FEBRUARY 02 , 2009

faculty and staff meeting 2009: challenges and triumphs

“What is Bethlehem University ?” asked Vice Chancellor Brother Peter Bray, in his opening speech at the Spring Semester faculty and staff meeting held on 23 January 2009 .  “These buildings are beautiful, but Bethlehem University is more than them. I believe it is the pattern of relationships that exist here. The nature of those relationships determines the culture of Bethlehem University .”

Bethlehem University staff and faculty members met to discuss different issues and challenges related to the university. The gathering was rich with a variety of announcements, updates, and encouragements for the upcoming semester.

Brother Peter Bray, the new Vice Chancellor of Bethlehem University, kicked off the meeting by presenting a thank you plaque to Brother Robert Smith, on behalf of the staff and faculty members. Brother Robert has served as the University's Interim Vice Chancellor as well as the Vice President for Academic Affairs for the past thirteen months following the death of the previous Vice Chancellor, Brother Daniel Casey. Now, with the appointment of Brother Peter as Vice Chancellor, Brother Robert will continue serving as the Vice President for Academic Affairs.

A message highlighted during the meeting was that Bethlehem University is proud of its faculty and staff whose constant hard work and professional dedication strengthens the university in its educational mission of service to the Palestinian community. As part of the university's continued encouragement for its staff and faculty, three faculty members were promoted to the rank of full professor: Dr. Moen Kanaan, Dean of Faculty of Science, Dr. Moen Halloun, Chairperson of the Department of Arabic, and Dr. Mahmoud Abu Katteh, lecturer at the Department of Arabic. Congratulations to our new professors on campus!

The meeting also included various updates from different Bethlehem University faculty and staff: two Deans (Dr. Fadi Kattan and Dr. Moen Kannan) and two Directors (Mr. Mousa Rabadi and Dr. Joseph Zaknoun). Dr. Fadi Kattan, Dean of Business Administration, spoke of the meaning of the graduation ceremony later in the day for the second cohort of the Masters in International Cooperation and Development (MICAD) as well as the plans for the development of an additional possible masters in financial management. Dr. Moen Kannan, Dean of Science, provided information about the new first ever Masters in Biotechnology offered in Palestine, which began in September 2008 in cooperation with Palestine Polytechnic University. Mr. Mousa Rabadi, Director of the Institute for Community Partnership, spoke of a number of the programs offered at the ICP and Dr. Joseph Zacnoun, Director of the Cardinal Martini Leadership Institute described the planned activities of the Institute for the coming semester.

Sami El- Yousef, Vice President for Finance and Planning, also provided the faculty and staff with an update on the financial changes and challenges that the University must address. He said there are many students who have yet to pay their tuition fees for the Spring semester and that an significant number have not yet applied for student loans that have been made available through the Ministry of Education and Higher Education. In addition, with the recent salary increase approved by the Ministry of Education, without an increase in subsidy from the Palestinian Authority nor an increase in donor support for the University, there is a necessity to increase student tuition so as to provide the needed revenue for the University. While the University continues to meet a most important need for the Palestinian society, the current financial situation of the world economy and that of Bethlehem University presents great challenges for us all said Mr. El-Yousef.