Changes brought by the war and a new Era in the region: the regional Ascendency of American education
Fianacial support
"The secretary reported a grant in aid from the Science, Education and Art division amounting to $45,000 for the purpose of providing scholarships for the students from Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Ethiopia to be nominated by the American Minister in each case with the approval of the President of the University...The secretary also reported a grant in aid from the Science, Education and Art Division amounting to $30,000 to provide an institute for training eighteen native workers for professional welfare work over a period of two years and an extension of Village Welfare Work to Iraq and Trans-Jordan. The secretary also reported the following grants in aid from the Division of Cultural Cooperation in the State Department:
$20,000 - to maintain instruction in pre-professional subjects as tools for technical training
$25,000 - to maintain engineering and agricultural education
$30,000 - to maintain education in public health
These appropriations are identical with similar appropriations made last year supporting projects all of which are in the budget. It was voted that these grants in aid be gratefully accepted when received from the State Department through the Near East College Association. The secretary also outlined the Jiddah project...This project calls for the establishment of a clinic at Jiddah to be supported by the State Department with the American University of Beirut acting as the agent supervising the work."
Minutes of Board of Trustees 1930-47: p. 202-203
Inflation
“During the year the cost of living was so high that full time teachers were given extra bonuses ranging from 70 percent for persons with low salaries to about 35 percent for high paid persons. The cost of living was about 700 percent what it was in 1939.”
Bayard Dodge Diaries, box 1 AA.2.3.4.1.1 in AA:2.3.4.1.5: p. 82
AUB Faculty at end of the war
“We seem to have a larger staff than ever before this year…We have fewer Americans and French than usual, but a number of fine English professors and many Lebanese, Armenians, and others from the Near East. It is hard on us, because we cannot obtain American teachers during the war and our best Arab teachers are constantly being called off for government positions, which it hardly seems patriotic not to encourage.”
Bayard Dodge Personal Letters, box 8 AA:2.3.4 in AA:2.3.4.8.7: December 3, 1944
“In the meantime, two of our teachers are going to the new legations at Paris and two more to Washington. The Syrian and Lebanese Republics are organizing these legations and need educated men to help.”
Bayard Dodge Personal Letters. Found in Box 8 AA:2.3.4 in AA:2.3.4.8.7: January 17, 1945
War losses
Throughout the war, fewer AUB students and Faculty served in the various armies. However, duing this year, President Dodge sadly lost his son to war efforts:
“On November 22nd, 1944, Bayard Dodge Jr., son of President and Mrs. Dodge, died a hero in the invasion of France. He was posthumously awarded the Silver Star and the Purple Heart.”
Bayard Dodge, Jr., United States Army, is reported to have been awarded the Silver Star under the below-listed General Orders for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy while serving with the 103d Infantry Division during World War II.
The Way they Die, Al Kuliyah Review, Bayard Dodge Box 1 Folder 2