About LAU

Charter and Accreditation

Charter

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 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.

For more information about the University of the State of New York visit the New York State Education Department website.

Accreditation

1. Institutional Accreditation

LAU is accreditated by the Commission on Institutions of Higher Education of the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (CIHE–NEASC).

Accreditation status confirms that the university meets the specific standards set by the accrediting agency. More information about the meaning and process of accreditation is found on the NEASC website.

NEASC is the oldest regional accrediting association in the United States developing and regularly reviewing standards for educational institutions of all levels.

LAU was granted accreditation for a five-year period as of November 2009. The stages LAU has completed since starting the rigorous process in fall 2005 have demonstrated the university’s commitment to academic quality. More information and documentation are available.

2. Program Accreditation

The Doctor of Pharmacy program is fully accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), an autonomous and independent agency in the U.S. for the accreditation of professional degree programs in pharmacy and providers of continuing pharmacy education. This status allows LAU Pharm.D. graduates to sit for the North American Pharmacy Licensure Examination (NAPLEX), and practice in most U.S. states. ACPE first accredited the program in 2002 and granted re-accreditation in January 2010. LAU’s Pharm.D. is the only ACPE-accredited program outside the United States.

The architecture degree is officially equivalent to the French DEA, which allows our graduates to practice in France and the European Union.

The School of Engineering and Architecture plans to submit its engineering programs for future professional accreditation by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) in the U.S. in January 2010 once LAU attains full NEASC accreditation. In the academic year 2006-2007, the school started laying out the groundwork for a self-study required by ABET. In addition, the school plans to seek European accreditation for its engineering programs to expand the recognition of our degrees to a global level.

Charter

View the charter

Accreditation

Learn more about LAU’s progress

Strategic Planning

The five-year initiatives that are transforming LAU