September 6, 2012
Ariel University Center is on its way to receiving full recognition of its official university status. It’s been a long, windy road. As we near the light at the end of the tunnel there are still a number of potholes in our way.
The academic body responsible for determining the institution’s eligibility for university status, known as the Council for Higher Education in Judea and Samaria, gave an official recommendation to fully approve the upgrade. All that remains is the signature of General Nitsan and the decision will be final. But that doesn’t mean that there hasn’t been opposition. Here’s a review of some of the landmarks along the way:
- February 2, 2005 – A government decision of “… national importance …” was made to upgrade the institution to a university.
- July 2005 – Deputy Attorney General stated that “the authority to decide” belongs to the Council for Higher Education in Judea and Samaria.
- 10/11/2005 – The Council for Higher Education in Judea and Samaria established an investigative committee, comprised of six leading Israeli professors.
- 30/08/2006 – Committee recommends, Council for Higher Education in Judea and Samaria confirms: temporary recognition as a university for five years, while setting academic goals to obtain permanent recognition.
- January 2012 – The committee’s final report was sent to the Council for Budgeting and Planning with a unanimous and unequivocal recommendation: “Ariel is a good university … to be accepted now.”
- 07/04/2012 – The Council for Budgeting and Planning recommends to the Council for Higher Education in Judea and Samaria not to approve the recognition of the university, and attacks the entire process.
- 17/07/2012 – Resolution: the Council for Higher Education in Judea and Samaria discussed the final report of the six professors and, notwithstanding the recommendation of the Council for Budgeting and Planning, decides to recognize the institution in Ariel as a university.
- 08/20/2012 – The Committee of University Heads attempts to undermine the decision by filing case with Israel’s High Court.
- 27/08/2012 – Bar Ilan University announces that she will not participate in the High Court petition brought by the other university heads.
- September, 2012 – Minister of Defense Ehud Barak sends letter to Prime Minister Netanyahu, requesting to withhold final status decision of Ariel’s university until after the High Court’s decision.
So, it’s not the first time that Ariel’s university status has been delayed, though we hope that it will be the last. We look forward to sharing exciting news about the City of Ariel, her residents, and its official recognition as a university.
