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AUC On The Move has received almost 600 e-mails since it launched its first e-newsletter in November 2007. Specifically designed to not only disseminate to AUC’s community useful and timely information about the move, the online newsletter also gives readers the chance to regularly submit their concerns and queries.
Most of this electronic mail coming from AUC’s faculty, staff and students commonly contains questions about the new campus in New Cairo. “We are trying to address all the questions as effectively as possible,” said Paul Donoghue, VP for Planning and Administration, who receives regular updates of the questions submitted to the e-newsletter.
The most frequently raised issue by faculty, staff and students alike, relates to the transportation options to and from the new campus. More specifically, the range of questions about the new shuttle bus service varies from pick-up locations, bus schedules (including for week-ends and Ramadan), and bus routes, to commuting time, cost of bus pass, and finally safety, size and comfort of the buses.
As for on campus parking, most of the questions sent to the On The Move website are essentially about eligibility and cost of the parking permit, size and availability of the parking lots, visitors’ parking, and finally the timeline for purchasing a parking slot.
Other commonly submitted questions relating to the new campus refer to on and off campus housing facilities, food outlets, the academic calendar, staff working hours, move logistics and timeline, alumni access to the new campus, new AUC identification cards, day care services, and office space and furniture. Questions about the downtown campus, although much less frequent, usually pertain to what services, events and academic facilities will remain after the move, and the fate of some of the university’s buildings.
All e-mails are answered individually, in the timeliest fashion and with the most inclusive information available at the time.
“While we cannot respond to all e-mails immediately, that does not mean they are not being heard; they are being reviewed and provide important input into the myriad of decisions being made to ensure a smooth and successful transition to the new campus,” added Donoghue.
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