Faculty Senate

Dear LAU Faculty:

At the beginning of this new academic year, I hope that it would be a very fruitful year to all. During the last LAU Board of Trustees (BOT) meeting held in September, many important decisions that positively affected the wellbeing of the LAU faculty were taken. This could not have happened without the hard work done by the council of deans, members of the faculty welfare and promotion council and members of the faculty senate (especially during the summer). That work was fully facilitated and supported by the LAU administration, represented by Provost Dr. A. Sfeir and the President Dr. J. Jabbra. As such sincere collaborative work between the LAU administration and the Faculty Senate, noted and blessed by the BOT as President Jabbra reported during the faculty meeting, was very productive and resulted in the introduction of many positive changes that were sought for years, it would be only normal for all to seek to maintain and support such collaboration.

In its constitution, the faculty senate was entrusted to “consider and make recommendations to the appropriate university bodies on the following important issues:

• Policy matters relating to academic programs, curriculum, methods of instruction, research, admission standards, and any aspects of student life that affects LAU’s academic standards.
• Policy matters relating to faculty status, including appointments, reappointments, retention, promotions, tenure, and dismissal.
• The establishment of new and the discontinuation of existing academic programs.
• The establishment, discontinuation, or status change of any academic unit across the University.
• University operating budget, resource allocations, planning faculty compensation, and University calendar.
• All academic standards, requirements, and the granting of degrees, including honorary degrees.
• Amendments to the Faculty Senate constitution when and if needed”.

In its first meeting, the Faculty Senate realized the importance of the responsibility that you (and LAU) entrusted it with and noted that some important matters (that fall within its duties), still needed to be addressed. Having valued its previous experience, it decided to work hand in hand and cooperate with all pertinent bodies at LAU for the good of all.

Dear colleagues:

I thank you for taking the time to read this message and I urge you to follow up on the Senate discussions, activities and resolutions through the minutes that will be available online and through the Senators that represent you. My colleagues in the Senate, and I, also welcome direct communication with all, so please feel free to forward your comments and/or inquiries to the following address: facultysenate@lau.edu.lb . If you choose to communicate with the Senate executives then you can use any of the following two addresses: senatechair@lau.edu.lb or senatesecretary@lau.edu.lb.

Sincerely,
Tarek Na’was
October 17, 2011