The American University of Nigeria (AUN) held its Fall 2024 Congregation for staff on Friday, October 25, in the Auditorium of the e-library where President, Dr. DeWayne Frazier highlighted the progress made so far by his administration in repositioning the university and creating a path to growth and sustainability.
Attended by senior management, academic leaders and staff, the Congregation which is a statutory function mandated in the Code of Governance for universities by the regulatory authority provides a forum for employees with a minimum of a university degree to receive updates on the progress of their institution and make their contributions. President Frazier said the seven-point strategic plan put in place by his administration has provided the guidance in policy implementation since it was approved by the Governing Council.
Some of the highlights of the discussions include:
Organization’s Sustainability: On this issue, the President discussed how his management strategized to boost enrollment, which is one of the institution's primary sources of revenue. Because of the strategic objectives deployed for student recruitment, this Fall semester saw the highest number of undergraduate and graduate student enrollment in AUN's history. The President also emphasized the necessity to enhance infrastructure in order to accommodate more students.
Implementation of New Salary Structure: The new salary structure for all employees was designed around a framework approved by the Governing Council and will result in a significant pay increase for everyone, particularly the lowest-paid employees, beginning October 1, 2024.
Marketing and Branding Strategies: Another aspect addressed is the vivid marketing strategy that uses all social media channels to reach out to young people in the undergraduate student age range, resulting in an admissions record-breaking feat.
International Students Recruitment Plan: for the fact that AUN is an international university, requires implementing more plans to attract more international students through either direct entry or transfer students. In pursuit of this, the university welcomed students from French-speaking West African countries and presently working to have some more international students to join the University.
Institute of Innovation and Training: this department was newly created to enhance the general public vocational and professional training and certification, thereby generating revenue for institutional sustainability.
Fund Raising: the university is also working meticulously developing research and academic proposals that will attract grants and scholarships for students enrolled in undergraduate and graduate studies at AUN, while lauding ongoing scholarship funding from such respected institutions and individuals such as the Neem Foundation and Friends of Nigeria, and the Dr. Jimmy Reyes Foundation.
Entrepreneurship: As a development university with a core value of entrepreneurship the President reiterated a commitment to inculcating that training in our students while reporting his admiration of our outstanding alums who are successfully exploiting numerous business landscapes locally and internationally. His tour of some cities in the country revealed that some alums are thriving running startups and family businesses.
Implementation of Renewable Energy Plan: The first phase of solar energy project implementation has been completed as the library and two student dorms are now on solar while work is ongoing in the remaining dorms under the phase 1.
Impact Ranking for AUN Community Engagements: The President reported that AUN was ranked by the Times Higher Educations in their 2024 Impact Ranking as one of the best 100 universities across the world for community service impact and peace initiatives.
Restarting the AUN Feed and Read Program: President Frazier reported that the administration has successfully revitalized the Feed and Read program which teaches basic numeracy and literacy for out-of-school children in the community. His administration is also making consultations with the hope of revitalizing the Adamawa Peacemakers Initiative (API), a platform of prominent community, religious and business leaders working for peace and well-being of people in Adamawa State.
The Congregation also featured a question and answer session as well as inputs and suggestions from employees.
Reported by John Abah