FORMANITES last weekend celebrated many changes their alma mater has undergone since denationalisation and emerged as a first rate university under Rector Dr Peter H Armacost’s visionary leadership spanning over a decade.

The Forman Christian College Alumni Association’s (FAA) Annual Reunion 2012, dedicated to Dr Armacost, also served to say a warm send-off to his well-deserved retirement in July next – as well as saying welcome to the incoming Rector, Dr James Tebbe.

The FAA’s ninth reunion week, which showcased a host of activities, also accorded an opportunity to old Formanites to pay glowing tributes to Dr Armacost for becoming instrumental in the renaissance of FCC. His wife Dr Mary-Linda Armacost, a noted academic, was also acknowledged for her support.

The reunion week functions started on Feb 25 with alumni sports included a cricket match between the Ahmad Saeed XI and Peter Armacost XI over two days, which was won by the latter. Besides games and refreshments for alumni and their families, the alumni also had the opportunity to meet in professional groups as well as decade-wise gatherings, followed by class photos and cluster dinners in the FCC hostels.

Two alumni – former Punjab chief minister Mian Muhammad Afzal Hayat and Chairman and CEO of En Pointe Technologies, Inc.

Attiazaz Munawwaruddin – were honoured with distinguished Formanite awards for outstanding contributions in their fields at the annual dinner late on Saturday night.

Recognising rector’s services in rebuilding FCC and gelling Formanites into a family, Mr Hayat said, “Whatever we do, it will be very difficult for us to pay back Dr Armacost and the college for what they have done for us.” Mr Munawwaruddin said he had spent two of the best years of his life at FCC and benefitted not just from classroom instruction but the mentoring and love he had received. He said Dr Armacost has revived college’s past glory within a decade. “Dr Armacost may be leaving, but he is not leaving our hearts,” he added. Mr Munawwaruddin had also given a talk on “What it takes to be a successful entrepreneur – story of a Pakistani in USA” on March 1, which was attended by over 200 students.

Speaking at annual reunion, FAA president Chaudhry Ahmad Saeed said Dr Armacost had achieved the Herculean task of reviving college’s pre-nationalisation glory and then transformed it into a first rate university within a decade.

Stating that Dr Armacost had a unique ability to communicate with people ranging from a peon to president, Mr Saeed said he proved many doubters wrong and encouraged alumni and faculty alike to contribute to the renaissance at FCC.

Enumerating his achievements, he said Dr Armacost introduced American style four-year Baccalaureate programme, MBA and M.Phil in biotechnology, chemistry, economics and public policy. Over 9,000 books were added to college’s library. The college has over 250 faculty members including 101 teachers holding doctorate’s degree. He said the college’s enrolment rose from 3,000 to 4,600 and added that some 30 per cent students were receiving financial assistance and scholarships. “The FAA will maintain college’s generosity in awarding financial assistance and scholarships as well as improve it in every coming year,” he said.

Dr Armacost said the success the college had achieved during the last decade was the result of a team effort. He thanked all those, who became instrumental in materialising college’s denationalisation; joining of faculty members including 19 teachers, who had served the college in pre-nationalisation era; establishment of two new academic buildings as well as important additions in the infrastructure; and FAA president Chaudhry Saeed’s leadership in helping transform the college into a top ranking university. He said the FAA turned out to be a fully supportive alumni association working closely with management to achieve the goals of the college.

Dr Armacost also introduced incoming Rector Dr James Tebbe saying “FCC will be in safe hands in the decade ahead.”

Dr Tebbe, son of a former FCC principal Dr Robert Tebbe, is currently working with Dr Armacost and will formally take charge of college Rector on July 1, 2012. He was born and raised in Pakistan. He was educated in Pakistan, the US and the UK and has a long experience of working as a CEO of an international organisation.

Speaking to Dawn, Dr Tebbe said he would strive to take the college to new heights through imparting of world class education.

He said he would focus on issues of pedagogy to ensure imparting of excellent education that would ultimately hone critical thinking. Stating that a university could not rise above its faculty, he said he would ensure that college faculty should take lead in developing itself. He said finest faculty members would be attracted to serve at this prestigious seat of learning. Dr Tebbe said he would also strive to attain western accreditation for the college so that the graduating Formanites would readily be accepted by the world at large. Admitting that the process of acquiring western accreditation was started, he said, the accreditation committee could never travel to this college on the pretext of negative advisory for travelling to Pakistan.

Stating that much of the work and decisions had been carried out to make western accreditation possible, he said, it would be a long process and might take three to four years. “The FCC has already met all requirements of winning western accreditation,” he said.

Referring to Higher Education Commission’s ranking of universities based on research work done, Dr Tebbe said undergraduate and graduate programmes were very important in grooming a vast majority of students and wished that the commission should have adopted different ways of measuring students’ quality as well.

Dr Tebbe said he would also be looking to introduce new disciplines that would be beneficial as well as marketable in Pakistan.

“Introduction of new disciplines will be aimed at providing leadership to the country, business and industry – and make Pakistan a comparative nation,” he added.

Dr Tebbe said the college would continue to consult Dr Armacost for guidance. “Dr Armacost will continue to visit here frequently, if he accepts an offer of serving on HEC board,” he said.— mansoormalik173@hotmail.com