AMERICAN UNIVERSITY OF BEIRUT ANNUAL REPORT OF THE FACULTY OF ARTS AND SCIENCES ACADEMIC YEAR 2011-2012 Dr. Peter Dorman President American University of Beirut Beirut, Lebanon March 2013 Dear Mr. President, Please find enclosed the Annual Report of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences for the academic year 2011-2012. This report was written by the chairpersons and/or directors of the academic units and of standing committees of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, and edited in the Arts and Sciences Dean’s Office. Patrick McGreevy Dean of the Faculty TABLE OF CONTENTS Part I Summary Report of the Office of the Dean Dean Patrick McGreevy P. 1 Part II Reports of the Standing Committees Advisory Committee………………………………………. Dean Patrick McGreevy P. 7 Curriculum Committee……………………………………. Dr. Tarek Ghaddar P. 9 Graduate Committee………………………………………. Dr. Sawsan Kreydiyyeh P. 14 Library Committee………………………………………… Dr. Sirene Harb P. 20 Research Committee………………………………………. Dr. Rabih Sultan P. 22 Student Academic Affairs Committee……………………. Dr. Malek Tabbal P. 29 Student Disciplinary Affairs Committee…………………. Dr. Joshua Andresen P. 35 Undergraduate Admissions Committee…………………… Dr. Hans D. Muller P. 38 Part III Reports of the Academic Units Anis Makdessi Program in Literature…………………... Dr. Maher Jarrar P. 46 Arabic and Near Eastern Languages Department………. Dr. Assaad Khairallah P. 49 Biology Department…………………………………….. Dr. Colin Smith P. 63 Center for Arab and Middle Eastern Studies …………… Dr. Waleed Hazbun P. 90 Center for American Studies and Research …………….. Dr. Alex Lubin P. 102 Center for Behavioral Research ……..…………………... Dr. Samir Khalaf P. 108 Center for English Language Research and Teaching …... Dr. Kassim Shaaban P. 112 Chemistry Department …………………………………... Dr. Mazen El-Ghoul P. 114 Civilization Sequence Program ….………………………. Dr. Maher Jarrar P. 133 Computer Science Department…………………………... Dr. George Turkiyyah P. 152 Economics Department………………………………….. Dr. Simon Neaime P. 167 Education Department…………………………………… Dr. Ghazi Ghaith P. 180 English Department……………………………………… Dr. David Wrisley P. 207 Fine Arts and Art History Department……………….….. Dr. Thomas Kim P. 240 Geology Department…………………………………….. Dr. A. Abdel Rahman P. 249 History and Archeology Department…………….………. Dr. Helen Sader P. 258 Institute of Financial Economics………………………… Dr. Simon Neaime P. 275 Mathematics Department………………………………... Dr. Hazar Abu Khuzam P. 285 Philosophy Department………………………………….. Dr. Ray Brassier P. 300 Physics Department……………………………………… Dr. Samih Isber P. 311 Political Studies and Public Administration……………... Dr. Thomas W. Haase P. 324 Psychology Department……….……………………….... Dr. Shahe S. Kazarian P. 342 Sociology, Anthropology and Media Studies…….....….... Dr. Nabil Dajani P. 356 University Preparatory Program…………………………. Dr. Samar Harkous-Rihan P. 370 Zaki Nassif Music Program……………………………… Dr. Nabil Nassif P. 375 PART I SUMMARY OF THE OFFICE OF THE DEAN OFFICE OF THE DEAN FACULTY OF ARTS AND SCIENCES REPORT TO THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES This report on the Faculty of Arts and Sciences covers the period from June 1, 2011 to May 31, 2012. A. NEW STUDENT REGISTRATION During the first semester, the freshman class saw 347 new students registered, while the sophomore class saw 437 registered. This was a decrease in admission to both classes from the previous year. During the second semester, the freshman class saw 32 new students registered while the sophomore class saw 49 new students registered which was a decrease in admission to the freshman class but an increase in admission to the sophomore class from the previous year. The current policy of admission in FAS is to keep the student population in the sophomore class in FAS at the same level as in the previous academic years but to increase the number of students at the freshman level, if possible. The graduate program saw 87 (79 graduates and 8 prospective graduates) new students enrolled during the first semester. During the second semester, the graduate class saw 44 (36 graduates and 8 prospective graduates) new students registered. The UPP (University Preparatory Program) saw 16 new registered in September 2011 out of a total of 24 accepted applicants. This represents an increase in registration in this program in relation to the same period of 2010-11. Two new UPP students registered in the second semester out of six accepted applicants. During the first semester, the total enrollment at the undergraduate level was 2,616 including 17 UPP, while at the graduate level it was 440 including 14 prospective graduates, in addition to seventeen students at the PhD level. 1 During the second semester, the total enrollment at the undergraduate level was 2,455 including 8 UPP, while at the graduate level it was 442 including 15 prospective graduates, in addition to seventeen students at the PhD level. B. STUDENT ADMISSIONS The University Unified Admissions Committee (UUAC), with representation from all faculties, met and acted on all applications. Early admission to the University by the UUAC has resulted this year in 249 applicants being admitted to the sophomore class and 81 to the freshman class in FAS. Furthermore, 1,020 applications for admission to the freshman class were received and 661 applicants were issued letters of acceptance to-date for the first semester of 2012-13, including early admissions. Additionally, 1,676 out of 2,238 applicants for admission to the sophomore class (including early admissions) were issued letters of admission. It is to be noted that many of these accepted applicants represent students applying to other faculties at AUB also. The faculty acted on 58 applications to the UPP (University Preparatory Program), and to date 42 have been accepted for the first semester. C. CURRENT FACULTY NUMBER AND COMPOSITION The teaching program involved the equivalent of 318 full-time faculty members, plus 163 graduate assistants for the first semester and 166 for the second. During the first semester, a total of 6,281 students were enrolled in 504 different courses (equivalent to 1,177 courses and sections). A total of 6,159 students were enrolled in 543 different courses (equivalent to 1,166 courses and sections) during the second semester. There were 318 budgeted full-time faculty lines in FAS for 2011-12, all of which were filled. Of these, 234 were used for full-time contracts with the balance used for part-time appointments. Fulltime appointments were distributed as follows: 168 in the professorial ranks (assistant, associate, and full professors), 64 in ranks of instructor and lecturer, two assistant instructors. This includes all faculty members on paid junior and research leaves (28 in total for both semesters.) 2 D. PROFESSORS ON LEAVE, 2011-12 Twenty-one professors were on paid research leaves during the academic year 2011-12. Eleven were on Periodic Paid Research Leaves (five in the fall and three five in the spring, and one for both semesters). Another nine were on Junior Paid Leaves (six in the fall and three in the spring). Two faculty members were on leave without pay during the fall and four for the academic year 2011-12. In addition, two faculty members were on maternity leaves in the fall and one in the spring. Two professors were seconded on REP assignments for the academic year 2011- 12. E. PROFESSORS ON LEAVE, 2012-13 At least eighteen professors will be on paid research leaves during the academic year 2012-13. Eleven will be on Periodic Paid Research Leaves (Eight in the fall, three in the spring, and one for both semesters). In addition five others have applied for spring leaves whose cases are still pending. Another seven will be on Junior Paid Leaves (three in the fall and four in the spring). One faculty member will be on leave without pay during the fall semester. In addition, two faculty members will be seconded on REP assignments for the academic year 2012-13. F. FACULTY RECRUITMENT A total of 577 applications have been received for faculty positions due to start September 15, 2012 that were advertised by the Faculty. After consultation with the departments and the Advisory Committee, 28 offers have been accepted. These faculty members include 6 Lebanese, 7 US citizens, 1 US/Lebanese, 1 US/Moldova, 1 US/French, 2 British, 1 British/Lebanese, 1 British/Egyptian, 2 Canadian and one each from Australia, Turkey, Germany, France, Egypt and Austria. Visiting chairs include Dr. Jasbir Puar (Edward Said Chair in American Studies), Emily O’Dell (Whittlesey Chair in the History Department), and Dr. Selim Deringil (Howell Chair in the History and Archaeology Department). G. APPLICATIONS FOR PROMOTION Nine applications for promotion were received by the deadline of September 15, 2011. Four applications were for the promotion to the rank of full professor and five for the rank of associate professor. One of the four applying to the rank of full 3 professor was successful, and four applying to the rank of associate professor were successful. H. FACULTY DEVELOPMENT GRANTS In the 2011-2012 fiscal year extending from July 1, 2011 to June 30, 2012, seventy- one faculty members were granted short-term faculty development grants. FAS received eighty-six short-term faculty development grant applications, seventy of which got were granted coverage of their conference costs while sixteen were granted partial coverage. During the same fiscal year fourteen faculty members were granted long-term faculty development grants. Twelve received full coverage of their trips, while two faculty members received only partial coverage. Five faculty members received travel funding for their Junior faculty leaves (three in the Fall Semester and two in the Spring Semester.) I. GENERAL REMARKS FAS began a process of strategic planning in February 2011. In the last six months, the deans and other senior leaders have been working to meld the goals of the various faculties and units into a comprehensive strategic vision for AUB. The dean presented an update on FAS future plans in an open forum attended by faculty member, President Dorman, Provost Dallal, Chair of the Board of Trustees Philip Khoury and several other board members.