AJU will consider comparable institutions, such as universities, schools and nonprofits, to fill the underutilized segments of campus. (photo courtesy of American Jewish University)

American Jewish University announced that it has begun an exploratory process to seek a strategic partner to make use of underutilized portions of the Sunny and Isadore Familian Campus in the Bel Air neighborhood of Los Angeles.

The university’s board of directors will consider a wide range of potential partners and models in which the underutilized segments of the campus will be shared with a strategic partner that aligns with AJU in mission and values. Comparable institutions will be considered as part of the process, including universities, schools and nonprofit organizations.

The parcel of land – located at 15600 Mulholland Drive – is in the heart of Los Angeles near other higher education institutions including the University of California, Los Angeles.

“Over the last eight decades, American Jewish University has evolved to meet the needs of the Jewish community. In that tradition, during the past year, the university has made a range of important strategic decisions to both navigate the pandemic and effectively position AJU for the future long after this crisis recedes,” AJU President Dr. Jeffrey Herbst said.

“As we look to a post-COVID future, AJU envisions a range of educational offerings that draw on online and in-person instruction at our Familian Campus in Los Angeles and Brandeis-Bardin Campus in Simi Valley.

“The Board of Directors believes that it is important to explore whether we could better allocate resources to serve our mission, as we continue to invest in our educational programs and grow our digital capabilities. The AJU is at the beginning of this exploration and no decisions have been made,” Herbst said. The review will not include the Brandeis-Bardin Campus in Simi Valley, home of the renowned Brandeis Collegiate Institute and the much-loved Camp Alonim.

“During this challenging year, AJU has made significant investments in new capabilities. We launched B’Yachad/Together: Spirited by AJU, now a leading digital platform for conversations centered on Jewish wisdom. We developed robust online learning options for our Schools of Enterprise Management and Social Impact and Education, and have worked to provide new learning opportunities for our students at the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies. With one of the largest gifts the university has ever received, we created the Maas Center for Jewish Journeys, which champions those too-often relegated to the periphery of Jewish life,” Herbst continued.

“Over the past year, we have seen the profound and wide-ranging ways that AJU is uniquely positioned to meet the needs of the 21st century Jewish community. We look forward to continuing our work to advance Jewish wisdom and elevate Jewish life across North America.”

Institutions interested in learning more about this opportunity can contact Adrian Breitfeld, vice president for finance and administration, at adrian.breitfeld@aju.edu.

For information, visit aju.edu.