Annual Report of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE FACULTY OF ARTS AND SCIENCES ACADEMIC YEAR 2007-2008 Dr. Peter Dorman President American University of Beirut Beirut, Lebanon October 22, 2008 Dear Mr. President, Please find enclosed the Annual Report of the Faculty of Arts & Sciences for the academic year 2007-2008. This report was written by the chairpersons and/or directors of the academic units and of the standing committees of the Faculty of Arts & Sciences, and edited in the Arts & Sciences Dean’s Office. Sincerely yours, Khalil Bitar Dean of the Faculty TABLE OF CONTENTS PART A Summary Report of the Office of the Dean Dean Khalil Bitar P.1-3 PART B Reports of the Standing Committees P.7 Administrative Committee…………………………… Dr. Helen Sader P.9 Admissions Committee………………………………. Dean Khalil Bitar P.15 Advisory Committee…………………………………. Dean Khalil Bitar P.21 Curriculum Committee………………………………. Dr. Malek Tabbal P.22 Graduate Committee…………………………………. Dr. Rabih Talhouk P.25 Library Committee…………………………………… Dr. Nadia El-Cheikh P.31 Research Committee…………………………………. Dr. A. Abdel Rahman P.32 Student Affairs Committee…………………………... Dr. David Wrisley P.37 PART C Reports of Academic Units P.39 Anis Makdisi Program in Literature…………………. Dr. Maher Jarrar P.41 Arabic & Near Eastern Languages Department…….. Dr. Ramzi Baalbaki P.43 Biology Department………………………………….. Dr. Hala Muhtasib P.53 Center for American Studies & Research (CASAR)… Dr. Patrick McGreevy P.76 Center for Arab & Middle Eastern Studies (CAMES). Dr. Nadia El-Cheikh P.80 Center for Behavioral Research (CBR)……………… Dr. Samir Khalaf P.86 Center for English Language Research & Teaching… Dr. Rula Diab P.88 Chemistry Department……………………………….. Dr. Mazen Al-Ghoul P.90 Civilization Sequence Program……………………… Dr. Richard Smith P.108 Computer Science Department………………………. Dr. Ahmad Nasri P.120 Economics Department………………………………. Dr. Simon Neaime P.137 Education Department……………………………….. Dr. Saouma BouJaoude P.147 English Department………………………………….. Dr. Lina Choueiri P.169 Fine Arts & Art History Department………………… Mr. David Kurani P.183 Geology Department…………………………………. Dr. Abdel Rahman P.193 History & Archæology Department..………………… Dr. Samir Seikaly P.201 Institute Financial Economics……………………….. Dr. Simon Neaime P.218 Mathematics Department…………………………….. Dr. Hazar Abu Khuzam P.225 Philosophy Department………………………………. Dr. Bashshar Haidar P.237 Physics Department………………………………….. Dr. Malek Tabbal P.245 Political Studies & Public Administration Department Dr. Hilal Khashan P.255 Science & Mathematics Education Center (SMEC)…. Dr. Tamer Amin P.263 Social & Behavioral Sciences………………………... Dr. Arne Dietrich P.265 University Preparatory Program……………………... Dr. Ghazi Ghaith P.289 PART A SUMMARY REPORT OF THE OFFICE OF THE DEAN SUMMARY REPORT OF THE OFFICE OF THE DEAN This report covers the period from October 1, 2007 to September 30, 2008 for the Faculty of Arts and Sciences I. STUDENT REGISTRATION: 2007-2008 During the first semester, the freshman class saw 356 new students registered, while the sophomore class saw 528 registered. This was a significant increase in admission to these classes from previous years. During the second semester, the freshman class saw 42 new students registered while the sophomore class saw 77 registered. The current policy of admission in FAS is to keep the student population in the sophomore class in FAS at the same levels as for the previous academic years but to increase the number of students at the freshman level if possible. This year’s unexpected increase was an unusual situation. The graduate program saw 95 new students enrolled during the first semester. This is an increase in admission compared to the previous year. During the second semester, the graduate class saw 58 new students registered. The UPP (University Preparatory Program) saw 12 registered in September 2007 out of a total of 24 accepted applicants. This represents a decrease in registration in this program in relation to the same period of 2006-07. Four new UPP students registered in the second semester out of 7 accepted applicants. During the first semester, the total enrollment at the undergraduate level was 2411, while at the graduate level it was 380 in addition to 5 new students at the PhD level. During the second semester, the total enrollment at the undergraduate level was 2356, while at the graduate level it was 401 in addition to the 5 students at the PhD level. II. STUDENT ADMISSIONS: 2008-2009 The University Unified Admissions committee (UUAC), with representation from all Faculties, has met and acted on all applications. Early admission to the University by the UUAC has resulted this year in 208 applicants being admitted to the sophomore class and 52 to the freshman class in FAS. Furthermore 843 applications for admission to the freshman class were received and 375 applicants were issued letters of acceptance to-date for the first semester of 2008-2009 including early admissions. Additionally a total 1299 of 2101 applicants for admission to the sophomore class (including early admissions) were issued letters of admission. 3 It is to be noted that many of these accepted applicants represent students applying to other Faculties at AUB also. Incomplete applications for admissions to the freshman class that have now been completed will be also processed. These are expected to be very few as the numbers above represent essentially final admission decisions. The Arts and Science Admissions Committee acted on 32 applications to the UPP (University Preparatory Program) and to date 24 were accepted for the first semester. III. CURRENT FACULTY NUMBER AND COMPOSITION: 2007-2008 The teaching program involved 270 faculty members, 160 graduate assistants for the first and 159 for the second semester. During the Fall semester, a total of 2796 students were enrolled in 411 different courses (equivalent to 972 courses and sections). A total of 2762 students were enrolled in 419 different courses (equivalent to 985 courses and sections) during the Spring semester. Budgeted full-time faculty lines in FAS for 2007-2008 are two hundred and sixty four (264) lines all of which are filled. Two hundred and five (205) are currently used for full-time contracts with the balance used for part-time appointments. Full time appointments are distributed as follows: One hundred and thirty three (133) are in the professorial ranks (Assistant, Associate, and Full Professors), sixty seven (67) are in ranks of Instructor and lecturer, two (2) are Assistant Instructors and three are in ranks of research associate (3). The marked increase in total faculty lines during the current academic year (as compared to budgeted lines in previous years) reflects an on-going increase in students numbers taking courses in FAS as well as changes in teaching load assignments in English courses serving all AUB students (e.g. full time instructors are now asked to teach three sections of 25 students each rather than four). Furthermore, it is to be noted that this number includes all faculty members on paid junior and research leaves (21 in total for both semesters). IV. PROFESSORS ON LEAVE 2007-2008 Ten professors were on ‘paid research leave’ during the academic year. Five were on leave during the first semester and five during the second semester. Eleven other faculty members, financed by university funds, were also on junior paid leaves, six during the first semester and five on similar leave during the second semester. Nine faculty members were on leave without pay during the current academic year; five for the full year, three during the first semester and one during the second semester. This is a very large number of leaves granted faculty during one academic year and Chairs and departments were urged to curtail this phenomenon to more reasonable levels. 4 V. PROFESSORS ON LEAVE 2008-2009 Several requests for leave without pay and paid research leaves for 2008-2009 were considered by the Advisory Committee of FAS. To date three professors and one instructor have been granted leaves without pay for the academic year 2008-09 and one instructor for the first semester. Six professors have been granted paid research leaves for the first semester of 2008-09 and, to date, one for the second semester. Three faculty members were granted junior faculty research paid leaves one for the first and two for the second semester of 2008-09. VI. FACULTY RECRUITMENT 2008-2009 A total of 485 applications have been received to faculty positions that were advertised as available in the Faculty starting September 15, 2008. After consultation with the departments and the Advisory Committee, 45 offers have been made so far , 28 offers have been accepted and 17 have been declined. The national distribution of those who accepted our offer are: 4 British, 2 German, 7 Lebanese, 11 US citizens, and one each from: Syria, Ukraine, Canada and Jordan. One visiting position is filled within the Edward Said Chair in American Studies and one for the Whittlesey Chair in Sociology. VII. APPLICATIONS FOR PROMOTION Sixteen applications for promotion were received by the deadline of August 6, 2007. Four applications were for the promotion to the rank of full professor and twelve for the rank of associate professor. The promotion cycle resulted in two faculty members being promoted to full professor, and eight to associate professor. VIII. GENERAL REMARKS The Faculty faced a major increase in the number of registered students and handled their registration efficiently during the summer months of 2007. This was then reflected in the increase in the total full time equivalent faculty lines engaged in FAS as compared to previous years. FAS will have to continually accommodate these extra students for the next two years and until they all graduate. Several planned conferences in History and in Arabic had to be postponed as a result of the summer of 2006 war but were held during the first semester of the academic year 2007-08. The American Studies and Research program held its international conference also during this same period.