Lebanese American University

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

Lebanese American University
الجامعة اللبنانية الأميركية

Former name	American School for Girls (ASG)1835-1924) Beirut Female Seminary. Beirut University College (BUC) in 1973
Motto	To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield
Type	Private
Established	1924
President	Joseph G. Jabbra
Provost	George K. Najjar
Administrative staff	310 full-time and 508 part-time faculty; 618 full-time and 179 part-time Staff (Summer 2017)[1]
Students	8,493 (7,590 Undergraduate, 672 Graduate, 231 Doctoral-Professional) (Summer 2017)[1]
Location	Beirut and Byblos, Lebanon[2]
Language	English
Website	www.lau.edu.lb

The Lebanese American University (Arabic: الجامعة اللبنانية الأميركية ) is a secular and private American university located inLebanon. It 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 and offers more than 64 degrees in various fields. ^[4]

Campuses

LAU's two campuses, Beirut and Byblos, are approximatively 35 kilometers apart. The campuses offer the same programs in arts, sciences, and business. However, programs in nursing, medicine, engineering and pharmacy are offered exclusively in Byblos.

The Beirut campus is 2.5368 hectare and the Byblos campus is within reach of the capital. The 15.9424 hectare. The latter was inaugurated in 1991. Students have access to libraries, gymnasiums, residence halls, theaters, wireless internet, computer centers, laboratories, and academic support services.

In 2013, LAU inaugurated its headquarters in New York City^[5] and a new Executive Center in downtown Beirut.^[6]

Accreditations, Affiliations and Charters^[7]

The Lebanese American University (LAU) is chartered by the Board of Regents of the University of the State of New York. It is accredited by the Commission on Institutions of Higher Education of the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (CIHE—NEASC).

The School of Pharmacy is a member of the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP). All B.E in Civil, Computer, Electrical, Industrial and Mechanical Engineering are accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET):.

LAU’s B.S. in Computer Science program is accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET).

The Bachelor of Science in Nursing is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).

In April 2016, the LAU Adnan Kassar School of Business earned the AACSB accreditation.^[8]

LAU has earned accreditation for its Adnan Kassar School of Business by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) in its BS programs: Business Studies, Economics, Hospitality and Tourism Management, and its Masters: Master of Business Administration (MBA) and Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA).

The Bachelor of Architecture degree at LAU is recognized by the French Ministry of Culture & Communication, and is in the process of being reviewed for accreditation by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB).

Academics and Rankings

LAU has seven schools divided into several departments.^[9]

• School of Arts and Sciences: Communication Arts, Computer Science and Mathematics, Education, English, Humanities, Natural Sciences, Social Sciences.^[10]
• School of Architecture and Design: Art and Design, Architecture and Interior Design, Foundation Program.
• Adnan Kassar School of Business: Economics, Finance and Accounting, Hospitality Management and Marketing, Information Technology and Operations Management, Management Studies.^[11]
• School of Engineering: Civil, Electrical and Computer, Industrial and Mechanical.^[12]
• Gilbert and Rose-Marie Chagoury School of Medicine.
• Alice Ramez Chagoury School of Nursing.
• School of Pharmacy.

LAU Medical Center–Rizk Hospital

On June 30, 2009, LAU acquired the LAU Medical Center–Rizk Hospital (LAUMC–RH).^[15] LAUMC–RH houses several centers, providing radiology and imaging, dialysis, endoscopy, dermatology, ophthalmology, IVF, and cardiology.^[16]

LAU New York Headquarters and Academic Center

LAU's New York Headquarters and Academic Center was inaugurated in September 2013. It is home to the LAU's New York Advancement Staff. Several courses in different fields are available, such as Islamic banking, peace education, gender studies in the Arab world, and the Arabic language.

At the center, 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.^[17]

LAU Executive Center @ Solidere

In 2013, LAU and Solidere partnered to open a new place for E.M.B.A and M.B.A courses, as well as executive workshops and seminars.^[18]

Students

18.2 percent of the student population represents 77 different nationalities, and students with diverse Lebanese cultural backgrounds all coexist.^[1]

Student life

Play Productions

The university has three theaters—Gulbenkian and Irwin in Beirut, and Selina Korban in Byblos. 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.^[19]

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.^[20]

Student Governance

Students can participate in the decision-making process by voting and running for election for the Campus Student Councils and the University Student Council, as well as the Graduate Student Committees, and this according to the bylaws^[21]

Libraries

At LAU's Beirut and Byblos libraries,^[22] comprehensive traditional print collections are supplemented by hundreds of electronic databases and thousands of full-text electronic serial titles.

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 children's books in Lebanon.

The libraries at the university comprise the following:

Centers and Institutes

A list of the Centers and Institutes: Center for Lebanese Heritage Cisco Institute Clinical Simulation Center Early Childhood Center Institute of Islamic Art & Architecture Institute for Banking & Finance Institute of Family and Entrepreneurial Business Institute of Hospitality & Tourism Management Studies Institute for Human Genetics Institute for Human Resources Institute for Media Research and Training Institute for Migration Studies Institute for Social Justice and Conflict Resolution Institute for Women’s Studies in the Arab World Software Institute Summer Institute for Intensive Arabic Language & Culture Teacher Training Institute Urban Planning Institute ^[23]

Special programs

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

The Institute for Women's Studies in the Arab World (IWSAW) was established in 1973. Today, IWSAW is a leading institution in women's empowerment and gender equality in – and for - the Arab world. IWSAW's mission is to (1) Advance women's empowerment and gender equality nationally, regionally and globally, through research, education, development programs and outreach (2) Integrate gender issues across all programs of study at LAU to build a knowledge base that promotes gender equality and human rights in the Arab world (3) Conduct research on women in the Arab world to amplify Arab voices in global discourses on gender, and turn theory into practice by engaging in development projects to promote women's rights in the region. The Institute works on 5 key areas: Education, Research, Development Projects, Outreach, and LAU Engagement.

Alumni

Alumni chapters

^[24] LAU has 40 chapters around the world, some would be in Beirut, Byblos, Detroit(USA), Dubai(UAE), London(UK), Montreal(Canada).

Notable alumni

• Lamis Mustafa Alami, Current Minister of Education in the Palestinian Authority (class of 1964).
• Saloua Raouda Choucair, Lebanese painter and sculptor (class of 1938).^[25]
• Selim El Sayegh, Former Lebanese Minister of Social Affairs (class of 1983).^[26]
• Tamirace Fakhoury, Lebanese poet and professor at LAU (class of 1999).
• Saniya Habboub, Lebanese medical doctor.
• Laury Haytayan, MENA officer in the Natural Resource Charter framework, and civil activist in Lebanon.
• Zaven Kouyoumdjian, Lebanese talk show host, television personality, media consultant, and author.
• Rima Maktabi, TV presenter, news anchor and journalist at CNN and Al-Arabiya News channel (class of 2003).
• May Nasr, Lebanese singer and musician (class of 1988).
• Salwa Nassar, nuclear physicist.^[27]
• Octavia Nasr, a former CNN journalist and current cohost of MBC's "Kalam Nawaem" (class of 1987).^[28]
• Nadine Wilson Njeim, Miss Lebanon 2007, actress and TV presenter (class of 2012).
• Mounira Solh, founder of Al Amal Institute for the Disabled and one of the first Lebanese women running for parliament (class of 1933).
• Sethrida Geagea, Member of the Lebanese Parliament (class of 1994).
• Vick Vanlian, founder of interior design company Vick Vanlian / V World SAL.
• Valerie Abou Chacra, Miss Lebanon 2015 / 3rd runner up in Miss World 2015, Communication arts graduate: emphasis in Radio-TV-Film (class of 2015).^[29]

References

External links

• Official website