Students / Staff / Faculty from Under-represented Groups

The Lebanese American University (LAU) actively promotes diversity and inclusion by taking planned actions to recruit students, staff, and faculty from underrepresented groups. LAU’s Admissions Policy explicitly commits to admitting qualified students irrespective of nationality, race, gender, or religious affiliation. The policy also emphasizes its historical mission of promoting higher education for women, systematically measuring and analyzing women’s application and admission rates to support gender equality.

As an equal opportunity employer, LAU ensures non-discrimination in its hiring practices, fostering an inclusive environment where candidates are assessed based solely on merit. Moreover, through initiatives like USAID scholarships, MEPI programs, and other financial aid schemes, LAU targets underserved populations, including low-income and refugee students, to increase accessibility to higher education.

These efforts underline LAU’s dedication to creating a diverse academic and professional community aligned with its mission of inclusivity and equitable opportunities.

LAU Employment Opportunities

A disclaimer indicating that LAU is an Equal Opportunity Employer is added at the bottom of every job posting in the Careers Section of the website: “The Lebanese American University is an Equal Opportunity Employer.”, however we do not specifically target under-represented groups.

Career Advisor - Byblos

The Office of the Dean of Students is currently looking for a Career Advisor reporting to the Director of Student Services. This position is based on Byblos Campus.

Role Summary

The Career Advisor is primarily responsible for guiding students and graduates regarding their career paths and employment opportunities. He/she also provides students and alumni with placement services and networking opportunities.

Additionally, the Career Advisor organizes and engages in career related activities, and creates/ maintains/develops new connections and partnerships with existing and potential employers to maximize internships and employment opportunities for LAU students and graduates.

Main Duties & Responsibilities

• Supports students in exploring career alternatives, developing effective career planning skills, creating job plans, and identifying career goals using formal and informal assessments, writing resumes, cover letters, preparing for interviews, identifying and implementing job search strategies.
• Conducts individual sessions to meet the needs of students and graduates seeking internship and employment opportunities.
• Initiates, develops, and presents new ideas for workshops on career related subjects.
• Serves as a liaison for the career development services office and internal community stakeholders (Alumni Relations Office, Department of Institutional Research and Assessment, etc.)
• Processes requests on career portal: posts internships and job opportunities to students and alumni, and follows up with employers
• Organizes career related events: annual career and internship fairs, workshops, recruitment presentations, on campus interviews, student -run career activities, etc.
• Maintains updated employers’ contact details and initiates contact with new employers
• Generates reports and maintains updated placement records, by following up with companies, students and graduates
• Updates the career guidance website and the online career portal
• Generates and compiles data for the Strategic Plan Report and other reports as requested by the Institute of Research and Assessment and the Board of Trustees
• Performs other duties pertinent to this job as assigned.

Minimum Required Qualifications

• Bachelor Degree
• Minimum 3 years of work experience, out of which, 1 year in career advising, HR, or similar capacity
• Excellent written and spoken English; Arabic is a plus
• Communication, interpersonal and problem-solving skills
• Working knowledge of MS Office; and Banner is preferred
• Readiness to work closely with students
• Excellent organizational skills, ability to work under pressure, and meet strict deadlines
• Demonstrated ability to maintain confidentiality and exhibit high ethics

Interested candidates should email their CVs with a letter of interest outlining the applicant’s relevant experience to vacancy3@lau.edu.lb, specifying the job title in the subject line.

Closing date for accepting applications is Tuesday, October 17, 2023.

CVs should include the exact month and year while listing the candidate’s professional experience and educational background. No applications will be accepted after this date, and only shortlisted candidates will be notified.

The Lebanese American University is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

USAID Higher Education Scholarship Program

The USAID Higher Education Scholarship Program (HES) aims to provide undergraduate scholarships to promising public and private high school students and technical school graduates from all governorates of Lebanon. Student beneficiaries will experience LAU’s high/rigorous academic standards and a campus environment that promotes social equality and critical thinking. Moreover, it is mandatory for all students to engage in volunteer work, attend leadership and career workshops, and complete internships to complement their academic studies.

Our Programs

In a Nutshell

628 scholars graduated so far. Total scholarships distributed for:

• 61, 65, 95, 61 and 45 scholars under USP I, USP II, USP III, USP V, and USP VI respectively
• 73, 75 and 67 scholars under USP VII Cycle 1, Cycle 2, and Cycle 3 respectively
• 67, 66, 84 and 112 scholars under HES Phase I Cycle 1, Cycle 2, Cycle 3 and Cycle 4 respectively
• 78 scholars under HES Phase II Cycle 1

8 grants since 2010

949 Scholars

282 enrolled scholars

Equal gender distribution

MEPI Tomorrow’s Leaders Program

The Tomorrow’s Leaders Program (TL) is an initiative of the United States Department of State U.S.-Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) that supports capable and highly motivated young scholars from underserved backgrounds in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region by providing a fully funded undergraduate level academic matriculation, civic education, and leadership development. The full-coverage scholarship aims at investing in Arab youth’s unexplored capacity and strengthening their leadership skills to become drivers of change and catalyze social progress in their home community.

The TL program has been implemented and overseen by LAU since its launch in 2008.

TL Undergraduate Program (TLU) Scholarships for high school students

TL Graduate Program (TLG) Scholarships for master’s programs

Programs for Current Students

Emergency Financial Aid Fund

First there was a devastating political and economic crisis in Lebanon. Students rose to the occasion by demonstrating their exceptional civic duty and commitment to bettering the country, participating in peaceful demonstrations.

Next, there was a global COVID-19 pandemic. Students quickly adapted, switching to online learning and continuing their much-needed education – their only hope for a solid future in this uncertain and unpredictable world.

Then – when we thought it could not get any worse – a devastating explosion rocked our capital, taking the lives of 200+ people, and injuring around 6,500 others. It has also left hundreds of thousands homeless. Students mobilized, setting up aid tents in the areas most affected, and volunteered to help those on the ground.

While our Lebanese American University (LAU) students make us proud by proving their immense resilience and perseverance in times of tremendous difficulty, we know the reality is that they are hurting and are in need of help.

Students’ parents have lost their homes, jobs, been laid off, or found themselves grappling with a salary that no longer meets their most basic needs as a result of a collapsing national currency. In fact, more than 70 percent of our 8,500 students now have demonstrated new financial need. Many have even considered dropping out of LAU.

Losing a generation of youth isn’t an option, nor will LAU fall short on its motto of not yielding. Keeping LAU students enrolled is of utmost importance to the institution, Lebanon, and the world if we want to see any prosperity and peace in the future.

The graph below highlights the steep decline in the tuition-paying ability of families in recent years. This does not reflect today’s situation among students, which is much worse.

As a result, the institution went to extraordinary measures to strip its operating budget, dip into its endowment, defer capital projects, implement a hiring freeze, halt salary increases, and launch an Emergency Financial Aid Fund. In the academic year 2020–2021, LAU provided more than $72 million in financial aid and scholarships to support its students. The need for the current academic year is higher.

LAU has stretched itself to its absolute limit. Yet, with a new academic year right around the corner, and growing need among our students, we cannot give up on our youth. We need your support to continue to provide students with crucial financial aid so they can enjoy the education they dream of and deserve.

Be our students’ and our nation’s hero. Make a gift now.

What Our Goal Represents

With so much at stake, we aim to raise funds for 250 partial scholarships. Each partial scholarship represents $10,000 — covering, on average, half of a student’s annual tuition. This vital support would go to those most deserving, with demonstrated financial need and who are at risk of dropping out of LAU, even despite previously received help.

There are hundreds of LAU students with their education, and future, at risk. Making a gift of any amount will help us give these students a chance. Whether it’s a donation of $10 (LL 15,000) or $100 (LL 150,000), we will put it to use towards our scholarship goal. Your donation, whatever its size, will make a major difference in our students’ lives.