Many of AUB’s administrative units report directly to the provost, who oversees the scope and quality of the academic and research support services that they provide to faculty, students, and – in the case of our libraries and museums – the broader Lebanese community.

The directors of these units often participate actively in key initiatives to improve the professional and educational experiences of faculty and students. One example is the Enrollment Management Task Force, which is reconsidering policies and procedures that affect students in the offices of Admissions, Financial Aid, and the Registrar. Other directors offer essential support for ongoing special projects, such as the Learning Outcomes Initiative and Periodic Program Review process, which are supported by the directors and staff of the Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL) and the Office of Institutional Research and Assessment (OIRA).

The CTL and OIRA were created, along with the Academic Computing Center, to fill important gaps identified by the Provost’s Office, in conjunction with specialized committees and task forces, as the University grew. This process continues unabated. In August 2010, Mrs. Katherine Yngve arrived in Beirut to serve as the founding director of the Office of International Programs (OIP), which has worked to expand AUB's Study Abroad program while also exploring opportunities for research cooperation with external bodies. In Fall 2011, Dr. Rabih Talhouk was appointed chair of the new Graduate Council, which now oversees many aspects of the graduate student experience. 

Another direct report to the provost is the facilitator of the New Faculty Orientation Program, two days of sessions offered to all incoming faculty members immediately prior to the start of the Fall and Spring semesters. The program encourages newcomers to network with AUB colleagues; familiarizes them with their new environment, its resources and its services; and acquaints them with their responsibilities as AUB faculty members. The Provost’s Office views the program as the first step in a comprehensive program of academic mentorship at AUB.

Strategic Planning

Most, if not all, of the heads of these administrative units belong to one of three strategic planning units established in Fall 2010, as AUB began its second strategic planning cycle. Two of these planning units – Enrollment Management and Student Services and Institutes, Centers, and Museums – are described elsewhere. The third one is focused on the development of a comprehensive strategic plan for academic support that corresponds to the University’s strategic objectives and includes major initiatives for implementation over the next five to ten years. Members of the unit are investigating ways to improve business processes that support teaching, research, and specific academic services. At the same time they are exploring areas for cooperation and resource sharing between and among academic support units. The members of the planning group include Saouma BouJaoude (director of the CTL); Ali El Hajj (PPR coordinator); Karma El Hassan (director of OIRA); Fadia Homaidan (director of OGC); Lokman Meho (University librarian); and Amy Zenger (director of the Writing Center). The chair is Provost Dallal and the vice-chair is Rabih Talhouk.