The Lebanese American University is committed to the development of its students. As stated in the Student and University Policy, the University “seeks to develop responsible students with leadership skills and community awareness.”

“LAU shall provide its students with opportunities to develop academically, physically, intellectually, socially, and morally, in order to meet the challenges they may face in life.”

A. Office of the Dean of Students

Drawing its inspiration from the Lebanese American University’s mission to educate the whole person, the Office of the Dean of Students is charged with providing students opportunities for academic growth and personal development in order to enrich their overall experience at LAU. Each student is seen as a professional in training, deserving high-quality service and personalized attention.

1. New Student Orientation and Registration Program (NSORP)

The New Student Orientation Program and Registration  are organized by the Office of the Dean of Students at the beginning of the Fall and Spring semesters.

NSOP aims to:

• Introduce students to various academic programs, services and activities that will support their academic and personal success;
• Acquaint new students with university life and further encourages them to become active members of the LAU community;
• Familiarize students with the main resources available on campus; and
• Address issues and problems that students may face to become active members of the LAU Community.

Registration aims to:

• Conduct a one-on-one advising/registration session with each new student.
• Help students select and register their courses prior to the beginning of their term.

For more information, please consult the Orientation website.

2. Counseling Services

Counseling is designed to help students address academic, personal, and emotional concerns. Counselors meet with students on a regular basis to:

• Provide quality assessment for an array of psychological issues and set up appropriate  intervention and evaluation plans
• Offer prevention programs for students who are at risk of academic failure, suspension, or drop-out
• Provide intervention in crisis and emergency circumstances throughout the academic year
• Establish prevention and intervention strategies related to mental health and learning disabilities
• Offer referrals to appropriate external professionals for services that exceed our scope of care, as needed or requested by students
• Offer consultation services for faculty, staff, and students who are trying to help another person through difficult times
• Refer students to one of the numerous services available through Student Affairs as needed
• Deliver several workshops to students and faculty to promote awareness and prevention of mental health & wellness topics
• Organize several awareness campaigns as part of the Health Services Office (see health services awareness campaign section)

All consultation and medical records are kept completely confidential. No information is ever discussed with or released to anyone without the student’s consent.

More information is available on the Health site.

3. Professional Advising Services

Professional advising aims to help students tackle academic difficulties and overcome probationary status. Through individual meetings, the academic advisors provide students with sound academic advice and assist them in identifying their areas of weakness. Academic advisors also strive to:

• Provide prospective and current students with information on the University’s undergraduate and graduate programs, admission requirements, course selection, academic regulations and requirements.
• Provide one-on-one advising to all newly admitted students and help them efficiently register for their courses.
• Create a trusting relationship and a special bond between the students and LAU that promotes student retention and academic success.
• Propose strategies, tools and programs to promote student retention and academic success.
• Identify students with academic difficulties, evaluate their academic situation, advise them, encourage them to implement educational and action plans, and propose mentoring activities in collaboration with all available resources within the University.
• Help students chart a path to their degrees and ensure that they meet their major’s requirements towards graduation.
• Follow-up on freshman students to ensure they sit for SAT II, obtain their freshman equivalency to the Lebanese Baccalaureate, and declare their major. Provide one-on-one advising to all freshman students, ensure they sit for SAT II, obtain their freshman equivalency to the Lebanese Baccalaureate and declare their major.

1.     Assess students’ need for any non-academic support and direct students to other specialized staff when necessary: Refer students to the University Counselor in case of test anxiety, anger, depression, etc.

2.    Coordinate with the Career Advisors to assess students’ interests through career assessments.

• Coordinate closely with other SDEM offices for appropriate student referral
• Ensure appropriate tracking and follow-up on students by empowering them to develop and implement an educational plan consistent with their interests, abilities, and careers
• Clarify graduation requirements to students and motivate them to take prudent decisions to secure their educational goals

To meet the Academic Advisors, please visit the Student Life website. 

4. Career Guidance Services

Career guidance is provided to graduate and undergraduate students. The Career Advisors encourage students to explore career options, develop effective planning skills, create job plans, identify career goals, and learn the necessary skills to succeed in their chosen professions.

The Career Advisors work with the students to:

• Clarify their academic and career interests and help them choose the right major
• Identify connections between each student’s major and career options
• Research potential employers
• Discover job search strategies
• Acknowledge skills and strengths
• Write effective résumés and cover letters
• Prepare for interviews
• Evaluate job offers from potential employers
• Learn to negotiate salaries
• Determine a course of action to meet career objectives

The University hosts an annual Career Fair and an Internship Fair in which local and international companies offer LAU students full-time, part-time, and internship opportunities. Moreover, Career guidance collaborates closely with the Alumni Office to help meet the employment needs of recent graduates and long-term alumni.

For more information, and for upcoming events, please view the Career Guidance website.

5. Health Services

The Health Services Office at the Lebanese American University supports the various health and wellness needs of our students, faculty, and staff by providing a broad range of high quality professional services.

The Health Services Office, directed by a Registered Nurse, is open weekdays from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm and has an open door policy.

The Health Services Office offers:

• Treatment for minor, acute, and chronic illnesses and injuries
• Emergency assistance and first aid
• Supply of over-the-counter drugs for emergency relief
• Information about medications and medical conditions
• Routine preventative and health assessment exams such as blood sugar, triglycerides, cholesterol level as well as blood pressure monitoring
• Vaccines for eligible students
• Education to promote healthy living and self-care
• Referrals to community health-care providers or specialists
• Finding blood donors for hospitalized patients in need
• Validation of medical reports, students with prolonged absences should notify the University prior to their return
• Health-related information collection for new students from the Enrollment Health Record & Physical Health form (for PE classes and Gym users)
• Appropriate arrangement for basic First Aid and First Responder refresher training sessions in collaboration with the Red Cross Education Department
• Provision of the clinical clearance requirements (immunization) set by LAU for all health professional students
• Update on immunization data for health professionals, athletes and LAU dorms residents.
   

All consultations and medical records are kept completely confidential. No information is ever discussed with or released to anyone without the patient’s consent.

Awareness Campaigns

The Health Services Office promotes wellness through planning special health related programs and activities as well as advising the Red Cross and First Responder Clubs in its events.

Every year the Health Services Office organizes several awareness campaigns targeting different topics such as AIDS and STD prevention, World Food Day (nutrition and hunger prevention), eating disorders, depression, anti-alcohol and drugs, road safety, living with physical or mental disabilities, blood drive, eye care and other health and mental wellness related topics. The target of these campaigns is to educate students in a fun and interactive way as well as increase their knowledge of preventive measures they can take to secure current and future health.

More information is available on the Health website.

6. Extra-Curricular Activities

Under the mentorship and coaching of the Office the Dean of Students, LAU students plan and participate in extracurricular activities through a variety of campus clubs that they initiate.  Clubs such as Astronomy, Social Work, UNESCO, Red Cross, Event Organization, Nutrition, Music, International Affairs, Debate etc., are practical arenas for students to further develop the skills they learn in class.

The Office of the Dean of Students coordinates the formation of clubs, while faculty advisors provide assistance towards achieving the club objectives. By creating venues to recruit students’ involvement, the office helps in the development of marketing, management, leadership, creativity, and productivity skills on campus and beyond.

Through these means the office works on establishing an atmosphere, where leaders, champions, and responsible citizens are molded and where the soul, body and mind are exercised and pushed to their limits in a fair and harmonious environment.

Learn more about LAU’s activities on the Student Life website.

7. International Student Program and National Cultural Clubs

With the different nationalities represented on its campuses, LAU has developed programs to help international students adapt to the Lebanese way of life and fully integrate into the LAU community. Through various national cultural clubs, students network with peers from their countries, while learning to appreciate and celebrate diversity. LAU celebrates the richness of such diversity through annual activities such as the International Heritage Day Exhibitions, an Annual Mini Football Tournament, and other activities.

8. Student Honor Society

LAU students, with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5/4.0 and upon completion of 24 credits, are honored at an annual ceremony where they receive awards and certificates of appreciation. To further recognize academic achievement, students with the highest cumulative GPAs in each school receive a financial award during the ceremony.

9. Student Representation

LAU has Campus Student Councils, as well as a University Student Council, that are recognized by LAU’s Board of Trustees. Council members are elected by the student body. The councils’ bylaws were written by a committee of students and university officials.

The Student Council:

• Represents students in the regulation and coordination of all phases of student governance;
• Promotes LAU’s highest interests;
• Cultivates its culture as stated in its mission and vision;
• Advances the welfare and concerns of the LAU student population;
• Enhances LAU’s campus atmosphere and life through extra-curricular activities; and
• Acts as an effective liaison between students, faculty, staff and administration.

More information can be found on the Student Life website.

10. Athletics Office

LAU’s athletics program plays a vital role in the academic and extracurricular life of students. The program’s mission is to provide athletic training, education, and competition opportunities for LAU students. The LAU Athletics Office offers a wide range of sports and extra-curricular activities that are well suited for the needs of our students and the LAU community.

The following sports are currently offered for both male and female students as extra-curricular activities: aerobics, badminton,, free play basketball, cheerleading, fitness, folk dance, Latin dance, jazz dance, swimming, table-tennis, taekwondo, Thai kickboxing, tennis, track & field,  yoga, and Zumba. 

 Basketball, futsal, swimming, table-tennis, taekwondo, Thai kickboxing, tennis, track & field soccer, volleyball as well as men’s handball,rugby league, and water polo  are offered as varsity sports.

Throughout the year, the LAU Athletics Office organizes intercollegiate, intramural, high school, and international tournaments (opportunity permitting), in addition to participating in many other local, regional and international events. Most of the varsity teams are exposed to high-level competition, locally and internationally, and participate in regular FSUL sanctioned championships as well as league play  against all officially recognized universities and colleges in Lebanon. At the end of each academic year, an Athletics Awards Banquet is held to recognize and honor LAU’s best and most dedicated athletes and coaches.

Please see the Student Life website for more information.

11. Residence Halls

LAU provides Residence Halls for its students on both campuses.

• In Beirut, female students may reside in the Orme-Gray Residence Hall and Sam’s Building (off-Campus facility) while male students may live in Capital Suites.
• In Byblos, there are three separate residence halls:
   

1. Dorm B divided into two wings, one for men and one for women
2. Maatouk Building reserved for female students
3. Dorm C reserved for male students
    

On each campus, a residence hall supervisor and a team of assistants run the dormitories and provide social and extracurricular activities for resident students. The facilities are comfortable, contributing to the students’ academic and social needs.

In Beirut, the rooms are nicely furnished with beds, desks, cupboards, safety boxes, bed sheets, covers, cable TV, internet connection, telephones, central heating and air conditioning. Fully equipped common kitchens and laundry rooms are available. Toilets and showers are also common areas.

The dorms have lounges equipped with pianos, TVs, and vending machines. There is 24-hour security and students are offered safety training sessions.

In Byblos, the rooms are also nicely furnished with bathrooms, beds, desks, cupboards, safety boxes, bed sheets, covers, refrigerators, TVs, and telephones. Wireless internet, cable, and individual heating and air conditioning are available in all rooms and apartments. Fully equipped kitchens and laundry rooms are available in all the buildings. The halls also provide cleaning and maintenance services, 24-hour security, lounges equipped with cable TV, DVD players, computers, free internet access, and vending machines. The common areas are all monitored round-the-clock by CCTVs. Student resident assistants live on-site and help familiarize new residents with the buildings and available resources as well as hall policies.

Students who wish to reside on campus must submit an application as soon as they are accepted to LAU. Additional information as well as the application is available in the Student Life website.

B. Outreach and Civic Engagement

The Outreach and Civic Engagement (OCE) at LAU integrates civic engagement with the extra-curricular activities of LAU students on both campuses, in Beirut and Byblos, encourages students to broaden their horizons both within and outside Lebanon, and provides students with leadership training, skills development and volunteering opportunities.

The Outreach and Civic Engagement is committed to the advancement of LAU’s commitment to civic engagement, education of the whole person and the formation of leaders in a diverse world. It seeks to ensure students’ academic and professional success, to bridge the gap between students and civil society and to establish networks for international exchange and collaboration.

Among a growing list of activities and services, OCE organizes:

1. From Leadership Programs and Workshops to Outreach Activities

OCE educates students about civic, social and leadership responsibilities and provides LAU’s constituencies from Faculty, staff and students with leadership activities, programs, and skills development training.

OCEstrengthens students’ cognition of international diplomacy, UN ways, procedure, institutions, functions and substantive work in the realm of development, human rights, inter-cultural dialogue through various simulation models of international organizations. LAU student leaders are selected, trained and empowered to in their turn train high-school and middle-school students on issues of public concern:

a.       LAU Model United Nations—a school of leadership “par excellence”

The Global Classrooms Lebanese American University Model United Nations (GC LAU MUN) High School program was first launched in 2006 with 541 students from 76 high schools. Today, after launching the 10th annual High School and 5th Middle School program under the slogan of “10 Years of Student Leadership”, the numbers have grown to a total sum of 174 schools and over 2,600 students.

GC LAU MUN is a program that brings the UN culture of global awareness and the implementation of peaceful means for conflict resolution to Lebanese high schools, middle schools, and the community at large. The program consists of training sessions that increase student knowledge of the United Nations and rules of procedure in a United Nations conference as well as improve students’ ability to research and write position papers and successfully engage in public speaking and role playing, conflict resolution and negotiations, caucusing and resolution writing, among others. By the end of the sessions, students become delegates who take part in United Nations committee simulations. The simulations occur over a two-day Final Conference where students play the role of ambassadors in United Nations Committees and discuss a variety of current topics.

For more information please visit the LAU Model United Nations website.

b.      LAU Model Arab League Program

In 2011, LAU signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations (NCUSAR) and now has the exclusive right to use the title of “Model Arab League” (MAL) in its simulations in Lebanon. LAU has partnered with the Hariri Foundation for Sustainable Human Development (HFSHD) to implement the first MAL program in Lebanon.

The LAU MAL program helps engage students from various religious and political backgrounds in Lebanon to discuss various social, political, and economic subjects that affect and shape our Arab World. Representing one of the Arab League’s 22 member-states, student delegates work to achieve consensus on questions that diplomats face every day. Student leaders are given the opportunity to debate and form coalitions in order to draft and pass resolutions that seek to resolve some of the Arab countries’ most difficult challenges. The transfer of skills is conveyed through seven training sessions that prepare the students for a two-day conference simulating the various sessions and committees of the Arab League.

c.       Leadership Training

   i.   MAJAL: The Outreach and Civic Engagement unit (OCE) organizes a series of workshops for High School and Middle School students within the framework of “Moderation & Justice Academy for Leaders” (M.A.J.A.L). This year’s theme is entitled: “How Do Successful Students Think?” Through various interactive activities on the pedagogy of successful thinking, students will learn the importance of engaging in focused thinking, harnessing creative thinking, benefiting from shared thinking, employing reflective thinking and employing legal thinking.
 

  ii.   Leadership and Constitutional Education Academy: The OCE organizes a series of workshops about leadership skills within the framework of “Leadership & Constitutional Education Academy”. High school and middle school students are trained through interactive activities and various role play dynamics on the fundamentals of leadership from both a practical and legal perspective.

d.      Outreach Projects

In addition to all of the above, OCE strives to provide all possible outreach opportunities for LAU students in diverse areas including:

  i. Projects with UN agencies such as UNICEF, UNIFIL, UNIC, and a “UN Aware” Certification program

  ii. Global Design for UNICEF Challenge

iii. A Leadership and Civic Engagement Certification program

iv. Residential training camps, reforestation campaigns, and beach cleaning campaigns

 v. Student participation in international leadership and civic engagement conferences

vi. Training workshops on issues related to leadership skills, communication skills, conflict resolution, effective team building, and emotional intelligence

2. Yearly NGO Fair

LAU holds an annual NGO fair to encourage students to engage in community service and volunteerism. The annual event aims to bridge the gap between students and civil society whereby NGOs are given the chance to make students aware of their work and students are given the unique opportunity to channel their creative potential, energy, and passion into the important networks of constructive and positive social work.

For more info please visit the LAU–NGO Fair webpage.

3. LAU-NGO Mobile Application

In spring 2014, the OCE launched a mobile application, “LAU-NGO network.” This innovative app will play a major role in creating exposure when it comes to NGOs and will give the LAU community the opportunity to directly link itself with NGOs and the broader civil society. The app provides a listing of youth-related NGO networks in Lebanon in addition to some prominent international NGOs. The app also posts internship and volunteer opportunities offered by the listed NGOs in addition to an LAU-NGO map that will eventually cover the MENA region, Europe and the U.S.A.

4. Beirut Marathon

For the 10th consecutive year, more than 250 LAU students participated in the annual Beirut Marathon event, on Sunday November 9, 2014. What was special about this year is that LAU promoted the spirit of unity and national solidarity, by adopting the cause of LAU alumnae Lebanese singer Tania Kassis, through One Lebanon, an apolitical cultural movement.

The Outreach and Civic Engagement department at the Lebanese American University called runners, volunteers and cheerleaders to assist in the preparations of the marathon and to vigorously participate, by completing the 10K Fun Run.

For the 2013 Beirut Marathon, LAU put in place a huge campaign in support of the Order of Malta- Al Fadi Center, Chabrouh under the slogan of “Run for the Dignity of Humankind.” An LAU team of more than 1,200 runners mobilized for the marathon held on November 10, 2013, and 105 LAU students volunteered for the day. As a result of this effort, LAU raised 

L.L. 12,000,000 for the benefit of Al Fadi Center, Chabrouh, and won the “Best Spirit” award for the biggest running team.

5. The USAID University Scholarship Program

The USAID University Scholarship Program managed by OCE once students enroll at LAU, targets needy and academically qualified Lebanese students from public high schools throughout the country. The program aims to provide quality education in various majors as well as develop the leadership potential of the students so that they acquire the necessary cognitive and leadership skills to work in order to build their own communities.

For more information please visit the USP webpage.

6. Outreach & Leadership Academy (O.L.A)

OLA-Outreach & Leadership Academy- in Saida, was inaugurated on February 20, 2014 and is in partnership with the Hariri Foundation for Sustainable Human Development. A newly restored 18^th century premises, OLA, located in Old Downtown Sidon, is the South of Lebanon headquarters for LAU and HFSHD which acts as a beacon for civic engagement and an open space for all parents, students, teachers and practitioners to learn more about LAU and to engage in all its leadership and civic engagement initiatives.

With its motto “Educate, Empower, Engage”, OLA aims at establishing a culture of civic engagement, social awareness, leadership formation and citizenship reinforcement with the ultimate objective of strengthening human development through enhancing social peace, building human capacity and promoting economic opportunities.

Since its inauguration and until present, LAU has conducted more than 124 sessions and activities at OLA with more than 2,640 trainees engaged. The four pillars of OLA revolve around the four Ps: partnership, place, people and prospect. Based on the consolidated strong partnership between LAU and HFSHD, the efforts of the two institutions are channeled at OLA as a place for enriching and nourishing ‘real people with real needs’ in order to activate and foster the spirit of civic engagement, educational leadership and volunteerism. OLA will continue to host leadership and civic engagement activities that engage teachers, school advisors and students of the Saida School Network which is composed of 55,000 students and 5,500 faculty and staff. OLA, based on assessed needs and skills, will also be providing tailor-made training for skills development in the form of workshops, activities and programs which will target different constituencies. 

C. Office of International Services (OIS)

LAU is an official member of several prestigious higher education international networks, among which the Institute of International Education (IIE), the European Association for International Education (EAIE), and NAFSA which link LAU to a network of over a thousand universities worldwide. The Office of International Services under SDEM aims at facilitating and supporting international programs with prestigious accredited universities in different regions of the world. To this end, OIS:

• Initiates communication with international universities and directs their proposals to the concerned school/department;
• Works closely with faculty on developing and running student exchange programs;
• Promotes international opportunities to LAU students, including exchanges, study abroad, faculty led programs, summer programs, Erasmus grants, and LAU NY offerings
•  Advises students on the different study abroad opportunities available at LAU that match their qualifications; and
• Supports incoming and outgoing students through their study abroad experience by administering orientation programs, and providing professional advising on different related matters such as visa procedures, housing, registration and transfer of credits processes.