Office Space
Will staff and faculty be able to take furniture from their old to their new office?
None of the furniture from the downtown offices will be included in the move. The new campus offices will all be equipped with custom-made furniture specifically designed for maximum comfort and flexibility.
When will I be able to see my office on the new campus?
Even though tours of the new campus are scheduled to begin at the end of this month, AUC’s faculty and staff will have to wait a little longer before they can visit their new offices. There are currently over 7000 construction workers on the new campus site working around the clock in two shifts to complete the project, including the interior of the buildings, on time. In order to prevent any disruption and avoid all hazards of scaffolding, no internal spaces can be visited at present. The campus tours will however be adjusted accordingly as construction progresses.
Shuttle Buses
Why does the shuttle arrive at the new campus at 8:10 am when I start work at 8:30 am?
There are two main drop-off points for bus passengers on the new campus; one on each side. Arrival at 8:10 am will provide passengers time to disembark from the bus, pass through Security into the pedestrian inner campus and then walk to their respective offices, which are located throughout the campus site. A shorter lapsed-time-period may work for some if their offices happen to be closest to the pedestrian entrances, but not for others who may have further to walk. It is felt that the 20-minute allowance should be sufficient.
Why should students have to pay for the shuttle bus and not faculty and staff?
Before setting bus fees, AUC surveyed other private universities in Cairo. The proposed fee policies reflect current practices throughout Cairo.
Will students on scholarships have to pay for their bus pass themselves or will it be covered by their scholarship?
Student Affairs is exploring the feasibility of providing assistance to students who receive full scholarships (PSSF and LEAD) from the university.
Can I take my kids on the bus (if they are going to the AUC daycare center) and can they ride for free?
Yes – faculty and staff with a valid bus pass can bring their small children on to the shuttle bus without charge; for planning purposes, it will be important that the transportation office is aware of any such requirement when an individual obtains a bus pass.
Will the bus shuttle pass be by semester or by year?
The passes will be available for purchase both by semester and annually.
What will the bus schedule be on the weekends?
The shuttle bus will operate on Friday and Saturday but with a limited frequency, depending on demand reflected in the transportation surveys. The weekend timetable will be made available when it is finalized.
How is the shuttle bus fee calculated?
The shuttle bus fees are structured to contribute toward the high cost of operating such a comprehensive transportation system; the fees do not cover those costs. The costs are driven by the number of routes; the number of buses, of different sizes needed; the frequency of the service; the distance of the commute on different routes; the high standard and quality of the buses; the experience of the drivers; and ongoing operating and maintenance costs. Other private universities in Cairo were surveyed and the AUC bus fees are within the range charged by other universities.
Will there be transportation available inside the new campus?
No – the campus is a pedestrian campus and is designed so that the longest distance between any two academic buildings is a 10-minute walk.
Parking
Will I be able to park on campus?
Yes, there will be parking available on campus. The responses to the recent transportation survey are being used to estimate the demand for on-campus parking so that the original plans can be revised in terms of the number of spaces available. On-campus parking will require an AUC Parking Permit that will be made available prior to the opening of the campus. Specific parking policies and guidelines are now in development, taking into account the suggestions made by many of the survey participants. It is expected that details of the parking program will be available in early January.
Why pay for parking when AUC is moving to the desert?
The university is charging for parking to encourage faculty and staff to use the bus service, which is being provided to them without charge. It is expected that a portion of revenues from parking fees will also be redirected to offset the cost of the bus system.
Is it possible that even if I pay for parking, when I arrive at the university I may not find a free parking space?
It is unlikely, although in the event of such occurrences, adjustments in the parking plan may be needed once the commuting patterns to the new campus are better established.
Housing
Will there be housing available for staff on or near the new campus?
The university does not plan to provide housing beyond those groups currently covered.
When will the student housing on the new campus be finished?
AUC’s student residence facilities on the new campus will be completed by this fall and will accommodate 480 students. Five residences will be allocated for male students and seven for female students from Egypt, the region, and abroad. Each three-story residence will include single, double and triple rooms, group study rooms, administrative offices and visiting faculty apartments.
Will the parking be accessible to anybody and how much will it cost?
Parking lots will be available across different parts of the new campus. They will be ‘open’ and spaces will not be reserved on an individual or group basis. There will also be a ‘Visitors Only’ lot for short-term parking located at the end of the campus nearest the AUC Park and Bruce L. Ludwig Family Square, the Dr. Hamza Al Kholi Center, the Dr. and Mrs. Elias K. Hebeka Bookstore and the PVA Theater. The parking policies and guidelines, including permit procedures and pricing, are now in development and will be available in February.
Food Services
Will there be cheap meals like koshary, foul and taamiya for students on a limited budget?
Delicious Inc., a consortium of companies under a single contract, will be providing a variety of food outlets on the new campus, ranging from Egyptian, Italian and Asian cuisine, to fast food. Delicious Inc. is currently conducting surveys and focus groups with a variety of client groups to receive input on the demand of AUC's community. The new campus will also feature separate dining halls, for faculty, students, and staff that will serve assorted hot foods, including koshary, foul and taamiya.
Atheletics
Can family members of staff and faculty use the new sports facilities?
Policies regarding access to university sports facilities are under development with the first priority being accorded to students.
Security / Safety
I need a new ID but will only enroll for the fall semester. What must I do to make sure I can access the new campus?
New IDs are available through the library; information on the ID cards can be found on the AUC website.
Academics
Is there going to be a summer session this year?
Yes – it will be held on the Tahrir Square Campus.
What programs are staying at the downtown campus?
The programs remaining downtown will be the School of Continuing Education (SCE), AUC Press, law department, and the Abdul Latif Jameel Management Center.
Can faculty continue to receive regular mail in their mailboxes at the downtown campus during June and July?
Yes - The university will ensure that any mail sent to faculty and staff whose offices have moved to the new campus beginning this summer, will be forwarded to them through the internal mail delivery service.
Will it be possible for faculty to receive snail mail in their mailboxes at the downtown campus during the coming months of June and July, while the move is taking place?
Yes - The university will ensure that any mail sent to faculty and staff whose offices have moved to the new campus, will be forwarded to them through the internal mail delivery service.
Library
How can I borrow books during the move to the new campus?
More than 30,000 books are available online through Ebrary, NetLibrary, Safari and other companies. Print books will be moving all summer and cannot be borrowed.
Miscellaneous
When will the daycare center at the new campus be available and how much will it cost?
The entire downtown daycare center is moving to the new campus and will be operational on August 15. Fees have yet to be determined.
Can you provide a detailed map of the new campus with its different facilities?
A map is being developed and will be placed on the university web site.
How big is the new campus compared to the current one?
