SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

LAU is actively contributing to SDG 10 by promoting inclusivity and reducing inequality. LAU’s commitment to SDG 10 is reflected in its educational initiatives, research, and community engagement efforts. The university has fostered an inclusive and diverse learning environment, promoting access to quality education for all students, regardless of their background or circumstances. Through scholarship programs and financial aid, LAU has helped bridge the inequality gap in education, ensuring that talented individuals, regardless of their socio-economic status, have the opportunity to pursue higher education. Beyond providing equal access to quality education, LAU offers specialized support services to students and employees with physical and mental disabilities, through academic accommodations, accessible facilities, and a commitment to universal design principles. Additionally, the university recognizes the importance of mental health and provides confidential counseling services to foster psychological well-being. This holistic approach underscores LAU’s dedication to reducing disparities and creating a more equitable and just society in alignment with the principles of SDG 10.

Social Training Schedule for Students, Faculty and Staff:

Counseling Services

Counseling at LAU helps you power through your university years. Starting with the school-to-college transition and all its emotional baggage, to dealing with anxiety such as that associated with remote learning, university counselors equip you with essential tools to effectively manage current and future problems.

Sessions are strictly confidential and free of charge for all students. They are typically scheduled once a week and may expand over several weeks depending on the objectives identified by the counselor. 

When Should I Seek Help from a Counselor?

If you are experiencing one or more of the following concerns:

• Test anxiety
• Sleeping problems
• Low self-esteem
• Alcohol or drug abuse
• Concentration problems
• Decision making problems
• Dramatic mood swings
• Hopelessness or helplessness
• Exposure to sexual, physical, or emotional abuse
• Anxiety, fear, or anger that affects everyday life
• Eating disorders
• Suicidal thoughts
• Loneliness and/or homesickness
• Procrastination
• Relationship issues (family, friends, romantic)
• Loss of a family member or loved one
• Poor academic performance.

What Types of Counseling Services Are Offered at LAU?

• Short-term individual counseling
• General consultation
• Group counseling
• Academic skills guidance
• Career/vocational counseling
• Crisis interventions
• On/Off campus referrals
  If the counselors believe that the student’s concerns are beyond the scope of the services provided at LAU, they will provide the student with a list of off-campus professionals (i.e., psychotherapists and/or psychiatrists) from which to choose.

How will a Counselor at LAU Help Me?

Counseling at LAU offers you the chance to:

• Disclose and discuss sensitive issues in a safe environment
• Confide in someone who can be trusted for their open-mindedness and professional help
• Receive support and aid in overcoming distress

While knowing that all the information discussed during counseling sessions:

• Will not go on your official record, nor on your transcripts
• Are strictly confidential – unless the counselor identifies that there is potential for self-harm, or harm to others.

Tips During these Challenging Time

Guidelines and Tips 

Mindfulness Benefits
Counseling in a nutshell (video)
For a smooth transition to university
Dealing with anxiety and online learning
Dealing with Beirut explosion aftermath
Learning Challenges and Support (video)

Mindfulness Benefits

Dealing with Anxiety

Coping with Anxiety

• Challenge your negative thoughts
• Are you worrying about the future?
• How likely is this particular situation to happen?
• What is the evidence that this situation would happen?
• Are you comparing yourself to others?

Review the stressful circumstances in your life

• Say “no” to things you do not want to do
• Give up unnecessary, time-consuming activities and responsibilities
• Use an organized and realistic plan of action to tackle projects
• Ask for information or feedback if helpful

Why Students Don’t Seek Services

• For some students, stigma remains the most significant barrier to seeking treatment
• For other students, the fear of accepting they are struggling means they cannot lead a productive life
• Students also might not seek help because of concerns over confidentiality

Finding Help

• For students struggling with anxiety, the best place to start is the on-campus counseling services where counselors can help you understand and deal with your anxiety. This kind of problem is widespread among students”
• Don’t let yourself make any excuses to miss the appointment. Be sure you set up the next appointment at the end of each session, don’t just wait to schedule it “when I have time.

LAU Counseling Services

Counseling at LAU helps you power through your university years. Starting with the school-to-college transition and all its emotional baggage, to dealing with anxiety such as that associated with remote learning, university counselors equip you with essential tools to effectively manage current and future problems.

Writing Center

Welcome to the LAU Writing Center!

We are pleased you are visiting our website and we hope you find the information helpful.

We provide writing support for LAU undergraduate and graduate students, faculty, staff and the external community. We will work with you through the stages of writing and advise you on issues such as structure, clarity and grammar, in a flexible and friendly environment. We also provide several tutoring services including one-on-one, either in person or virtually, group tutoring and library walk-ins.

Bring your assigned papers and reports, projects, grant proposals, dissertation chapters, unfinished articles and conference papers, and our professional and peer tutors will help you at any stage of the writing process to produce a polished final draft.

We hope to see you at the Writing Center soon!

LAU students, faculty and staff:

We’d love to assist! You can schedule your individual free writing appointments through the WCOnline platform.

Book an Appointment

Non-LAU members:

We provide various paid consultancy services. Click on the “Book a Meeting via Email” button to schedule an appointment to assess your needs, we will then provide you with a work plan. 

Book a Meeting via Email

Engaging LAU Faculty & Staff as Associates in the Mental Health Support System

University students often experience high levels of stress. Any number of potential events- leaving home and moving into the dormitory, academic failure, the loss of loved one, job termination of close relatives, and so on- may require students to make adjustments in the patterns of their daily living. Not all life transitions are negative, but even positive events, when accompanied by significant changes and demands, have the potential to be distressing. 

Many students weather the “stormy periods” of their lives without professional assistance; others may find that the distress of being a student provides an occasion to consult a mental health professional. Thus, every year, the University Counseling Office sees students seeking help with different concerns such as depression, anxiety, relationship problems, family issues, academic difficulties, just to name a few.

You, Faculty and Staff, play an important role in detecting and helping distressed students. However, identifying and responding to students in distress is not an easy job; it can be confusing and overwhelming. Hence, the University Counseling Office has prepared this guide that sheds some lights on the different signs and symptoms of distress; its purpose is to guide you in handling a problem until a referral to the counseling office can be arranged. If you wish to consult with professionals or believe that a student should do so, we welcome the opportunity to help.

We appreciate the role you play as associates in the Mental Health Support System at LAU, and hope that this guide will be useful to you in your efforts.

Sources of Trouble/Distress 

• Family problems
• Grief and loss
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Loneliness
• Relationship problems/break-ups
• Low self-esteem
• Financial problems
• Academic pressure or failure
• Conflict with classmates/Professors
• Difficulty adjusting to university life
• Trouble adjusting to different culture
• Career indecision
• Athletes (pressure/ expectations)
• Eating disorders
• Drug/alcohol abuse
• Sexual or physical abuse or assault
• Identity/sexual confusion

Title IX at LAU

LAU has a no-tolerance policy for gender discrimination, sexual harassment and sexual assault. Title IX actively supports a campus environment where gender discrimination and sexual harassment are not tolerated. Committed to a working and learning environment where people can achieve their full potential, Title IX works to spread awareness about benefits of equity, diversity and inclusion for individuals and the entire community.

The Title IX Office at LAU provides information, confidential discussion, training/awareness materials, and networking regarding eliminating gender discrimination and sexual harassment or misconduct for the LAU community.

About Title IX - Equity and Inclusion at LAU

What is Title IX?

Title IX is a 1972 education amendment to the American Civil Rights law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in any federally funded education program or activity. The main goal of Title IX is to avoid the use of federal money to support sex discrimination in education programs and to provide individual citizens effective protection against those practices.

Title IX applies to all aspects of federally funded education programs or activities. In addition to traditional educational institutions such as colleges, universities, and elementary and secondary schools, Title IX also applies to any education or training program operated by a recipient of federal financial assistance. Title IX seeks to ensure that there is equal access to education regardless of gender. Over time, this has come to be understood as not only prohibiting discrimination, harassment and sexual assault at educational institutions but also working to address long-term structural inequalities and obstacles hindering education progress.

Who and What are included?

While Title IX has a particular focus on students, it also includes all individuals who work for educational institutions. All employees (staff, faculty, etc.) are protected by and responsible for implementing Title IX.

Title IX also applies to the physical space of the institution. All visitors to schools, college and university campuses must also adhere to Title IX. In other words, all gender discrimination and harassment are prohibited at educational institutions that receive US Federal Government funding.

Why does LAU adhere to Title IX?

LAU is both a Lebanese and an American university. It is registered by both governments and seeks to comply with all applicable laws. LAU also receives research funding, scholarships and other grants from the US Federal Government.

Beyond compliance, LAU’s mission and values highlight the importance to “respect human dignity, promote gender equality, and be inclusive” and LAU is rooted in the core liberal arts beliefs that all individuals who seek to study and work to the best of their abilities should have the opportunity to do so. In addition, individuals are unique with unique capabilities and interests—this diversity makes LAU richer and better able to live up to its vision. Committing to implementing Title IX helps LAU to:

• Provide access to a superior education for diverse undergraduate and graduate students and lifelong learners;
• Attract and retain distinguished faculty who excel in teaching, research and community service;
• Enroll and retain academically qualified and diverse students;
• Embrace liberal arts in all curricula;
• Create opportunities for rigorous research and the dissemination of knowledge;
• Develop a close-knit community that excels academically, is intellectually stimulating, and is religiously, ethnically and socio-economically diverse;
• Attract and retain a highly qualified staff committed to excellence in service.

LAU’s Title IX Office focuses on five components to comply with Title IX regulations:

Compliance: It seeks to ensure LAU is compliant with Title IX policies and procedures of the Department of Education and US Federal Law.

Policy Recommendations: The Title IX Office reviews and makes recommendations for revision of LAU policies and procedures to better meet the requirements of Title IX—eliminating discrimination, harassment, and sexual misconduct.

Advocacy and Support for Equity & Inclusion: the Office seeks to provide advocacy and support for greater equity and inclusion at LAU through participating in university committees, meeting with and participating in club activities, and keeping an active communications campaign on campus, among other means.

Training: The Title IX Office is responsible for providing on-going training for students, staff, and faculty regarding rights and responsibilities of gender equity and inclusion and the prohibition of discrimination, harassment, and sexual misconduct.

Complaints Management: The Office is the main office receiving and participating in investigations of complaints of gender discrimination, harassment, and sexual misconduct.