On 28 February, Rector Ali Dogramaci announced he will officially resign from the rector position, four months earlier than originally planned. Leadership will pass to Provost Abdullah Atalar, who will serve as interim rector until the official new rector is announced. Prof. Atalar is the sole name submitted by the Board of Trustees for new rector. Read below for Prof. Dr. Ali Dogramaci's official letter.

Additionally, in honor of our dear founder, the Board of Trustees has submitted a decision to change the name of our school to Ihsan Dogramaci Bilkent University, pending approval by YÖK. Stay tuned to our emails and to Bilumni for more information to come. 



28 Subat 2010

Bilkent Ailesinin Çok Degerli Mensuplari,

30 Haziran 2010'da Rektörlük görevimden ayrilacagimi 9 Kasim 2009 tarihli mektubumda açiklamistim. Ancak, kurucumuz Prof. Dr. Sayin Ihsan Dogramaci'nin ebediyete intikali bu tarihi öne çekmek zorunlulugunu ortaya çikarmis bulunmaktadir. 27 Subat Cumartesi günü rektörlük görevimden 1 Mart 2010 itibariyla ayrilacagimi, Mütevelli Heyeti'nin sayin üyelerine arz ettim. Üniversitemizin ana yönetmeligine göre yeni rektör atanana kadar provostumuz rektör vekili olarak bu makamin sorumluluklarini yüklenmek durumundadir.

9 Kasim 2009 tarihli mektubumdan sonra Mütevelli Heyeti bir rektör adayi belirleme komitesi olusturmustu. Geçen hafta bu komite Prof. Dr. Abdullah Atalar'i tek aday olarak Mütevelli Heyeti'ne önerdi. 27 Subat tarihli istifa mektubumdan sonra Mütevelli Heyeti Prof. Dr. Abdullah Atalar'i rektör atama sürecinin bir asamasi olarak Yüksekögretim Kuruluna önermistir.

1 Mart 2010 tarihinden itibaren Bilkent Üniversitesi Mütevelli Heyeti'nin baskani sifati ile sizlere hizmet edecegim. 1993 yilindan bu yana sizlerden gördügüm yakin destegi yeni rektörümüze de vereceginize inaniyorum. Bu vesile ile Prof. Dr. Sayin Atalar'a yeni görevinde basarilar diliyor, hepinize sevgi ve saygilarimi sunuyorum.

Ali Dogramaci


In English:

February 28, 2010

Dear Members of Bilkent University, 

Even though I had previously announced the end of my term as rector of Bilkent University to be June 30 of this year, our founder Professor Ihsan Dogramaci's recent passing away has made it necessary for me to advance this date. On February 27, 2010, I resubmitted my resignation to the Board of Trustees to be effective March 1st, 2010.

In the light of my resignation letter of November 9, 2009, the Board of Trustees had established a search committee to identify candidates for the new rector. Last week this committee reported to the Board that Professor Abdullah Atalar is their sole candidate. The Board of Trustees then proceeded with a vote and decided to propose Professor Abdullah Atalar to the Council of Higher Education to be approved for the post of rector of Bilkent University. The by-laws of our university stipulate that until a new rector is formally appointed, the provost of the university serves as acting rector.

Starting from March 1, 2010, I will be serving as the chair of the Board of Trustees of Bilkent University. I am grateful for the warm support I have received from every one of you since 1993, and I am confident that you will show the same support to our new rector. I extend every good wish to Professor Abdullah Atalar in his new position. 

With my sincerest best wishes to all of you. 

Ali Dogramaci