Dear Faculty,

We are pleased to update you on recent accomplishments at the HU:

1. New Faculty recruitments: This academic year 2017-2018 there will be 950 senior faculty members at the Hebrew University. According to our Development Plan, every year we will recruit 50 new faculty members, and with the expected rate of retirements, the number of HU faculty will increase gradually to approximately 1,000 members in three years and at 1,070 faculty members in seven years. We plan to effectively increase the number of faculty members in the experimental sciences. In the non-experimental sciences we expect to have a steady small growth or to maintain the current number of faculty members.
2. Funds: Congratulations to faculty members who achieved ERC research grants. Those who received ERC Starting Grants in 2017: Dan Rockni (Medicine), Ofra Benny (Pharmacology), Mati Joshua (ELSC) and Oren Parnas (Medicine); Those who were awarded ERC Consolidator Grants: Alex Retzker (Physics), Amir Amedi (Medicine) and Michael Temkin (Mathematics).
3. Students: The number of students who started learning for their Bachelor’s Degree in the 2017-2018 academic year is approximately 3,700 (a drop of 1%) and the overall number of students at HU remains the same as last year, approximately 21,000. Vice-Rector Assaf Friedler continues to head the Admissions Committee and is heading the University’s activities in the area of student recruitment.
4. Sexual Harassment Prevention: University Management continues in its non-compromising struggle to protect and respect the University Community (males and females). Each and every one of us must refrain from hurting others, and we have to keep our eyes open to protect others from sexual harassment or any other form of harassment. Be aware and reprimand your colleagues who do not behave appropriately and when necessary report to the heads of the departments or to the Ombudsman for Sexual Harassment Prevention. Say NO!
5. Diversity and Multi-Culturalism: We are working on a variety of ways to help minority group students in general and specifically Arab and Ultra-Orthodox students to integrate into and succeed at HU and to encourage them to continue on to advanced degrees with the hope that one day they will integrate as senior faculty members.  HU provides its students with personal tutoring (coaching) by veteran students and mentoring by faculty members, developing preparatory courses prior to the beginning of the academic year, and more. We seek your help in this area—many activities in the various academic units are the result of initiatives made by faculty members who are committed to social responsibility. We would be happy to help promote more initiatives in this area.

 

Sincerely,

Asher Cohen, President

Barak Medina, Rector