Public Statement by AUCA President Jonathan Becker

March 24, 2023

In recent days several assertions and complaints concerning alleged incidents of harassment and abuse of power by individual faculty members at AUCA have been circulated on social media and throughout the AUCA community. Let me state clearly and publicly that AUCA unequivocally prohibits discrimination, harassment and/or related retaliation in all aspects of its educational programs and activities. AUCA is committed to supporting student-centered education and providing rewarding, meaningful, high-quality learning experience for students. We take the recent complaints very seriously. The University has procedures and mechanisms on an institutional level to provide a safe environment for our students, faculty, and staff.

The Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of Student Affairs have spoken with students who have raised concerns and asked them to make formal complaints in keeping with AUCA’s anti-harassment policy (2019) which then triggers the launch of an independent and objective investigation for each complaint and helps ensure a timely and transparent process to resolve concerns. The goal our anti-harassment policy is to promote a positive learning environment and provide a framework to support students, faculty, and staff who believe they have been subject to harassment. Moreover, as of the start of this academic year, all students, faculty, and staff are now required to complete anti-harassment training developed by the AUCA Psychology Program in collaboration with professors from Bard College (USA) in order to educate the community about such sensitive issues.

AUCA is committed to the principles of free inquiry and free expression and encourages open discussion, debate, and critical inquiry as a part of our educational mission. We are continuously working to improve our policies and practices to promote a safe environment and always welcome input from our community. We appreciate students articulating their concerns and for organizing a peaceful demonstration in support of academic freedom, freedom from harassment, and student- oriented development. This reflects AUCA’s remarkable esprit de corps that makes this university such a special place for all of us.

I encourage all members of the community to avail themselves of AUCA’s resources if they believe that they have faced harassment, to reach out to the Dean of Students and other support staff, and to, when appropriate, follow institutional procedures to safeguard all involved. All complainants receive protection in accordance with university procedures stipulated in the anti-harassment policy and we have no tolerance for retaliation when issues are raised in good faith. Trust and communication are vital in an educational environment. I know you share my commitment in working together to make AUCA an inclusive environment in which all of us can thrive.

Yours cordially,
Jonathan Becker
President of AUCA

<< go to news list