Charter

The Lebanese American University (LAU) is chartered by the Board of Regents of the University of the State of New York. The University of the State of New York is the sole entity authorized by the State of New York to incorporate higher education institutions and to authorize them to confer degrees.

In 1950, when LAU was known as Beirut College for Women, it was granted a provisional charter by the NY Board of Regents, and an absolute charter five years later. Since then, the charter was amended several times in response to the institution’s growth.

Institutional Accreditation

LAU is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE), formerly the Commission on Institutions of Higher Education of the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Inc. NECHE is the regional accrediting association in the United States developing and regularly reviewing standards for educational institutions of all levels. Recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, NECHE accredits 241 colleges and universities in the six-state New England region as well as 11 institutions overseas.

Inquiries regarding the accreditation status by the Commission should be directed to the administrative staff of the institution. Individuals may also contact:

New England Commission of Higher Education
3 Burlington Woods Drive, Suite 100, Burlington, MA 01803-4514
(781) 425 7785
E-Mail: info@neche.org

LAU was granted initial accreditation for a five-year period following a site visit in November 2009. In 2014, LAU underwent a comprehensive evaluation and was re-accredited for a ten-year period. The stages LAU has completed since starting the first rigorous process in fall 2005 have demonstrated the university’s commitment to academic quality.

Program Accreditation

School of Architecture & Design

The Bachelor of Architecture program is accredited as of 2019 by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB), which accredits architecture programs in the United States. The program is the first in Lebanon and the third outside the United States to receive NAAB accreditation.

In addition, the Bachelor of Architecture Program is officially recognized by the French Ministry of Culture and Communication as equivalent to the Diplôme d’Etat D’Architecte (DEA), thus allowing our graduates to practice in France and the European Union.

The school is also accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD) in the United States, covering the following degrees:

• BA in Fine Arts
• BFA in Interior Design
• BFA in Graphic Design
• BFA in Fashion Design

School of Arts & Sciences

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

The BS in Nutrition and Dietetics Coordinated Program (CP) has been granted candidacy for accreditation by the accrediting agency for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics in the US. As the first step in a four-year accrediting process, the candidacy by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) grants current and future students the same rights of a fully accredited program. Out of only six international programs with ACEND accreditation, the CP in the Department of Natural Sciences is the only dietetics education program with a concentration in Interprofessional Education (IPE). It is also the only one in Lebanon to have an IPE approach.

Adnan Kassar School of Business

The Adnan Kassar School of Business’ undergraduate and graduate programs are accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). The programs are: BS in Business Studies, BS in Economics, BS in Hospitality and Tourism Management, Master of Business Administration (MBA), Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA), and MS in Human Resources Management.

In addition, the Department of Hospitality and Tourism Management at the Adnan Kassar School of Business (AKSOB) is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Programs in Hospitality Administration (ACPHA).

School of Engineering

The following programs are accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, http://www.abet.org:

• BE in Civil Engineering
• BE in Computer Engineering
• BE in Electrical Engineering
• BE in Industrial Engineering
• BE in Mechanical Engineering

In addition, the aforementioned BE programs are accredited by the Federation of Arab Engineers.

Alice Ramez Chagoury School of Nursing

The BS in Nursing is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).

School of Pharmacy

The School of Pharmacy is a full member of the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP). The Doctor of Pharmacy program at LAU 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, Pharm.D. graduates are eligible for licensure as pharmacists in most U.S. states and provinces.