Embark, explore, discover.
1835
1924
American Presbyterian missionaries establish the American School for Girls in response to a lack of available education for girls in the region.
The school becomes the American Junior College for Women, with a founding class of eight students.
1933
1948–49
The cornerstone of LAU’s oldest building, Sage Hall, is laid and the college is moved to its present location in Beirut.
The name of the college is changed to Beirut College for Women (BCW).
1950
1955
The Board of Regents of the University of the State of New York grants BCW a provisional charter, allowing it to offer the B.A., A.A. and A.A.S. degrees.
BCW’s charter becomes absolute and the college adds B.S. degrees.
1970 The Lebanese government recognizes BCW’s bachelor’s degrees as equivalent to the License.
1973
1975–1990
The college becomes co-educational and changes its name to Beirut University College (BUC).
Despite low attendance during the civil war, the college maintains operations by holding courses north and south of Beirut.
1985 The Board of Regents in New York amends the charter to transform the college into a multicampus institution.
1991 Courses begin at the Byblos campus.
1994
1996
The Board of Regents The Board of Regents approves in — New York amends the university’s new name the charter to transform Lebanese American University. the college into a multiThe charter is amended to include campus institution. master’s degrees. LAU has three schools: Arts & Sciences, Business, and Engineering & Architecture. During this year, the School of Pharmacy also opens.
The Lebanese government officially recognizes the new name and status.
A Historical Timeline: 1835–2012 The charter is amended once again to allow LAU to grant Bachelor degrees in Engineering and Pharmacy, and Doctor of Pharmacy.
1999
2
The Doctor of Pharmacy program becomes the only one outside the United States to earn accreditation by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education.
LAU embarks on a five-year strategic plan based on five pillars: excellence in academic and other facets of university life, studentcenteredness, increased role of alumni, promotion of LAU as a major learning center in the region, and effective use of financial resources.
The Gilbert and Rose-Marie Chagoury School of Medicine welcomes its first class of students.
2002
2005
2009
LAU acquires majority holdings of Rizk Hospital, and begins developing the University Medical Center – Rizk Hospital (UMC-RH).
LAU is granted full accreditation by The New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC).
The Alice Ramez Chagoury School of Nursing welcomes its first class.
2010
School of Arts & Sciences’ B.S. degree program in computer science receives ABET accreditation.
LAU embarks on Strategic Plan 2011–2016, focused on taking LAU to the next level of academic excellence.
2011
School of Engineering’s bachelor’s degree programs receive ABET accreditation, retroactive to Oct. 1, 2009.
The Medical Sciences building - Byblos campus is completed to host the LAU schools of medicine, pharmacy and nursing.
Frem Civic Center inaugurated on the Byblos campus.
2012
LAU acquires a new building to host its North American operations in midtown Manhattan.
The fashion design program is officially recognized by the Ministry of Higher Education.
The university embarks on a comprehensive fundraising campaign to support its academically focused strategic plan.
4
LAU at a Glance
LAU at a Glance | 2013
“LAU is committed to academic excellence, student-centeredness, civic engagement, the advancement of scholarship, the education of the whole person, and the formation of leaders in a diverse world.”
A leading private higher education institution in Lebanon, the Lebanese American University operates under a charter from the Board of Regents of the University of the State of New York. LAU is accredited by the Commission on Institutions of Higher Education of the New England Association of Schools and Colleges. With roots extending back to 1835, LAU began as a women’s college in 1924. The university expanded over the decades, catering to the growing educational needs of Lebanon and the Middle East. Today, LAU boasts seven schools. Dynamic and distinguished faculty research and teach in a wide range of academic disciplines on campuses in Beirut and Byblos. A nonsectarian institution guided by a deeply rooted sense of shared ethical values, LAU is committed to providing superior education to students from Lebanon, the Middle East, and around the world. Building on the foundation of its first strategic plan, which fostered excellence in all facets of university life, the 2011–2016 Strategic Plan centers on academic goals, enhancing LAU’s scholarly excellence by consolidating unit-level and institutional strategies. LAU is governed by a 25-member Board of Trustees that oversees the primary functions of leadership, stewardship and audit. A Board of International Advisors, consisting of up to 25 members, provides counsel on university policies and other matters to the Board of Trustees, president, and senior management.
5
The 25,368-square-meter Beirut campus is centrally located amid the wealth of 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 expansion—from two to nine buildings, plus a medical-nursing complex and a library currently underway.
6
Campuses
Students on both campuses have access to impressive libraries, gymnasiums, residence halls, theaters, wireless internet, computer centers, laboratories, and academic support services. A new satellite campus is slated to become operational in New York City in 2013. It will become LAU’s headquarters in the U.S., support a series of planned partnerships with top universities in New York, and allow LAU to offer courses in Middle Eastern studies, Islamic banking, Arabic language and literature, conflict resolution, and more.
LAU at a Glance | 2013
LAU’s two main campuses are located on leafy hillsides by the Mediterranean Sea around 35 kilometers apart, putting LAU within easy reach of all areas of Lebanon. The Byblos and Beirut campuses offer similarly structured programs in the arts, sciences, and business. Programs in nursing and medicine, together with junior- and senior-year courses in engineering and pharmacy, are offered exclusively in Byblos.
7
Academic Programs LAU’s myriad undergraduate and graduate degree programs are grouped into seven schools: School of Architecture and Design School of Arts and Sciences School of Business School of Engineering
Alice Ramez Chagoury School of Nursing School of Pharmacy
Academic Programs
LAU at a Glance | 2013
Gilbert and Rose-Marie Chagoury School of Medicine
9
The School of Architecture and Design offers the following degree programs: Bachelor’s Degrees Bachelor of Architecture (B.Arch.) (176 credits) Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in: Fine Arts (92 credits), Interior Architecture (139 credits) Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in: Graphic Design (118 credits), Interior Design (110 credits)
LAU at a Glance | 2013
In fall 2009, LAU officially integrated all architecture, design and fine arts programs into a single school. The Bachelor of Architecture degree is officially equivalent to the French Diplôme d’Architecture, which allows our graduates to practice in France and the European Union.
11
The School of Arts and Sciences, LAU’s oldest program, embodies the university’s liberal arts tradition. Renowned for its expansive 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 Bachelor of Science degree program in Computer Science was formally accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) in October 2011, retroactive to October 2010.
Bachelor’s Degrees Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in: Communication Arts (92 credits), Education (95 credits), English (92 credits), History (92 credits), Philosophy (92 credits), Political Science/ International Affairs (92 credits), Political Science (92 credits), Psychology (92 credits), Social Work (92 credits), Teaching English as a Foreign Language (95 credits), Teaching Arabic as a Foreign Language (95 credits)
Bachelor’s Degrees Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in: Biology (96 credits), Chemistry (92 credits), Computer Science (92 credits), Mathematics (92 credits), Nutrition (94 credits)
Master’s Degrees Master of Arts (M.A.) in: Comparative Literature (30 credits), Education (30 credits), International Affairs (30 credits) Master of Science (M.S.) in: Computer Science (30 credits), Molecular Biology (30 credits)
Special Degree Teaching Diploma (T.D.): Elementary Level, Intermediate and Secondary Level (21 credits)
LAU at a Glance | 2013
The School of Arts and Sciences offers the following degrees:
13
Bachelor’s Degrees Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in: > Business Studies (92 credits) with nine different specializations: Accounting, Banking and Finance, Economics, Family and Entrepreneurial Business, Hospitality Management, International Business, Management, Management Information Systems, Marketing > Economics (92 credits) with four different tracks: Finance, Management, Mathematics, Political Science/ International Affairs > Hospitality and Tourism Management (94 credits) Master’s Degrees Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) (39 credits) Executive Master of Business Administration (E.M.B.A.) (36 credits)
LAU at a Glance | 2013
The School of Business has rapidly expanded to accommodate more students than any other school at LAU. Three undergraduate degree programs and two M.B.A. programs provide professional training, equipping students to assume a wide range of leadership roles.
15
The School of Engineering combines rigorous academic education with a dynamic professional foundation, preparing graduates for successful careers in today’s global market. All five undergraduate degree programs are accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET). LAU now has the only ABET-accredited industrial engineering program in Lebanon.
Bachelor’s Degrees Bachelor of Engineering (B.E.) (150 credits) in: Civil Engineering, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering Master’s Degrees Master of Science (M.S.) (30 credits) in: Civil and Environmental Engineering, Computer Engineering, Industrial Engineering and Engineering Management
LAU at a Glance | 2013
The School of Engineering offers the following degrees:
17
Conceived and designed in collaboration with Partners Harvard Medical International, the school offers a forward-thinking, integrated curriculum. Students study basic and clinical sciences simultaneously throughout the four-year program, gaining practical exposure from day one. The school offers the following degree: Doctorate Degree Doctor of Medicine (M.D.)
LAU at a Glance | 2013
LAU’s Gilbert and Rose-Marie Chagoury School of Medicine opened its doors in September 2009, offering students from Lebanon and the region a medical education satisfying the highest American standards.
19
The Alice Ramez Chagoury School of Nursing welcomes undergraduate students seeking the strong education and relevant professional experience required to meet the persistent demand for high-quality, safe and effective health care. The school’s comprehensive and intellectually challenging curriculum emphasizes professional nursing standards, patient-centered care, and ethical practice.
Program graduates qualify for registered nurse positions in Lebanon and around the world. The school offers the following degree: Bachelor’s Degree Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Nursing
LAU at a Glance | 2013
The 103-credit program is built on a liberal arts foundation and enhances nursing studies with courses in biomedical and social sciences.
21
The School of Pharmacy prepares students for careers in clinical pharmacy, inculcating a thorough understanding of pharmaceutical treatments together with the professional values required to serve society ethically. LAU’s Doctor of Pharmacy is the only program that is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education outside the U.S.
Bachelor’s Degree Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Pharmacy (174 credits) Doctorate Degree Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) (27 credits)
LAU at a Glance | 2013
The school comprises two departments, the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and the Department of Pharmacy Practice, and offers the following degrees:
23
University Medical Center–Rizk Hospital
UMC–RH is designed to support LAU’s schools of Medicine, Nursing, and Pharmacy; provide clinical facilities and services for teaching and training; launch clinical pharmacy services; and support academic research programs. It will house several top-notch centers, including for advanced radiology and imaging, dialysis, endoscopy, dermatology, ophthalmology, IVF and cardiology.
LAU at a Glance | 2013
The university’s expansion into the field of medical education was buttressed by the acquisition of a majority shareholder position in the University Medical Center– Rizk Hospital (UMC–RH). LAU is transforming this large medical campus in the heart of Beirut from a decadesold city hospital into a modern university hospital, clinical teaching venue and research facility. Major renovations are underway, as part of a master plan that is expected to be completed in 2015.
25
At LAU’s Beirut and Byblos libraries, extensive and abundant traditional print collections are supplemented by over 130 state-ofthe-art electronic databases. With approximately 55,649 electronic full-text serial titles, students, faculty and staff have millions of scholarly articles at their fingertips. In addition, library users have access to 97,077 e-books.
Users benefit from individual instruction, orientation, training sessions and research assistance. Through agreements with institutions abroad, LAU’s libraries secure on-demand materials otherwise unavailable in Lebanon. Computer facilities include scanners, printers and 193 public computers, in addition to a comprehensive audiovisual collection and practical teaching resources for education students.
Libraries
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.
Collections (2011–2012) Total print volumes 324,328 Electronic books 97,077 Print/microform serial subscriptions (title number) 821 Print/microform serial subscriptions (volume number) 52,503 Full-text electronic journals 55,649 Total online databases 136 Microforms – Byblos campus 12 titles in 150 reels Total media materials 29,881
LAU at a Glance | 2013
Both libraries embrace an integrated service environment, uniting technology and human expertise.
27
LAU’s many centers and institutes are chaired by renowned faculty. 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.
Centers and Institutes
• Center for Lebanese Heritage • Center for Program and Learning Assessment • CISCO Institute • Continuing Education Program • Early Childhood Center • Human Resources Institute • Institute for Banking and Finance • Institute for Media Training and Research • Institute for Migration Studies • Institute for Peace and Justice Education • Institute for Water Resources and Environmental Technologies • Institute for Women’s Studies in the Arab World • Institute of Diplomacy and Conflict Transformation • Institute of Family and Entrepreneurial Business • Institute of Hospitality and Tourism Management Studies • Institute of Islamic Art and Architecture • Institute of Human Genetics • Software Institute • Summer Institute for Intensive Arabic Language and Culture • Teacher Training Institute • University Enterprise Office • Urban Planning Institute To learn more about LAU’s 22 centers and institutes, access their websites via: http://www.lau.edu.lb/academics/
LAU at a Glance | 2013
LAU hosts 22 centers and institutes:
29
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. Founded 13 years ago, SINARC quickly became a top choice for scholars of the region looking to gain an in-depth understanding of cultural and social dynamics while improving their language skills. SINARC credits can be transferred to institutions of higher education worldwide. LAU’s Beirut campus hosts the annual SINARC program. Situated in the heart of the Lebanese capital, students acquire unique insight into Lebanese culture and daily life. SINARC offers courses in Arabic language and culture to students of various proficiencies. Each level packs in 20 hours of intensive classroom instruction per week, including five hours of Lebanese dialect.
Summer Institute for Intensive Arabic Language and Culture (SINARC)
Formal language instruction is enriched by immersion in an authentic cultural context. Cultural activities include weekly lectures on topics related to Arab and Lebanese politics, history, society and culture. In addition, students partake in a series of excursions to historical, cultural and tourist sites throughout Lebanon. SINARC offers summer, fall and spring terms. For more information, visit: http://www.lau.edu.lb/centers-institutes/sinarc/
University Enterprise Office (UEO)
LAU at a Glance | 2013
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). Specific tasks include supplying academic services to universities and colleges in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Oman, as well as overseeing management of the LAU–MEPI Tomorrow’s Leaders Program. UEO provides consultancy on strategy, operations, academic planning, accreditation, enrollment management, implementation and performance-monitoring services.
31
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 also 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. LAU’s Continuing Education Program (CEP) serves a wide range of adult learners seeking professional advancement.
An active and highly esteemed institute, IWSAW facilitates networking and communication, while cultivating ties with national, regional, and international organizations and universities concerned with women’s and gender issues. IWSAW is currently establishing a master’s degree in women’s and gender studies, which LAU expects to launch 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.
Institute for Women’s Studies in the Arab World (IWSAW)
Al-Raida, IWSAW’s flagship interdisciplinary journal, has addressed gender in historical and contemporary contexts since 1976. The publication strives to bridge the conventional divide between scholarship and activism. Al-Raida has recently evolved into a biannual, double-blind, peer-reviewed journal. For more information, visit the IWSAW website at: http://iwsaw.lau.edu.lb/
CEP strives to create an energetic learning environment that fosters both personal and professional growth and promotes best practices and ethics in the workplace.
Continuing Education Program (CEP)
Certificate-based programs are offered on campus or at a location of the client’s choice, during or after working hours. In 2011, CEP branched out of its LAU–Beirut headquarters, opening satellite offices at the Safadi Foundation in Tripoli and at the Evangelical School in Zahleh. For more information, visit the CEP website at: http://www.lau.edu.lb/cep.
LAU at a Glance | 2013
CEP offers innovative learning programs that enhance performance and encourage achievement. Designed for the 21st-Century workplace, CEP courses and seminars impart applicable, relevant and up-to-date knowledge and skills in a variety of fields.
33
Exemplifying diversity and community spirit, LAU’s student body is one of the university’s chief assets. Over 80 nationalities—and all of Lebanon’s confessional groups—are represented on both campuses. The university takes pride in student achievements, which enhance LAU’s reputation locally and internationally. In the fall term of the 2011–2012 academic year, 8,273 students enrolled at LAU.
Number of Students*
Beirut Campus
Architecture and Design Arts and Sciences Business Engineering Medicine Nursing Pharmacy No College Designated Total by university
34
Students
Number of Students*
School
Male Female Total * Census date figures for fall 2011
Byblos Campus Total
672 434 1,106 1,908 519 2,427 2,485 508 2,993 164 843 1,007 - 98 98 20 24 44 73 479 552 43 3 46 5,365 2,908 8,273
Beirut Campus
Byblos Campus Total
2,624 1,583 4,207 2,741 1,325 4,066 5,365 2,908 8,273
LAU at a Glance | 2013
School
International Students The growing number of international applicants attests to LAU’s rising reputation for academic excellence. In the 2011–2012 academic year, 20 percent of the student population hailed from outside Lebanon, with 82 nationalities represented in both the fall and spring terms. This number is set to increase considerably thanks to the recently inaugurated schools of Medicine and Nursing, as well as the preeminent Pharmacy School programs.
35
Faculty
The university’s faculty is remarkably diverse: 49 percent of instructors are Lebanese, 37 percent are dual-nationals, and 14 percent are nonLebanese foreigners. Forty-three percent of full-time faculty members are women. The approximate student–faculty ratio on both campuses is 18:1 (full-time equivalents for fall 2011).
With 541 full-time staff members, LAU is among the largest private employers in Lebanon and among the fastest-growing universities in the region. 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.
Staff
Management Professional Non-Professional Total
Male 50 94 116 260 Female 28 208 45 281 Total 78 302 161 541
LAU at a Glance | 2013
LAU’s recently completed strategic plan significantly raised the bar for faculty qualifications. Out of 337 full-time faculty members, 78 percent hold doctorates or the highest degree in their field. Approximately 44 percent of those degrees are from the United States; 25 percent from Western Europe; 8 percent from Canada, Australia and South Africa; and 23 percent from Lebanon and other Arab countries.
37
In an effort to promote universal academic excellence, LAU provides a comprehensive merit- and need-based financial aid program. Eligible students receive packages commensurate with a combined assessment of their academic and financial status. Financial aid is granted in the form of merit scholarships, work-aid, loans and grants.
LAU’s operating budget for 2012–2013 is $138,678,780, a significant 16 percent increase on the 2011–2012 operating budget of $120,046,064, reflecting the university’s energetic growth and expansion.
Tuition & Budget
LAU sources funding from tuition and students fees, private gifts, government grants, fundraising and endowments.
LAU at a Glance | 2013
Financial Aid and Scholarships
For the 2011–2012 academic year, LAU increased its financial aid budget by nine percent. Over $16.7 million funded around 2,000 students. Seventy-six students received merit scholarships in fall 2011. The number of Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) grants has also increased, from 31 in fall 2010 to 55 in fall 2011. Additionally, 209 incoming LAU students were awarded entrance scholarships in fall 2011, 29 percent more than in fall 2010.
For the academic year 2012–2013, the average undergraduate tuition is $13,916 per year and the average graduate tuition is $11,227 per year. Annual tuition fees for doctoral/professional practice programs amounted to $26,250 for students in the School of Medicine, and $18,600 for Pharm.D. students.
39
Alumni chapters exist in: • Abu Dhabi, UAE • Athens, Greece • Aleppo, Syria • Bahrain • BCW • Beirut, Lebanon • Byblos, Lebanon • Damascus, Syria • Detroit, USA
• Dubai & Northern Emirates, UAE • Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia • Ghana • Houston, USA • Jeddah, Saudi Arabia • Jordan • Kuwait • London, UK • Montreal, Canada
• New England, USA • New York/New Jersey, USA • North Florida, USA • North Lebanon, Lebanon • Northern California, USA • Oman • Ottawa, Canada • Qatar • Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
• School of Engineering • School of Pharmacy • Seattle, Washington State • Southern California, USA • South Florida, USA • South Lebanon, Lebanon • Switzerland • Toronto, Canada • Washington, DC, USA
LAU at a Glance | 2013
Alumni
LAU’s 34,000 alumni have settled across the globe. Thirtysix 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.
41
Board of Trustees
Dr. Paul F. Boulos, Chairman of the Board of Trustees Mr. Salim G. Sfeir, Vice-Chairman of the Board of Trustees Mr. Fred Rogers, Secretary of the Board of Trustees Mr. Mike Ahmar H.E. Amb. Gilbert Chagoury Rev. Christine Chakoian Mrs. Eva Kotite Farha Dr. Benita Ferrero-Waldner Mr. Antoine Frem
Mr. Arthur Gabriel Dr. Ray Irani Mr. Wadih (Bill) Jordan Rev. Joseph Kassab Mr. Samer Khoury Mr. Charles Muller Mr. Richard (Dick) Orfalea Mr. Todd Petzel Mr. Ghassan Saab Dr. H. John Shammas, M.D. Rev. Ronald L. Shive Mr. Philip Stoltzfus
Mr. Peter Tanous Dr. George E. Thibault, M.D. Mr. Abdallah Yabroudi Emeritus Trustees Mr. Jose Abizaid Ex-Officio Trustees Mr. Kanan Hamzeh Rev. Dr. Nuhad Tomeh Rev. Fadi Dagher Dr. Joseph Jabbra Senate Chair
Ex-Officio Trustees Mr. Kanan Hamzeh Rev. Dr. Nuhad Tomeh Rev. Fadi Dagher Dr. Joseph Jabbra Senate Chair
Board of International Advisors
Members Mr. Kanan Hamzeh, Chairman of the Board of International Advisors Mr. George Doumet, Secretary of the Board of International Advisors Dr. Raymond Audi Mrs. Taline Avakian Dr. Jihad Azour H.E. Ivonne A. Baki Mr. Zuhair Boulos
Mrs. Abla Chammas Mr. Bassem F. Dagher Mr. Mazen S. Darwazah Mr. Neemat G. Frem Mrs. Maha Kaddoura Dr. Mahmoud A. Kreidie Dr. Mary Mikhael Mrs. Adalat Audeh Nakkash Mr. Mazen Nazzal
Mrs. Youmna Salame Mr. Talal K. Shair Ex-Officio Members Rev. Fadi Dagher Mrs. Leila Saleeby Dagher Dr. Joseph Jabbra Senate Chair
LAU at a Glance | 2013
Emeritus Trustees Mr. Jose Abizaid
43
Beirut Campus P.O. Box 13-5053 Chouran Beirut 1102 2801, Lebanon Tel +961 1 786456 Fax +961 1 867098 Byblos Campus P.O. Box 36 Byblos, Lebanon Tel +961 9 547254/262 Fax +961 9 944851 New York Office 475 Riverside Drive, Suite 1846 New York, NY 10115 0065, USA Tel +1 212 870 2592 Fax +1 212 870 2762
www.lau.edu.lb