Sharjah, Feb. 22, 2009 (WAM) -- H.H. Sheikh Dr. Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, and President of the American University of Sharjah (AUS) chaired at AUS premises today the meeting of the universitys Board of Trustees.

AUS Chancellor, Dr. Peter Heath, said the board approved AUS 2009 fiscal budget, which is 16 per cent higher than last years. The Boards Finance Committee also approved a number of measures to insure the AUS fiscal stability due to global economic uncertainty. The committee also approved a number of construction projects including the construction of a youth activities center for campus community, the renovation of space at the School of Architecture and Design and in the areas of the offices of Enrolment Management and Registration.

Dr. Heath said the Sharjah Ruler conveyed to the board members his satisfaction over the praise AUS receives from the academic community abroad. "The AUS President told the board meeting that he was gratified to the comments he heard during his recent visit to Cairo praising AUS as being viewed as one of the major universities in the region," Dr. Heath said.

The Boards Academic Affairs Committee has endorsed the AUS self study for the re-accreditation of the Middle States Commission on Higher Education in the United States of America. AUS was granted the commissions accreditation five years ago. A visiting team from the commission will be visiting AUS shortly to assess the self study, the Chancellor said.

The Boards Trusteeship Committee approved nomination of Dr. Anthony George Coates, as a new member of the AUS Board of Trustees as of November 2009. Dr. Coates is the Director of Frank Gehry Museum of Biodiversity; the Bridge of Life, Republic of Panama. He is also a Senior Scientist Emeritus at the Smithsonian Institution.

The committee also approved establishment of a board of trustees ad-hock committee on audit and strategic planning.

The Boards Resources Development Committee approved new policy for accepting donations and a new constitution and bylaws for the AUS Alumni Association. The Chancellor also reported to the board on the current searches for senior administration.

Members of the AUS Board of Trustees are: His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan Bin Mohammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member, Ruler of Sharjah, and Chairman of the Board and President of AUS; Dr. MaryAnn Baenninger, President, College of Saint Benedict, Minnesota, USA; Mr. Joseph L. Brand, Senior Partner, Patton Boggs LLP, Washington, DC, USA; Professor Lord Alec Broers, Member of the British House of Lords, UK; Mr. Abdul Jalil Yousuf Darwish, Chairman of UAE Enterprises Group; Dr. Leroy S. Fletcher, Regents Professor Emeritus, Thomas A. Dietz Professor Emeritus, Texas A&M University, USA; Dr. Roderick S. French, Chancellor Emeritus, AUS; Dr. Peter Heath, AUS Chancellor; Mr. Hamid D. Jafar, Chairman and CEO, Crescent Petroleum Company, Sharjah; Dr. Cornelius Kerwin, Interim President, American University, Washington, DC, USA; Baroness Onora ONeill of Bengarve, CBE PBA FMedSci, Member of the British House of Lords, UK; Honorable John R. Petty, Chairman, TECSEC, Incorporated, Virginia, USA; Mr. Maroun A. Semaan, President and CEO, Petrofac International Ltd., Sharjah. The meeting was also attended by the following AUS vice chancellors: John Mosbo, Academic Affairs; Salem Al Qaseer, Public Affairs; Dr. Moza Al Shehhi, Student Affairs; George DeBin, Finance and Administration; and Ali Shuhaimy, Enrollment Management.

Copyright Emirates News Agency (WAM) 2009.