Prof. İhsan Doğramacı, founder of Bilkent University, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, and President of the University, was awarded the National Sovereignty Honor Prize for his significant contributions to the promotion and representation of Turkey on the international stage with his distinguished achievements and success. The Presidential Board of the Turkish Parliament unanimously passed the motion to honor Hoca Bey. Prof. Doğramacı was given this award for his outstanding contributions to Turkish education, his founding of Bilkent and Hacettepe Universities and his academic contributions to the field of medicine.

The ceremony to commemorate this achievement took place on Wednesday, May 30, at the Turkish Grand National Assembly where Hoca Bey was recognized for his contributions to Turkey. Delivering a speech at the ceremony after receiving his award, Prof. Doğramacı said that his father had requested that he work for Turkey and the Turkish people: "My father wanted me to serve my country, and not to pursue any financial or political targets. I tried to fulfill his request throughout my life."

Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gül, who nominated Prof. Doğramacı to receive the prize, stated that Prof. Doğramacı has made valuable contributions to the promotion of Turkey in the world. He added that Prof. Doğramacı has successfully represented Turkey on various international platforms and that Kofi Annan, while secretary-general of the United Nations, described Prof. Doğramacı as "an exemplary personality who does not restrict his philanthropy only to his own country."

The Presidential Board of the Turkish Grand National Assembly may award the National Sovereignty Honor Prize to one person each year who has significantly contributed to the promotion and representation of Turkey on the international stage with his or her distinguished achievements and success. In 2005, the Honor Prize of the Parliament was bestowed upon Prof. Gazi Yaşargil, the world-renowned Turkish neurosurgeon and scientist. There were no eligible candidates in 2006 and this year's recipient is Prof. Doğramacı.

BUPS/BIS Director Taking Position at Bilkent’s Graduate School of Education


Rector Prof. Ali Doğramacı, Dr. Gary Crippin and Prof. Abdullah Atalar

Dr. Gary Crippin, the Director of BUPS/BIS for the last four years, will be leaving his position at the end of this year to move to the Bilkent University Graduate School of Education. Dr. Crippin's involvement with secondary school education began in California in 1980 and before coming to Bilkent, he was a director for schools in Italy, Venezuela and Myanmar.

In receiving congratulations from the Rector at the end of his tenure at BUPS he made some comments:
"I was impressed with BUPS when I took the directorship and it has been satisfying to see the school grow and develop over the last few years. I believe that BUPS/BIS is truly a model school which is at the forefront of educational change in Turkey. My years at the school have brought both challenges and opportunities and I want to thank the Rector, members of the Executive Council, as well as my administration team, teachers and parents for the support they have given me. Together we have helped to move the school forward in some very significant ways which gives me great satisfaction." Dr. Crippin expressed his satisfaction regarding his appointment to the Graduate School of Education.
Dr. Crippin earned his BA from Dartmouth College and his PhD from UCLA.

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The Bilkent University Board of Trustees met on June 11, 2007. Present at the meeting were Chairman İhsan Doğramacı, Şencan Özme, M. Lütfü Sel, Ergün Toğrol, Ergül Tunçbilek, Gülsev Kale, Ahmet Nalbur, Boğaç Üner, and Rector Ali Doğramacı.
The Board reviewed proposals from the University Senate and approved the Senate's proposals to change the regulations of BUSEL and establish a new PhD program at the Graduate School of Education in Ankara as well as master’s and doctoral programs at the Graduate School of Education in Erzurum.

Following the approvals, the Board of Trustees discussed a number of issues. Topics discussed were the graduate education regulations for Bilkent University Graduate Schools of Education as well as developments in the Bilkent University Eastern Project that is establishing schools in Eastern Turkey to prepare students for education at the university level. The Provost, Abdullah Atalar and the Vice Rector for Administrative and Financial Affairs, Kürşat Aydoğan, briefed the Board on externally funded projects, budget and financial matters, and ongoing construction on campus. The Board of Trustees reviewed the income and expenditures for the 2007 fiscal year and concluded that they were in line with the budget approved at the previous board meeting.

As part of the approved budget the tuition fees for the upcoming academic year are as follows:
Students admitted in 2007: 15,400 YTL (8% VAT included)
International Students admitted in 2007: $12.080 (%8 VAT is included)
Students admitted in 2005 and 2006: 15,400 YTL (8%VAT included)
Students admitted in 2004: $9,230 (8%VAT included)
Students admitted in 2001, 2002 and 2003: $7,880 (8%VAT included)
International Students admitted in 2005 and 2006: $12,080
International Students admitted in 2002, 2003 and 2004: $9,750

NANOTR-III Being Held at Bilkent


Prof. Nüket Yetiş, the Acting President of TÜBİTAK, during the opening remarks.

The NANOTR-III: Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Conference is being held at Bilkent University this week. Running from June 11-14, 2007, the conference opened Monday morning with opening remarks from Prof. Salim Çıracı, of the Physics Department, Prof. Nüket Yetiş, the Acting President of TÜBİTAK, Dr. Ahmet Tıktık, the Undersecretary of the State Planning Organization and Prof. İhsan Doğramacı, Chairman of Bilkent's Board of Trustees. (continues)