The Center for International Stabilization and Recovery (CISR) has been strategically supporting the American University of Kurdistan (AUK) to build capacity and support its pursuit for New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE) accreditation. This ongoing project, entitled Supporting American-Style Higher Education in Iraq, is funded by a grant from the US Department of State's Office of Assistance Coordination (NEA/AC) in the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs and so far has encompassed three separate grant awards. CISR, in collaboration with JMU’s College of Business (COB), Center for Global Engagement (CGE), College of Arts and Letters (CAL), and a diverse set of JMU faculty and students, has organized a series of capacity-building initiatives for AUK. CISR activities encompassed mentorships, workshops, JMU campus visits with in-person training, data collection, documentation reviews, curriculum-mapping, and a self-study to accomplish AUK’s objectives. CISR’s activities since December 2020 have provided significant progress towards AUK’s objectives and forged a partnership among CISR, AUK, and JMU.

CISR set out to support and enhance AUK’s accreditation initiatives as well as its goal of establishing partnerships with U.S. universities, during the timespan of December 2020 to September 2022. Dr. Herb Amato and his team from JMU’s Faculty Affairs and Curriculum office provided guidance and training to AUK faculty to support’s AUK accreditation initiatives. Dr. Amato’s activities included in-person, on-campus meetings with stakeholders, documentation reviews, and conducting workshops on academic program reviews. Dr. Keston Fulcher and his team from JMU’s Center for Assessment and Research Studies provided mentorships and training on institutional assessments for AUK faculty, including virtual and in-person workshops and ongoing consultations. Activities included conducted workshops, courses, and consultations for the entire duration. In addition, CISR and JMU faculty visited AUK to address any needs and to finalize changes and expand AUK’s capacity. This visit included meetings with a number of administrative units in addition to the head of AUK’s general education program.  

CISR welcomed and organized a trip for AUK colleagues to visit James Madison University’s (JMU) campus from October 5–13, 2021. Meetings and mentorships were held in person to discuss further the activities related to improving academic and administrative operations at AUK. Through collaboration with JMU’s Center for Global Engagement, CISR facilitated a cross-cultural exchange for JMU and AUK Student Government Associations. Additionally, CISR hosted 12 representatives from AUK’s student government from March 6–11, 2022. Members of JMU’s student government mentored with the AUK student government representatives, who also learned about the expectations and experiences of students at American institutes of higher learning.

In collaboration with CISR, Dr. Fariss Mousa and JMU’s College of Business (COB) partnered with AUK’s COB to guide AUK towards Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AASCB) accreditation. Activities included aligning AUK’s COB strategic plan with NECHE and AACSB standards and revising curriculums, mentoring faculty, and program evaluation. JMU COB mentored AUK’s faculty to provide a roadmap for current and future curriculums. Dr. Mousa and JMU COB conducted virtual and in-person workshops on topics that AUK required. AUK is now well-equipped to evaluate classes at a program level. The JMU COB continues to work in collaboration with AUK to mentor and guide AUK as needed.

During this same time span, Dr. Blake and the JMU CAL team focused on supporting a path towards NECHE accreditation for AUK’s programs in International Relations, Strategic Studies, and Public Policy. Similar to Dr. Mousa and the JMU COB activities, the JMU CAL team provided reviews of curriculum and mentorships with a focus on analyzing curriculum outcomes, providing curriculum mapping, creating assessment methodologies, providing workshops and guiding AUK in preparation for academic program reviews.

CISR extends its sincere appreciation to the following offices at JMU for their dedicated efforts to support AUK on this project:

• Center for Assessment and Research Studies
• Center for Global Engagement
• College of Arts and Letters
• College of Business
• College of Integrated Science and Engineering
• Department of Engineering
• Department of Political Science
• Edith J. Carrier Arboretum
• Faculty Affairs and Curriculum
• Gilliam Center for Entrepreneurship
• Honors College
• Madison International Learning Course
• Office of Research and Scholarship
• School of Nursing
• Student Affairs
• Student Government Association
• The Graduate School
• University Career Center
• UREC
• Varsity Tennis Team

CISR was deeply involved in supporting the Office of Grants Management (OGM) at AUK. Support was provided through strategic engagements with key stakeholders, including OGM Director Omed Zawity and Provost Nazar Numan. CISR (1) provided workshops, (2) provided mentorships and training to the director of the OGM, and (3) provided resources to the OGM, on pre-award and post-award activities. CISR provided a suggested framework for OGM and delivered multiple successful workshops over the course of nearly two years of sustained engagement (November 2021–August 2023). The workshops to support faculty in applying for funding saw a combined total of 30 unique participants. Workshops were recorded for future viewings and CISR provided mentorships to create sustainability past CISR’s direct efforts. CISR equipped AUK with relevant resources, refining their policies and procedures, and facilitating knowledge-sharing sessions. In the final quarters, CISR explored potential funding opportunities for AUK and aided in submitting a concept for the US Department of State's Office of Cooperative Threat Reduction in the Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation (ISN/CTR).

CISR extends its sincere appreciation to the following individuals for their dedicated efforts to support AUK, offices at JMU for their dedicated efforts to support AUK on this project:

• Administration and Finance: Financial Reporting
• Center for Global Engagement
• College of Arts and Letters
• College of Business
• College of Integrated Science and Engineering
• Department of Engineering
• Department of Geology and Environmental Science
• Department of Political Science
• Faculty Affairs and Curriculum
• Financial Reporting
• Gilliam Center for Entrepreneurship
• Honors College
• JMU X-Labs
• Office of Research and Scholarship
• Office of Research Integrity
• Office of Sponsored Programs – Administrative Services
• Office of Sponsored Programs – Financial Services
• Office of the Provost
• University Advancement: Corporate and Foundation Relations
• University Advancement: Development

CISR, in collaboration with Dr. Farris Mousa from JMU's College of Business (COB) has set out to continue its support of AUK COB submission for accreditation to the AACSB International. This grant work follows the initial collaboration between AUK and JMU COB and will continue through August 2024. Activities for CISR include providing guidance and additional mentorships, data collection, documentation reviews, academic course mapping, course evaluations, and new connection points. In regards to the connection points, the JMU COB introduced AUK to the University of Wisconsin Whitewater who participated in an academic program review. Lastly, CISR has aided in the transition of new faculty at AUK's COB to ensure effective onboarding of new instructors.

CISR extends its sincere appreciation to faculty from JMU’s COB for their dedicated efforts to support AUK in this effort.

Building upon the work previously accomplished in this ongoing multi-year project, COB faculty will continue providing advice, mentorship, and informational resources to support AUK’s College of Business as they prepare to submit an accreditation application to the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business standards. JMU COB faculty mentors are helping AUK’s College of Business strengthen their mission and strategic goals, develop competencies, refine curriculum, and create evaluation plans. JMU faculty from Communications and Marketing will also lend their expertise as they mentor, advise, and support AUK’s Office of Communications. Over the course of this project, CISR will bring together many JMU administrators, faculty, staff, and students. This collaboration aims to provide support in the areas of human resources, admissions, and recruitment, and campus facilities at AUK. The overall goal is to assist AUK with its aspirations of building a university of the highest quality, guided by the rigorous requirements of U.S. academic accreditation standards.