Lebanese American University

Coordinates: 33°53′34″N 35°28′40″E / 33.89278°N 35.47778°E

Lebanese American University
الجامعة اللبنانية الأميركية
Motto To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield
Established 1835 as the American School for Girls (ASG)
Type Private
President Joseph G. Jabbra
Provost George K. Najjar
Administrative staff
 588 full-time and 446 part-time instructional faculty[1]
Students 8000+[1]
Location Beirut and Byblos, Lebanon[2]
Website www.lau.edu.lb


The Lebanese American University (Arabic: الجامعة اللبنانية الأميركية ) is a secular, private and independent American university and research institution located in Lebanon. The university is chartered by the Board of Regents of the University of the State of New York and is accredited by the Commission on Institutions of Higher Education of the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (CIHE–NEASC).[3] It is composed of two campuses, one in Beirut and the other in Byblos, and offers programs leading to degrees in Arts, Business, Engineering, Nursing, Sciences, Pharmacy, and Medicine.

LAU is governed by a Board of Trustees[4] that oversees the primary functions of leadership, stewardship and audit. A Board of International Advisors[5] provides counsel on university policies and other matters to the Board of Trustees, president, and senior management.

History

With roots extending back to 1835 as the first school for girls in the Turkish Empire, LAU started as a women’s junior college in 1924 and underwent several name changes as it expanded over the decades.[6]

LAU has seven schools on two campuses in Beirut[7] and Byblos.[8]

Campuses

LAU’s two main campuses — Beirut and Byblos — are located on hillsides near the Mediterranean Sea, around 35 kilometers apart. The campuses offer similarly structured programs in arts, sciences, and business. Programs in nursing and medicine, as well as junior and senior year courses in engineering and pharmacy, are offered exclusively in Byblos.

The 25,368-square-meter Beirut campus is within easy reach of the cultural, social, educational, and recreational resources of Lebanon’s capital. The 159,424-square-meter Byblos campus was inaugurated in 1991 and has seen constant development — from two to ten buildings — since then.

Students on both campuses have access to libraries, gymnasiums, residence halls, theaters, wireless internet, computer centers, laboratories, and academic support services.

In 2013, LAU inaugurated its new headquarters in New York City[9] and a new Executive Center in downtown Beirut.[10]

Accreditation

Since 1949, the university has operated under a charter from the Board of Regents of the University of the State of New York. USNY is a purely administrative body which, among other functions, accredits colleges and universities in the state.[3] In 2010 the university received full NEASC accreditation as per a letter sent to President Joseph G. Jabbra.[11]

The university's five-year Bachelor in Architecture program is accredited by the French government, which allows the graduates to practice in France and the European Union.[3]

The School of Pharmacy is a full member of the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP).[12] Currently, the Doctor of Pharmacy program at the university is the only one outside the United States of America that is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE). The initial accreditation review took place in 2002, when full accreditation was granted. Hence, the university's Pharm.D. graduates are eligible for licensure to work as Pharmacists in most US states and provinces.

All of LAU's School of Engineering programs are accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET). In the academic year 2006-2007, the school started laying out the groundwork for a self-study required by ABET. Full ABET accreditation was received during the Fall semester of 2011. In addition, the university plans to seek European accreditation for its engineering programs to expand the recognition of its degrees to a global level.[3]

The Department of Computer Science and Mathematics is ABET accredited, and is the first ABET-accredited Computer Science program in Lebanon.[13]

The School of Business is currently pursuing accreditation through the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), the oldest and largest business accreditation association in the world. In light of the time frame involved in AACSB accreditation, the school is in the interim exploring the option of accreditation from the European Quality Improvement System (EQUIS), a leading international system of quality assessment, improvement and accreditation of higher education institutions in management and business administration. The School of Business is a member of EFMD which is recognized globally as an accreditation body of quality in management education and has established accreditation services for business schools and business school programs, corporate universities and technology-enhanced learning programs.

The Alice Ramez Chaghoury School of Nursing has received accreditation for its Bachelor of Science in Nursing program through the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).

LAU and Partners Harvard Medical International have signed an innovative 10-year collaboration agreement that will significantly reinforce LAU's Medical School standing. The LAU Medical Center—Rizk Hospital allows students to practice in the clinical element of the program.

Academic programs

LAU’s many undergraduate and graduate degree programs are grouped into seven schools:

School of Architecture and Design

The school was inaugurated in Fall 2009 bringing together under its name all architecture, design and fine arts programs. The university's school of architecture and design is the only accredited American University that offers a B.A in Interior Architecture, and B.A in Interior Design.[14]

The Bachelor of Architecture degree is officially equivalent to the French Diplôme d’Architecture, which allows LAU graduates to practice in France and the European Union.[3]

The School of Architecture and Design offers the following degrees:[15]

Bachelor’s degrees

Bachelor of Architecture.

B.A. in Fine Arts, Interior Architecture and Fashion Design.

B.S. in Graphic Design and Interior Design.

Minors

Minor in Advertising, Digital Media, Fine Arts, Islamic Art and Architecture (IAAD) and Visual Arts.

School of Arts and Sciences

The School of Arts and Sciences is the heart of the university and its oldest school. The School is the home of the liberal arts core, which is at the heart of the mission of the University, and is the major provider of service courses to all Schools at university. Renowned for its broad range of top-notch academic programs, the school prides itself on diverse, highly qualified faculty, dedicated to cultivating students’ critical thinking and communication skills.

The Computer Science Program is the first program in Lebanon to earn accreditation by ABET (Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology).[13]

The School of Arts and Sciences offers the following degrees:[16]

Bachelor’s Degrees

Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in: Arabic Language & Literature, Communication Arts, Education, English Studies, History, Philosophy, Political Science/International Affairs, Political Science, Psychology, Social Work and Translation.

Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in: Bioinformatics, Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Mathematics, Nutrition and Nutrition and Dietetics-Coordinated Program (CP).

Master’s Degrees

Executive Master of Arts (E.M.A) in: Actuarial Science.

Master of Arts (M.A.) in: Comparative Literature, Education, International Affairs, Migration Studies and Women and Gender Studies.

Master of Science (M.S.) in: Computer Science and Molecular Biology

Special Degree

Teaching Diploma (T.D.) in:

Elementary Education, Early Childhood Education and various subjects in intermediate & secondary education.

School of Business

As one of the oldest independent business schools in the Middle East, the School of Business has consistently led the way in business education and research in the region. Today, it remains an innovative and continuously improving school, a member of the European Foundation for Management Development, responsive to the changing face of business.

Behind its success is a business school model that trains students for real-life challenges and is underpinned by robust academic research. Graduates emerge well-rounded, fluent in contemporary business issues, and equipped with the skills and experiences they need to compete in the world’s economies.

The school is currently pursuing accreditation through the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), the oldest and largest business accreditation association in the world, which provides the gold standard by which business education is measured.[17]

The School of Business offers the following degrees:[18]

Bachelor’s Degrees

Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Business with seven concentration areas (specialization studies), besides the general (or no emphasis): Accounting, Banking and Finance, Family and Entrepreneurial Business Management, Information Technology Management, International Business, Management, and Marketing.

Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in: Economics and Hospitality and Tourism Management.

Master’s Degrees

Master of Arts (M.A.) in Applied Economics, Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.), Executive Master of Business Administration (E.M.B.A.), Blended Executive Master of Business Administration (Blended E.M.B.A) and Master of Laws (L.L.M.).

School of Engineering

The School of Engineering combines rigorous academics with a dynamic professional foundation, preparing graduates for successful careers in today’s global market. The school offers a range of courses that are at the forefront of thinking and reflect the latest developments in the field.

All five undergraduate degree programs are accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET). LAU has the only ABET-accredited industrial engineering program in Lebanon.

The School of Engineering offers the following degrees:[19]

Bachelor’s Degrees

Bachelor of Engineering (B.E.) in: Civil Engineering, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Petroleum Engineering and Mechatronics Engineering.

Master’s Degrees

Master of Science (M.S.) in: Civil and Environmental Engineering, Computer Engineering, Industrial Engineering and Engineering Management.

The Gilbert and Rose-Marie Chagoury School of Medicine

Conceived and designed in collaboration with Harvard Medical International, LAU’s Gilbert and Rose-Marie Chagoury School of Medicine offers a forward-thinking, multidisciplinary curriculum.

The school opened its doors in September 2009 offering a medical education of the highest standards to students from Lebanon and the region. While providing talented students with an opportunity to pursue an American-style medical education, it places emphasis on world-class research targeting regional health needs.

The pre-medical and medical curricula combine ethics and humanities helping students to be committed to patients, to develop a core values system, and to build a multiplicity of perspectives. The Clinical Skills and Simulation Center, equipped with integrated computers and multimedia technologies, enables students to safely prepare for real-world environments.

The school of Medicine offers the following degree: Doctor of Medicine (MD).[20]

The Alice Ramez Chagoury School of Nursing

The Alice Ramez Chagoury School of Nursing welcomes students seeking the education and professional experience required to join the ranks of high-quality, safety-conscious and effective health care providers.

The school’s comprehensive and intellectually challenging curriculum emphasizes professional nursing standards, patient-centered care, and ethical practice. Built on a liberal arts foundation, the curriculum complements nursing science with knowledge from the biomedical and social sciences, to assure academic excellence.

As of 2013, the B.S. in Nursing is accredited by the U.S.-based Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.[21]

Graduates of the program are qualified for registered nurse positions both in Lebanon and around the world.

The school of Nursing offers the following degree: Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Nursing.[22]

School of Pharmacy

The LAU School of Pharmacy is nationally and regionally recognized for its enriching academic, clinical and research pharmacy education. It prepares students for careers in clinical pharmacy, emphasizing the importance of combining a thorough understanding of pharmaceutical treatments with the professional values required to serve society ethically.

The school is a member of the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP). LAU’s Doctor of Pharmacy is the only program accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education outside the U.S.[12]

The School of Pharmacy offers the following degrees:[23]

Bachelor’s Degree

Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Pharmacy.

Doctorate Degree

Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.).

LAU Medical Center–Rizk Hospital

The university’s expansion into the field of medical education was buttressed by the acquisition of the LAU Medical Center–Rizk Hospital (LAUMC–RH). LAUMC–RH is designed to support LAU’s Schools of Medicine, Nursing, and Pharmacy by providing clinical facilities and services for teaching and training.

This large medical campus in the heart of Beirut is currently undergoing major renovations to assume its role as a modern university hospital, clinical teaching venue, and research institution. It currently houses several top-notch centers, offering advanced radiology and imaging, dialysis, endoscopy, dermatology, ophthalmology, IVF, and cardiology.[24]

LAU New York Headquarters and Academic Center

LAU’s New York Headquarters and Academic Center, located at 211 E. 46th St in Manhattan, was inaugurated in September 2013. The high-tech facility includes classrooms, business and admissions offices, a student lounge, and a library. It is also home to the LAU’s New York Advancement Staff. At the center, world-class faculty offer courses in a variety of fields that include Islamic banking, peace education, gender studies in the Arab world, and the Arabic language. Regular international conferences and workshops, including public lectures from leading scholars on contemporary regional issues are hosted there as well. LAU has also initiated partnerships with U.S. universities allowing students to transfer credits for courses taken at the Academic Center.[25]

LAU Executive Center @ Solidere

LAU and Solidere have partnered to offer a new venue for courses, conferences and seminars in Beirut Central District, the reconstructed heart of the Lebanese capital.The LAU Executive Center @ Solidere hosts E.M.B.A. and M.B.A. courses, along with executive workshops and seminars. Spread across 600 square meters, the Executive Center includes fully equipped classrooms, a design studio for the School of Architecture and Design, a student lounge, and faculty offices. The center is located at 1301 Marfaa, Beyhum Street. It was inaugurated on August 23, 2013.[26]

Students

Exemplifying diversity and community spirit, LAU’s student body is one of the university’s major assets. In Fall 2013, 20 percent of the student population hailed from outside Lebanon, with 78 nationalities represented in the population, as well as students from all of Lebanon’s diverse cultural backgrounds spread on both campuses. LAU's reputation as a center of excellence, both locally and internationally, is greatly enhanced by its student achievements.

In the fall term of the 2013–2014 academic year, a total of 8,146 students were enrolled at LAU.[1]

Student Life

Student Clubs

Clubs are initiated and organized by students for students and focus on a wide range of interests, including academic majors, culture, sports, human rights, and the arts. They provide students with the opportunity to engage in extracurricular pursuits and hobbies and to establish diverse relationships, contributing to the university goal of developing the whole person.[27]

Play Productions

The university has three theaters—Gulbenkian and Irwin in Beirut, and Selina Korban in Byblos—that are active year-round. Student productions are required of certain majors, and are presented throughout the academic year. The university also offers two major productions, in the fall and spring, and an annual international theater festival that attracts groups from other Middle Eastern universities. Participation in play productions at the university is open to students of any major. For more information, contact the Arts and Communications Department.[28]

Varsity Sports

The basketball, football, handball, volleyball, tennis, table tennis, swimming, and rugby teams at university participate in various local, regional and international collegiate tournaments.[29]

Student Governance

Participation in university's Campus Student Councils and the University Student Council, as well as the Graduate Student Committees on both campuses gives students a voice in the decision-making sphere. Students choose their representatives during elections held in accordance with the respective bylaws.[30]

Libraries

At LAU’s Beirut and Byblos libraries,[31] comprehensive traditional print collections are supplemented by hundreds of electronic databases and thousands of full-text electronic serial titles, thus giving students, faculty and staff millions of scholarly articles, available at their fingertips.

Through agreements with institutions abroad, LAU’s libraries are able to secure in-demand materials otherwise unavailable in Lebanon.

The Riyad Nassar Library in Beirut houses a number of special collections relevant to women’s studies, education, Islamic art, and architecture, as well as the oldest collection of children’s books in Lebanon.

In addition to the current Byblos Library, the Health Sciences Library, which is housed on the Byblos Campus, promotes excellence in health and general well being by developing and maintaining services and resources that support the health information needs of the School of Medicine (SOM), School of Nursing (SON), School of Pharmacy (SOP) and the LAU Medical Center/Rizk Hospital (LAUMC-RH).

The Libraries at the university comprise the following:

Centers and Institutes

Renowned faculty chair LAU’s many centers and institutes. Regular conferences, workshops, and seminars offer specialized knowledge and access to resources throughout the year. Centers and institutes provide specialized training to students, researchers, faculty, and professionals from around the world.

To learn more about LAU’s 19 centers and institutes, access their websites via:

http://www.lau.edu.lb/academics/centers-institutes/

Special programs

Summer Institute for Intensive Arabic Language and Culture (SINARC)

LAU’s Summer Institute for Intensive Arabic Language and Culture provides a multi-faceted language and cultural immersion program that attracts students from around the globe. SINARC courses are tailored to various levels of proficiency and credits can be transferred to institutions of higher education worldwide.

For more information visit: http://www.lau.edu.lb/centers-institutes/sinarc

University Enterprise Office (UEO)

LAU’s University Enterprise Office plays a strategic advisory and coordination role in the university’s projects throughout the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). It oversees the management of the Iraqi Fellows (IF) program, and the Middle East Partnership Initiative’s (MEPI’s) Tomorrow’s Leaders (TL) and Leaders for Democracy Fellows (LDF) programs. The IF program is managed in coordination with the Embassy of Iraq in Beirut, and the LDF program is managed in partnership with Syracuse University in New York.

For more information, visit the following websites: http://mepitl.lau.edu.lb/ and http://ldf.lau.edu.lb/.

Institute for Women’s Studies in the Arab World (IWSAW)

Established in 1973, the Institute for Women’s Studies in the Arab World is committed to pioneering academic research on women in the Arab world. The institute seeks to empower women through development programs and education, and to serve as a catalyst for policy change regarding women’s rights in the region.

IWSAW established a Master’s degree in Women’s and Gender Studies, which LAU launched in 2013. The first of its kind in Lebanon, this graduate program aims to generate a cadre of young, dynamic, qualified researchers in the field.

For more information, visit the IWSAW website: http://iwsaw.lau.edu.lb/

Continuing Education Program (CEP)

Designed for the 21st century workplace, CEP courses, workshops, and programs impart applicable, relevant, and up-to-date knowledge and skills in an array of fields, serving a wide variety of adult learners seeking professional advancement.

CEP’s innovative programs enhance performance and encourage achievement by creating a vibrant learning environment that fosters both personal and professional growth.

Certificate-based programs are offered on campus or at the client’s location.

For more information, visit the CEP website: http://cep.lau.edu.lb/

Faculty

LAU’s recently completed strategic plan significantly raised the bar of faculty qualifications. Out of 312 full-time faculty members, 73 percent hold doctorates or the highest degree in their field, earned from reputable institutions in the United States, Europe, Canada, Australia, Japan, Lebanon and other countries.

The university’s faculty is remarkably diverse: 48 percent of instructors are Lebanese, 39 percent are dual-nationals, and 13 percent are non-Lebanese foreigners. Forty-one percent of full-time faculty members are women. The approximate student–faculty ratio on both campuses is 18:1 (full-time equivalents for fall 2013).[1]

Staff

With 588 full-time staff members, LAU is among the largest private employers in Lebanon and one of the fastest-growing universities in the region. The staff has grown steadily over the years, with new talent increasingly attracted to LAU’s positive work environment and excellent employee benefits package. Key service areas include student development and enrollment management, information technology, advancement, administration, human resources, and marketing and communications.[1]

Alumni

LAU’s 35,158 alumni have settled across the globe. Thirty-six vibrant alumni chapters maintain ties with the university, facilitating networking among generations of graduates. LAU offers numerous benefits and services to alumni, who are regularly invited to participate in reunions, homecomings, conferences, lectures, dinners, and social gatherings. Active members of the university’s alumni association enjoy access to many LAU facilities and participate in alumni elections.[32]

Alumni chapters

[33]

Notable Alumni

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 http://www.lau.edu.lb/about/facts/index.php
  2. ↑ "LAU Endowment". Official LAU website. Copyright 2011, Lebanon. Retrieved March 10, 2012.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Charter and Accreditation LAU website 2014
  4. ↑ Board of Trustees Board of Trustees
  5. ↑ Board of International Advisors Board of International Advisors
  6. ↑ "http://www.lau.edu.lb/about/history/ History of LAU".
  7. ↑ "http://www.lau.edu.lb/locations/beirut/ Beirut Campus".
  8. ↑ "http://www.lau.edu.lb/locations/byblos/ Byblos Campus".
  9. ↑ http://www.lau.edu.lb/news-events/news/archive/lau_opens_in_new_york/
  10. ↑ http://www.lau.edu.lb/news-events/news/archive/lau_unveils_executive_center_a/
  11. ↑ Accreditation decision
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 School of Pharmacy Accreditation School of Pharmacy
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Computer Science and Mathematics Accreditation
  14. ↑ "http://publications.lau.edu.lb/documents/presidents-report-2012.pdf".
  15. ↑ School of Architecture and Design degrees
  16. ↑ School of Arts and Sciences degrees
  17. ↑ http://sb.lau.edu.lb/announcements/#1016
  18. ↑ School of Business degrees
  19. ↑ School of Engineering degrees
  20. ↑ School of Medicine degrees
  21. ↑ School of Nursing accreditation
  22. ↑ School of Nursing degrees
  23. ↑ School of Pharmacy degrees
  24. ↑ http://www.lau.edu.lb/about/related-entities/
  25. ↑ http://www.lau.edu.lb/locations/nyc/
  26. ↑ http://www.lau.edu.lb/locations/ecs/
  27. ↑ http://students.lau.edu.lb/activities/clubs/
  28. ↑ http://sas.lau.edu.lb/communication-arts/contact.php
  29. ↑ http://students.lau.edu.lb/athletics/
  30. ↑ http://students.lau.edu.lb/activities/student-governance/
  31. ↑ http://libraries.lau.edu.lb/
  32. ↑ LAU Alumni official website
  33. ↑ Alumni chapters
  34. ↑ http://www.lau.edu.lb/news-events/news/archive/engineering_graduate_sells_con/
  35. ↑ http://www.reportedgeint.com/index.asp
  36. ↑ http://whoisshe.lau.edu.lb/expert-profile/emily-abi-rashed-nasrallah
  37. ↑ http://www.northeastern.edu/news/2012/12/long-term-unemployment/
  38. ↑ http://publications.lau.edu.lb/documents/lau-magazine-vol13-issue2-summer2011.pdf
  39. ↑ http://whoisshe.lau.edu.lb/expert-profile/anissa-rawda-najjar
  40. ↑ http://www.eyeem.com/
  41. ↑ http://whoisshe.lau.edu.lb/expert-profile/sethrida-tawk-geagea-member-parliament
  42. ↑ https://www.linkedin.com/pub/vick-vanlian/28/56a/77b

External links