Kiureghian during a trip to Armenia shortly after the devastating earthquake of 1988. With one-third of the country in ruins, they realized that innovative methods would be crucial in restoring the physical and economic destruction that had taken place. As educators, they were convinced that a new institution, teaching modern western technology and concepts, would be one of the most vital first steps for the country's renewal and future progress. Early in the planning stages, the University proposal was presented to Dr. Stepan Karamardian, Dean of Business Management at UC Riverside. Enthu-siastic about the concept, Dr. Karamardian was instrumental in initiating discussions with the University of California. Joining the newly formed American University of Armenia administration, Dr. Kara-mardian will serve as AUA Dean of Business and Management. With the enthusiastic support of University of Cali-fornia President Dr. David Gardner and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. William Frazer, the proposal for UC to assist in the development of AUA was passed by the UC Board of Regents, July 18, 1991. The UC commitment includes the training of Armenians as faculty, developing a curriculum and administrative plan, designing exchange programs, planning for the construction of permanent facilities for the new University and establishing a UC Center in Armenia. The University of California also provides overall academic policy and administrative guidance through the membership of four of its senior administrators on the Board of Trustees of AUA. Dr. William Frazer is the Chairman of the Board, Dr. Lyman Porter, Dean of Busi-ness and Management at UC Irvine, is Treasurer, Dr. Karl Pister, Chancellor of UC Santa Cruz and Dr. John Marcum, Director of UC Systemwide Education Abroad Program, are members of the Board. Theony Condos, Executive Assistant to Dr. Frazer, is Secretary of the Board. Mr. Vartkes Barsam of California, will work, both in the United States and Armenia, with Dr. Agbabian in matters relating to facilities and finance. The permanent American staff at AUA in Yerevan consists of Sona Hamalian, Associate Director for Administrative Services, Margaret Kamajian, Associate Director for Student and Personnel Services and Shareen Anderson, Administrative Assistant and Librarian. AGBU, with its international network of 22 elementary and secondary schools and cooperative educational programs with the University of Michigan, University of Massachusetts, New York University and McGill University, accepted the AUA project as part of its $10,000,000 Armenia Recovery Program. Working closely with the project since its inception, AGBU's financial commitment and its work with the Armenian government to secure both authorization and facilities have been critical to the realization of AUA. Administrative expenses are estimated at $1,700,000 for the first two years of operation. Along with committed Armenia Recovery Funds contributed through the generosity of many donors, AGBU will seek additional individual, foundation and government support for annual costs including teaching and research laboratories, equipment, library, and text books. In future, an endowment for professorships will be solicited. Major gifts will be recognized by designating endowed chairs, departments, laboratories, the library and the Colleges in the names of donors. The contract to establish AUA was signed this spring by AGBU representatives and the Armenian government. In consultative meetings with President Levon Ter Petrossian, First Deputy Chairman of the Parliament Papken Ararktsian, Prime Minister Vasken Manoukian, Minister of Higher Education and Science Vilig Haroutunian and Polytechnic Rector Yuri Sarkissian, agreements were finalized on the University building and administration. In addition to the allocation of the AUA building, the Armenian government has allocated 375 acres of land in Abovian for a future campus and a UC Center for education exchange programs. The Ministry of Higher Education and Science is providing all maintenance costs and faculty housing.