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
(expected
results)
O.1
Increase
Student
Enrollment
Proposed New /
Changed
Programs,
Initiatives,
Activities
1.1 ECL 199
(Mellon Course)
Performance
Indicators
(indicate how you will
measure achievement
of outcomes)
 New course in
catalogue; student
enrollment
Time Frame
(start and end
dates of new
programs /
activities)
AY 06-07;
finalize F07
1.2 New 200 level
International
Studies option in
the new Core
1.3 Develop into
capstone courses:
ECLT 408; 409;
410; 411; 412

AY 06-08,
ongoing



New course in
catalogue; student
enrollment
Student evaluations
Student enrollment
Student evaluations
AY 06-07,
ongoing
3
Resources
(faculty, staff,
budget,
equipment,
space … needs)
Six full-time
faculty
Unit Plan for: English and Comparative Literature
Strategic Theme 1: Academic Excellence
Goal 2: Strengthen the Undergraduate Major
Objective (s) Attract students to the major; increase reputation of ECL
Outcomes
(expected
results)
Proposed New /
Changed Programs,
Initiatives, Activities
Performance
Indicators
(indicate how you will
measure achievement of
outcomes)
Time Frame
(start and end
dates of new
programs /
activities)
O.1
Increased
student
enrollment
1.1 Reevaluate 200
level cluster

New requirements in
catalogue
AY 06-08
1.2 Reevaluate
concentration,
collateral and elective
requirements
1.3 Ensure capstone
courses meet major
needs

AY 06-08

New requirements in
catalogue
Student evaluations


Syllabi
Student evaluations
AY 06-08,
ongoing
4
Resources
(faculty, staff,
budget,
equipment,
space …
needs)
Six full-time
faculty
Unit Plan for: English and Comparative Literature
Strategic Theme 1: Academic Excellence
Goal 3: Strengthen the MA Program
Objective (s) Attract students to the MA; increase the reputation of ECL
Outcomes
(expected
results)
O.1
Increase
Student
Enrollment
Proposed New /
Performance
Changed Programs, Indicators
Initiatives, Activities (indicate how you will
measure achievement
of outcomes)
1.1 Regularize
 Catalogue changes
special topics courses  Increased
enrollment
1.2 Re-evaluate
requirements


1.3 Re-evaluate
comprehensive
exams


1.4 Advertise
program
internationally


Catalogue changes
Student exit
surveys
Catalogue changes
Faculty conduct
outcomes
assessment
International
student enrollment
Student exit
surveys
Time Frame
Resources
(start and end (faculty, staff,
dates of new
budget,
programs /
equipment,
activities)
space … needs)
AY 06-07
Six full-time
faculty
AY 06-08
AY 06,
ongoing
AY 06,
ongoing
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
(faculty, staff, budget,
Changed
Indicators
Frame
results)
(indicate how you
(start and
equipment, space …
Programs,
will measure
end dates
needs)
Initiatives,
achievement
of
of
new
Activities
outcomes)
programs /
activities)
O.1 Alif:
1.1 Continue yearly  Number of
ongoing
Office space in the new
Promote
publication
campus
quality
international
manuscripts
reputation
Additional graduate
submitted
student support
 Regularity of
publication
Maintain primary Alif
business office on the
Tahrir Square campus
6
O.2 Engage
students and
faculty in
ECL literary
activities
1.1 Madalyn Lamont 
Award

1.2 Emerging
Creative Voices
Extra-Curricular
Series
Work submitted
Participation
ongoing
Fundraise as needed
7
Unit Plan for: English and Comparative Literature
Strategic Theme 5: Operational Excellence
Goal: Mutually agreed upon division of ECL and the Writing Program
Objective (s) Professionalize both programs
Outcomes
(expected
results)
Proposed New / Changed
Programs, Initiatives,
Activities
Performance
Indicators
(indicate how you will
measure achievement
of outcomes)
Time Frame
(start and end
dates of new
programs /
activities)
O.1
Streamline
operations
1.1 Division of ECL and WP
1.2 Creative Writing
continues to be taught under
ECL
1.3 Writing Center continues
to hire ECL graduate students
based on their qualifications

Catalogue
Fall 07

ongoing

ongoing
8
Resources
(faculty,
staff, budget,
equipment,
space …
needs)
No new
resources
needed
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
AUC Profile” or contact
the IPART office)
Programs
2003 2004
Undergraduate Majors:
81
62
Undergraduate 1349* 119
Enrollments:
Master’s Degrees:
60
Enrollment Projections:
(Projected fall semester enrollments)
2005 2006 2007
03
30
32
159
81
82
20
22
2008 2009 2010
35
37
40
24
26
28
Graduate Diplomas:
* This figure must be that part of an older accounting system that included Writing
Program (WP) enrollments.
9