The history of The American University in Cairo, an accredited, private liberal arts institution and the largest U.S. university outside the United States, is presented. The majority of both students and faculty are Egyptian, but the university community is international with members from the Middle East, Europe, Asia, Africa, and America. The language of instruction is English. Topics include: expansion problems, cultural and religious differences, strains in American-Egyptian relations in the 1950s and 1960s, and teaching and learning in contemporary Egypt. Established 67 years ago by a small band of American educators, the university has ventured into new areas since the mid-1960s. The student body has grown and admission has become increasingly selective. New programs in business, computer science, and engineering complement the continuing focus on liberal arts. Graduate study has increased in importance and prestige. The growth of the university, expansion of programs, and enhancement of quality accelerated during the 1980s in an era of increasing good will between Americans and Egyptians. Included are enrollment data and color photographs. (SW)