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 in addition to establishing a partnership with U.S universities during the timespan of December 2020 to September, 2022. Dr. Herb Amato and his team from JMU’s Academic Development 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 instrumental 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. 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 has been fully equipped with evaluating their classes at a program level. The JMU COB continued 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 including, International Relations, Strategic Studies, and Public Policy. Similarly, to Dr. Mousa and the JMU COB activities, the JMU CAL team provided reviews of curriculums, mentorships, analyzing curriculum outcomes, providing curriculum mapping, creating assessment methodologies, and providing workshops. In the final quarters, the JMU CAL team worked on preparing the first ever self-study for AUK in order to help address NECHE accreditation.

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

• Academic Affairs Dean’s Office
• Academic Development
• Center for Assessment and Research Studies
• Center for Entrepreneurship
• 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
• 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 Office of Grants management, and (3) provided resources to the Office of Grants Management 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 teh 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 the dedicated efforts to support AUK, offices at JMU for their dedicated efforts to support AUK on this project:

• Academic Development
• Center for Global Engagement
• College of Arts and Letters
• College of Business
• College of Integrated Science and Engineering
• Corporate and Foundation Relations
• Department of Engineering
• Department of Geology and Environmental Science
• Department of Political Science
• Development
• Financial Reporting
• Gilliam Center for Entrepreneurship
• Honors College
• 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
• X-labs

CISR, in collaboration with Dr. Farris Mousa from the JMU COB has set out to continue its support of AUK COB submission for accreditation to the AACSB International. This grant work follows the previous grant work CISR had completed in the past and will continue through August 2024. Activities for CISR includes 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 aided in mentorships and reviews. Lastly, CISR has aided in the onboarding and departures of faculty changes at AUK. 

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