Governance and Administration

Office of the Provost

Fall 2020 Academic Plan

Dear Students,

We hope you and your families are safe and well in these difficult times. We have all been greatly affected by the catastrophic explosion in the Port of Beirut on August 4, and we have been working tirelessly since then to rehabilitate and restore the LAUMC-Rizk Hospital and Beirut campus. Many of you have been helping in these restoration efforts and providing relief to the local communities, and we are very proud of you. You can count on LAU’s continuous support as our communities heal and rebuild.

Fall 2020 classes at the university will begin online on September 1, 2020. The first week of classes will also be used to assess the online learning experience and sort out any encountered issues, technical or otherwise.

In light of the latest health and security developments in Lebanon, LAU will deliver all courses fully online during the month of September 2020 including those courses designated as hybrid.  We will be assessing the situation regularly, and by the third week of each month we will make a decision regarding whether to continue all courses online or not for the subsequent month.

In case the situation improves and LAU can offer some courses in hybrid fashion beginning in October or later, we will make full provisions for students unable to come to our campuses. International students, Lebanese students living abroad, and students with medical conditions who cannot attend hybrid classes on campus will be allowed to complete their courses fully online.

If hybrid courses can be offered, students residing in Lebanon and taking hybrid classes may come to campus, under strict preventive health measures, provided the public health situation in the country allows for it. As for lab, clinical, studio, and special courses, details will be made available by the concerned Schools.

First year students will also be offered, hopefully starting October 1st, optional in-person sessions once per week, in addition to the online part of each course, provided the health situation and national restrictions allow. Again, details will be made available later.

Please note that this plan is fluid and will be updated on a month-by-month basis or as and when required. We are eager to welcome you to LAU this Fall, so stay safe and know that we will be communicating with you on a regular basis.

For more help and guidance, please contact your school at the school support email address listed below:

Sincerely,
George Nasr
Provost