Allegations include supplying electricity to non-university users over three decades, multi-million endowment fund losses, inflated retirement compensation packages, and shady drug supply practices at the university’s renowned Medical Center.
I am an AUB graduate yet I am shocked to read such accusations. This will definitely damage AUB’s reputation if it turns out to be true.
I am not fully aware of the report’s content but I hope it will cover the favoritism (Wasta) in the Financial Aid office that some parties used to benefit from on the expense of students truly in need.
The man behind the 500-pages report is Nabil Chartouni, a previous member of the board of trustees. He claims that “the irregularities occurred when he was a member of the board between May 2001 and March 2011” and that “the university’s endowment fund has lost over 200 million dollars in the past 10 years due to mismanagement.”
You can read the whole article [Here].
Thanks Marc
to be honest am not surprised although it saddens that AUB’s reputation will be damaged because of this….
currently an AUB student, i’m glad this has come around. It’s seen far too often and it’s about time lebanese learn that their way of thinking about these things is wrong… appointing people to positions based on who knows who, giving things to people who know people, etc. it’s probably the biggest single problem in lebanon.
maybe the NY attorney general can smack some sense into those responsible. I hope not only to see dismissals, but imprisonment for this bull.
They attempted to raise our fees when they clearly wouldn’t have had to if they had their papers in order.
also, as much as i love some things about AUB, it’s reputation is over-rated. many universities are better than us in many things, we’re just the best cos we’re AUB (the vicious cycle), i’ve trudged through AUB dissapointed, disheartened and feeling inadequate compared to those in other universities (whether in aub or abroad).
I am an AUB graduate and I am not surprised. The corruption in AUB is obvious. I can name two events: (1) the contract of a professor that I knew very well, a professor who without exaggeration is responsible for no less than 50% of the value education I got from AUB in 6 years, was not renewed and he left the university. Good for him. A person in his capacity was able to secure a way more rewarding position in much better country. (2) I happen to know very well the potential of a person who holds an administrative position and has not been promoted for years. While this person remained at the same position, another person who is absolutely incompetent and had failed to provide what he promised in his previous assignment, was promoted to a very high administrative position.
I admit that it is personal, these people are very dear to me, but I am also confident of my evaluation. I can objectively defend my point, but I rather hide identities. Shame on AUB. This is an academic institution where only connections and corruption has prevailed. This is a slippery slope that AUB is on, and soon its academic reputation will follow.
I expect no good from the NY attorney general.
Definitely not surprised either.
Are you saying that other lebanese unis are less corrupted??!!!
With all the corruption in aub, i dont think this will have an effect on the quality of teaching.
I am sure AUB is much better than LAU, AUST and the other lebanese unis!
Most aub students continue their education in the best schools around the world.
How is this relevant to the situation? Just because you think AUB is less corrupt than any other Lebanese university doesn’t make it any better. You’re underrating the amount of corruption that seems to be seeping through AUB. Is corruption present in other universities? Probably, but we’ll never know until someone comes forward with information like Nabil Chartouni has.
There is corruption in all lebanon! I was stating here that if AUB is corrupted like all other businesses in lebanon it does not make the quality of education bad!
It does! When you assign an incompetent person to a high post and invest lots of money, when you discontinue a competent faculty and favor an incomplete one, then hell yeah the quality of education gets worse.
Science is getting very sophisticated and specialized. It is actually a challenge to keep up with the advances. If AUB stays where it is (and not get worse), will definitely become a backward university.
I’m an AUB graduate (2004); even during my time there, many accusations across many subjects were raised.
I hope there is a transparent clarification for this report.
AUB was the best time of my life.