The American University in Cairo

Long Range Planning Unit Report From Department of English and Comparative Literature (ECL)

Prepared by Dr. William D. Melaney, Chair

June 11, 2006 Introduction

This document is based on the following sources: agreements generated through formal meetings that engaged the Department of English and Comparative Literature during 2004-06; a special report written by the Major Curriculum Committee, consisting of Professors Stephen Germic, Gian Balsamo and Stephanie Gearhart, and completed in fall 2005; the contribution of Mellon Grant Committee member Professor Ferial Ghazoul to AUC’s new Core Curriculum; and formal conversations between the chair and Professors Linda Breslin and Lammert Holdijk, Director and Associate Director of the Writing Program.

Strategic Themes and Planning Unit Assumptions and Objectives

In order to enhance the University’s mission of academic excellence, contribute more effectively to the new Core curriculum, enhance the reputation of its programs and increase student enrollment, the Department of English and Comparative Literature will pursue the following goals during the coming five years. The realization of these goals are based on the commitment and expertise of six full-time faculty.

(1) Contribute to the new core curriculum through the development of a new 100 and 200 level course, respectively, and the transformation of 5 existing courses to meet capstone requirements.

(2) Strengthen both the undergraduate major and the MA program through rigorous evaluation of the programs themselves and work towards a clear articulation of the unique components of ECL offerings.

(3) Support a mutually agreed upon separation of ECL and the Writing Program

(4) Continue to enhance AUC’s intellectual reputation through the following ECL activities: (a) Annual Madalyn Lamont Award for Literary Activity, (b) Emerging Creative Voices Series, (c) publication of the reputable international journal, Alif.

2 Unit Plan for English and Comparative Literature

Strategic Theme 1: Academic Excellence

Goal 1: Contribution to the new core curriculum

Objective (s) Attract students to the major

Outcomes Proposed New / Performance Time Frame Resources (expected Changed Indicators (start and end (faculty, staff, results) Programs, (indicate how you will dates of new budget, Initiatives, measure achievement programs / equipment, Activities of outcomes) activities) space … needs) O.1 1.1 ECL 199  New course in AY 06-07; Six full-time Increase (Mellon Course) catalogue; student finalize F07 faculty Student enrollment Enrollment 1.2 New 200 level  New course in AY 06-08, International catalogue; student ongoing Studies option in enrollment the new Core  Student evaluations 1.3 Develop into  Student enrollment AY 06-07, capstone courses:  Student evaluations ongoing ECLT 408; 409; 410; 411; 412

3 Unit Plan for: English and Comparative Literature

Goal 2: Strengthen the Undergraduate Major

Objective (s) Attract students to the major; increase reputation of ECL

Outcomes Proposed New / Performance Time Frame Resources (expected Changed Programs, Indicators (start and end (faculty, staff, results) Initiatives, Activities (indicate how you will dates of new budget, measure achievement of programs / equipment, outcomes) activities) space … needs) O.1 1.1 Reevaluate 200  New requirements in AY 06-08 Six full-time Increased level cluster catalogue faculty student enrollment 1.2 Reevaluate  New requirements in AY 06-08 concentration, catalogue collateral and elective  Student evaluations requirements 1.3 Ensure capstone  Syllabi AY 06-08, courses meet major  Student evaluations ongoing needs

Goal 3: Strengthen the MA Program

Objective (s) Attract students to the MA; increase the reputation of ECL

Outcomes Proposed New / Performance Time Frame Resources (expected Changed Programs, Indicators (start and end (faculty, staff, results) Initiatives, Activities (indicate how you will dates of new budget, measure achievement programs / equipment, of outcomes) activities) space … needs) O.1 1.1 Regularize  Catalogue changes AY 06-07 Six full-time Increase special topics courses  Increased faculty Student enrollment Enrollment 1.2 Re-evaluate  Catalogue changes AY 06-08 requirements  Student exit surveys 1.3 Re-evaluate  Catalogue changes AY 06, comprehensive  Faculty conduct ongoing exams outcomes assessment 1.4 Advertise  International AY 06, program student enrollment ongoing internationally  Student exit surveys

5 Unit Plan for English and Comparative Literature Strategic Theme 1: Academic Excellence

Goal 4: Strengthen ECL’s contribution to AUC’s intellectual reputation

Objective (1): Alif: Maintain the current print-run of 1500 copies per issue, focusing on quality contributions in Arabic, English and French related to local and global debates in the humanities and social sciences. Objective (2): Madalyn Lamont Award for Literary Activity: Continue to promote academic excellence through the annual award competition Objective (3): Emerging Creative Voices Series: Enhance extra-curricular series that brings together creative new writers in an effort both to highlight new talents and to integrate AUC within the larger intellectual and artistic community of Cairo. Outcomes Proposed New / Performance Time Resources (expected Changed Indicators Frame (faculty, staff, budget, results) Programs, (indicate how you (start and equipment, space … Initiatives, will measure end dates needs) Activities achievement of of new outcomes) programs / activities) O.1 Alif: 1.1 Continue yearly  Number of ongoing Office space in the new Promote publication quality campus international manuscripts reputation submitted Additional graduate  Regularity of student support publication Maintain primary Alif business office on the Tahrir Square campus

6 O.2 Engage 1.1 Madalyn Lamont  Work submitted ongoing Fundraise as needed students and Award  Participation faculty in 1.2 Emerging ECL literary Creative Voices activities Extra-Curricular Series

Strategic Theme 5: Operational Excellence

Goal: Mutually agreed upon division of ECL and the Writing Program

Objective (s) Professionalize both programs

Outcomes Proposed New / Changed Performance Time Frame Resources (expected Programs, Initiatives, Indicators (start and end (faculty, results) Activities (indicate how you will dates of new staff, budget, measure achievement programs / equipment, of outcomes) activities) space … needs) O.1 1.1 Division of ECL and WP  Catalogue Fall 07 No new Streamline 1.2 Creative Writing resources operations continues to be taught under needed ECL  ongoing 1.3 Writing Center continues to hire ECL graduate students based on their qualifications  ongoing

8 ENROLLMENT PATTERNS AND PROJECTIONS FOR English and Comparative Literature

Note the following:  Unduplicated headcount enrollments (each student counted once)  Dual majors counted only in primary major  A student enrolled in both a master’s program and a graduate diploma counted only in the master’s program

Fall Semester Census Day Enrollments From Fall Census Day Information (See “The Enrollment Projections: AUC Profile” or contact (Projected fall semester enrollments) the IPART office) Programs 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 Undergraduate Majors: 18 26 30 30 32 35 37 40 Undergraduate 1349* 119 159 Enrollments:

Master’s Degrees: 23 19 16 20 22 24 26 28

Graduate Diplomas:

* This figure must be that part of an older accounting system that included Writing Program (WP) enrollments.