Some
years ago, when I first heard that Bilkent's Department of Communication and Design was
putting out a newspaper called "Bayat Haber" (Stale News), I thought
that it was a cute oxymoron. It seemed to me that if it is stale, it can't be news. Now I
realize that some items, even if not recent news, still ought to be published. Since Bilkent
News is not printed during the summer, one of the appointments I will announce
here actually goes back a few months.
Since 2005, Professor Turgut Tan, the Founding Dean of our Faculty of Law, had been
quietly expressing his interest in leaving administration in order to devote more time to
his teaching and publications. This summer his wishes were realized. He turned over the
administration of the Law faculty to Professor Osman Gürzumar. We are grateful to
Professor Tan for having served as a Dean, in the most formative years of his faculty.
During these years, Professor Gürzumar had served as the Associate Dean. He will now take
the helm of the Office of the Dean, and put his considerable energy, experience and talent
to bring his Faculty to new heights in the international arena.
A more recent appointment is that of Professor Arif Çağlar, as Director of Bilkent's
Graduate School of Education in Erzurum (GSEE). The new high school we established in
Erzurum is designed to operate as a laboratory school of GSEE. Many of the teachers of the
Erzurum high school are preparing to start part-time graduate studies at our Graduate
School of Education in Bilkent-Ankara. After GSEE completes its professorial appointments,
it will eventually take over the Erzurum students.
Last week, Professor Orhan Aytür agreed to serve as an Associate Provost. I am confident
that his appointment will help Bilkent better coordinate the university wide efforts
towards academic excellence. In addition to his new responsibilities, Professor Aytür
will continue to administer the information programs for incoming undergraduate students.
The most recent news I will report here involves our Faculty of Business Administration.
Last week, I met with the academic staff of Bilkent's Business School and informed them
that Dean Erhan Erkut has agreed to serve as the Founding Rector of the new university
that is being established by Mr. Hüsnü Özyeğin. Dean Erkut will leave Bilkent this
December and move to İstanbul, and Professor Erdal Erel is to take over as the Acting
Dean of Bilkent's Faculty of Business Administration. Dean Erkut had a short but moving
experience at Bilkent. He initiated several new programs, put considerable effort into
faculty recruitment, and became well known for his dynamic approach. The AACSB
accreditation of Bilkent Business programs was completed during his administration.
Professor Erdal Erel has been serving as the Director of Bilkent's Graduate Programs in
Social Sciences for many years and has been admired for blending administrative
effectiveness with a harmonious collegial management style. Managerial talents of our
Business School are clearly glowing.
The academic and institutional strengths of Bilkent serve to be exemplary to others and I
am proud to be a member of such a community.
Ali Doğramacı
rector@bilkent.edu.tr
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