LAU New York is Now a Branch Campus, and LAU a Global University
Dear members of our LAU community,
We made the announcement yesterday of major news concerning the conversion of our New York Headquarters to a branch campus, as per the March 12 decision of the Board of Regents of the State of New York. LAU thus becomes the first and only MENA-based university to have a campus in New York.
Strategically located in midtown Manhattan, LAU New York may now confer master’s and bachelor’s degrees. This landmark decision paves the way for the registration of five cuttingedge programs tailored to the needs of the global job market: an in-person BS in International Business and four master’s programs to be offered online and in person, namely MBA in Business Analytics, MBA in Global Business Administration, MS in Computer Science, and MS in Applied Artificial Intelligence.
This groundbreaking achievement unlocks a multitude of opportunities for LAU, enabling the university to offer a host of degree and certificate programs in support of learners in New York and around the world.
LAU’s students in the MENA and their counterparts in New York will benefit from an enriched learning experience centered on cultural exchange and the forging of stronger links between Lebanon and the United States. LAU, which is a leader in offering US-style education in Lebanon, will now have the opportunity to facilitate the flow of knowledge, ideas, and opportunities bidirectionally.
In terms of in-person education, LAU New York is also poised to launch a BS in International Business program. This cutting-edge program will feature classes that will run simultaneously between LAU New York and LAU’s other campuses, fostering significant cultural and educational exchange. Additionally, this program opens up exciting opportunities for local New York students to spend a semester or more on the university’s Lebanon campuses, further amplifying the international learning experience.
LAU’s online programs will be strategically relocated to LAU New York. This move will allow for access to world-class instructors from the professional and academic landscape of New York City, while continuing the partnerships with LAU’s Beirut and Byblos campuses.
The branch campus registration will qualify LAU New York to follow through with a special certification (SEVP) which would facilitate “student or exchange” visas (Form I-20) in the future. It will enable LAU’s US students to apply for federal grants, greatly enhancing their access to education. This will facilitate authorizations for optional practical training, allowing for internships in the USA for students who spend one year or more studying at LAU New York, greatly increasing skilling as well as diverse and exciting career paths.
LAU will also open up exchange programs enabling Lebanon-based students to spend a semester or more at LAU New York, immersing themselves in the cultural, educational, and professional scenes of the world’s most diverse city.
I would like to congratulate all those who have worked diligently to realize this breakthrough. Associate provost and executive director of LAU New York Dr. Barbar Akle has been instrumental throughout with his persistence and attention to details. He was supported by Provost George Nasr, the Provost’s Office and the whole Council of Deans. We are grateful for the support of the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Mr. Philip Stoltzfus and the entire Board of Trustees for their unwavering commitment. This achievement builds on a seed that was planted in 2013 with the acquisition and inauguration by President Emeritus Joseph G. Jabbra of the New York Academic Headquarters.
This 3rd campus is now a reality, and LAU has now earned yet another differentiator, this time as a global university.
Sincerely,
Michel E. Mawad, M.D.
President