The mission of the UPP is to prepare undergraduate and graduate students who have been admitted to AUB to successfully pursue their study at English-medium institutions of higher learning. The Program strives to develop and improve the English language proficiency as well as the mathematics and science content competencies of its students’ academic literacy skills, study skills, critical thinking skills, and cultural understanding and appreciation.
ELC
Based on UPP’s extensive experience in preparing scholarship students to succeed in higher education, the UPP faculty has designed and implemented a number of intensive inclusion and orientation programs for scholarship students for the USAID/University Scholarship Program, Mastercard Foundation Program, Education for Afghan women in crisis program.
As part of the pre-semester UPP inclusion program, UPP welcomed the first cohort of 16 Afghan women in collaboration with the FAS Education for Leadership in Crisis program, a merit based full scholarship program that focuses on helping Afghani women continue their undergraduate studies at AUB. As it is its mission, UPP worked with the afghan women to help them have a safe and smooth transfer from high schools to universities, and of course, the transition from Afghanistan to a foreign country especially that some of the ladies have never travelled outside their country.
UPP faculty organized different workshops and activities for three consecutive weeks starting Monday, August 5, 2019 with an introduction to the program and a tour around AUB campus, and lasted until Friday, August 23, 2019.
This program was developed to provide newly admitted ELC scholars with a spectrum of workshops that would help them to:
a- Interact with each other and engage in activities that will enhance their English Learning Skills through attending English workshops on: Critical Reading, Listening Comprehension, Writing and Reading Skills.
b- Upgrade their IT skills through a series of sessions on: Computer and Internet, Overview on Information System, Email and G-mail setup, Microsoft word and Excel and Google and Gmail
c- Adapt to their university life and scholarship requirements. These workshops included: Introduction to Academic Advising, Moodle and Blended Courses, Counseling session and Financial Workshop.
d- Utilize university resource. These sessions included: Introduction to Civic Engagement, AUB Clubs and Societies, Health Insurance Plan (HIP) and Library visits.
e- Develop social and personal soft skills. These interactive workshops included: Team Building, Time Management, Study Skills, Email Writing, Presentation Skills, Problem Solving and Internship and Interviewing Skills.
f- Provide students with a great overview of Lebanon’s history through a visit to the Lebanese National Museum where a collection of archaeological artefacts is displayed.
g- Get acquainted with AUB’s neighborhood. UPP team and ELC students toured through the neighborhood were ELC scholars were introduced to a number of local shops that may help them settle in and buy their daily goods.
The program sessions and workshops culminated in an important exercise, the Individual Development Plan (IDP), which integrates the overall objectives of the program. IDP is a live document used to help scholars identify strengths and areas for growth, and set attainable personal and career goals.
In the opening ceremony, Dr. Samar Harkouss (UPP Director) introduced the program, its structure and objectives, and team members. As the Director of LEAD initiative, Dr. Malek Tabbal presented a glimpse on AUB’s history and Liberal arts education program. Dr. Carmen Geha, ELC Program Director welcomed the ELC scholars in Lebanon and at AUB, and encouraged them to embrace this transformative learning journey.
After the completion of the three weeks, a closing ceremony was held at Reynolds Hall in the presence of the Dean of Arts and Sciences, Dr. Nadia Al Sheikh who attended the event. Dr. Sheikh welcomed ELC scholars, introduced them to the freshman program and thanked UPP team for their efforts in preparing for this Orientation Program.
Both the closing and opening ceremonies played a major role in setting a friendly environment where the students had the chance to mingle among each other and with team members.
AGFE
This year, as part of UPP summer orientation and inclusion programs, and in collaboration with the AUB LEAD initiative, the UPP department kicked off its one-week orientation program for newly accepted AGFE scholars on August 5, 2019.
This program was developed to provide newly accepted AGFE scholars with a spectrum of workshops that would help them:
a- Adapt to their university life and scholarship requirements. These workshops included: Introduction to Academic Advising, Moodle and Blended Courses, Counseling session and Financial Workshop.
b- Utilize university resources. These sessions included: Introduction to Civic Engagement, AUB Clubs and Societies, Health Insurance Plan (HIP), Library visits and Undergraduate Research at AUB.
c- Develop social and personal soft skills. These interactive workshops included: Team Building, Time Management, Study Skills, Email Writing, Presentation Skills, Problem Solving and Internship and Interviewing Skills.
The program sessions and workshops were culminated with an important exercise, Individual Development Plan (IDP), which integrates the overall objectives of the program. IDP is a live document used to help scholars identify strengths and areas for growth, and set attainable personal and career goals.
This program was launched with an opening ceremony. Dr. Samar Harkouss (UPP Director) introduced the program, its structure and objectives, and team members. As the Director of LEAD initiative, and Al Ghurair scholarship program, Dr. Malek Tabbal presented a glimpse on AUB’s history, Liberal arts education and welcomed the AGFE scholars, and encouraged them to embrace this transformative learning journey. In her turn, Ms. Hiba Baalbaki, AGFE program coordinator, reiterated the scholarship requirements and benefits.
At the end of the 5-day program, an evaluation was conducted to assess AGFE scholars’ feedback on all sessions and workshops and their respective trainers. This evaluation was followed by a closing ceremony where scholars, team members and stakeholders celebrated the completion of this orientation program. Both closing and opening ceremonies played a major role in setting a friendly environment where the students had the chance to mingle among each other and other stakeholders.
The Orientation program made a breakthrough since it enabled the students to bridge the gap between high school and university requirements. As a next step, UPP is planning to expand the program and extend its duration to include academic guidance, as well as information technology courses and co-curricular and extra-curricular activities.