AMERICAN UNIVERSITY OF BEIRUT ANNUAL REPORT OF THE FACULTY OF ARTS AND SCIENCES ACADEMIC YEAR 2013-2014 Dr. Peter Dorman President American University of Beirut Beirut, Lebanon October 2014 Dear Mr. President, Please find enclosed the Annual Report of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences for the academic year 2013-2014. 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. 6 Curriculum Committee……………………………………. Dr. Syrine Hout P. 8 Graduate Committee……………………………………… Dr. Tamer Amin P. 12 Library Committee………………………………………… Dr. Alexis Wick P. 15 Research Committee………………………………………. Dr. Tarek Ghaddar P. 16 Student Academic Affairs Committee (Undergraduate)…… Dr. Malek Tabbal P. 21 Student Disciplinary Affairs Committee…………............... Dr. Hazar Abu Khuzam P. 27 Undergraduate Admissions Committee…………………… Dr. Digambara Patra P. 29 Part III Reports of the Academic Units Anis Makdisi Program in Literature…………………..….. Dr. Nader El-Bizri P. 39 Arabic and Near Eastern Languages Department………... Dr. David Wilmsen P. 41 Biology Department……………………………………... Dr. Khouzama Knio P. 52 Center for Arab and Middle Eastern Studies …………….. Dr. Waleed Hazbun P. 76 Center for American Studies and Research ……………… Dr. Alexander Lubin P. 86 Center for Language Research and Teaching ...……..….… Dr. Kassim Shaaban P. 90 P. 109 Chemistry Department …………………………………... Dr. Najat A. Saliba P. 91 Computer Science Department….……………………….. Dr. Wassim El Hajj P. 111 Civilization Studies Program …………………………... Dr. Maher Jarrar P. 126 Economics Department………………………………….. Dr. Nisreen Salti P. 143 Education Department…………………………………… Dr. Ghazi Ghaith P. 156 English Department……………………………………… Dr. David WrisleyP. 184 P. 200 P. 200 Fine Arts and Art History Department……………….….. Dr. Thomas Kim P. 185 Geology Department…………………………………….. Dr. A. Abdel Rahman P. 197 History and Archeology Department…………….………. Dr. Nadia El Cheikh P. 206 Institute of Financial Economics………………………… Dr. Simon Neaime P. 221 Mathematics Department………………………………... Dr. Wissam Raji P. 234 Philosophy Department………………………………….. Dr. Hans Muller P. 248 Physics Department……………………………………… Dr. Samih Isber P. 258 Political Studies and Public Administration……………... Dr. Coralie Hindawi P. 271 Psychology Department……….……………………….... Dr. Charles Harb P. 290 Sociology, Anthropology and Media Studies…….....….... Dr. Sari Hanafi P. 304 University Preparatory Program…………………………. Dr. Samar Harkous-Rihan P. 324 Zaki Nassif Music Program……………………………… Dr. Nabil Nassif P. 331 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 of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences covers the period from September 4, 2013 to August 30, 2014. A. NEW STUDENT REGISTRATION During the first semester, the freshman class saw 304 new students registered, while the sophomore class saw 656 registered. This was a decrease in freshman admission and an increase in sophomore admission from the previous year. During the second semester, the freshman class saw 26 new students registered while the sophomore class saw 52 new students registered which was a decrease in admission to both freshman and sophomore classes from the previous year. The graduate program saw 113 (90 graduates, 11 prospective graduates and 12 special graduates) new students enrolled during the first semester. During the second semester, the graduate class saw 68 (54 graduates, 5 prospective graduates and 9 special graduates) new students registered. The UPP (University Preparatory Program) saw 10 new registered in September 2013 out of a total of 22 accepted regular UPP applicants. This represents a significant decrease in registration in this program in relation to the same period of 2012-13. One new UPP student registered in the second semester out of seven accepted applicants. During the first semester, the total enrollment at the undergraduate level was 2,735 including 56 in UPP, while at the graduate level it was 407 including 16 prospective graduates and 14 special graduates, in addition to 23 students at the PhD level. During the second semester, the total enrollment at the undergraduate level was 2,573 including 33 in UPP, while at the graduate level it was 412 including 10 prospective graduates and 13 special graduates, in addition to 21 students at the PhD level. 1 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 305 applicants being admitted to the sophomore class and 116 to the freshman class in FAS. Furthermore, 724 applications for admission to the freshman class were received and 569 applicants were issued letters of acceptance to-date for the first semester of 2014-15, including early admissions. Additionally, 2,319 out of 3,286 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 24 applications to the UPP (University Preparatory Program), and to date 22 have been accepted for the first semester. C. CURRENT FACULTY NUMBER AND COMPOSITION The teaching program involved the equivalent of 356 full-time faculty members, plus 175 graduate assistants for the first semester and 165 for the second. During the first semester, a total of 6,388 students were enrolled in 472 different courses (equivalent to 1,145 courses and sections). A total of 6,229 students were enrolled in 502 different courses (equivalent to 1,127 courses and sections) during the second semester. There were 306 budgeted full-time faculty lines in FAS for 2013-14, all of which were filled. Of these, 254 were used for full-time contracts with the balance used for part-time appointments. Fulltime appointments were distributed as follows: 190 in the professorial ranks (assistant, associate, and full professors), 64 in ranks of instructor and lecturer. This includes all faculty members on paid junior and research leaves. D. PROFESSORS ON LEAVE, 2013-14 Twenty-four professors were on paid research leaves during the academic year 2013-14. Thirteen were on Periodic Paid Research Leaves (three in the fall and seven in the spring, and three for both semesters). Another eleven were on Junior Paid Leaves (five in the fall and six in the spring). Five faculty members will be on 2 leave without pay (one in the fall, two in the spring, and two for both semesters). In addition, two professors were seconded on REP assignments for the academic year 2013-14. E. PROFESSORS ON LEAVE, 2014-15 Nineteen professors will be on paid research leaves during the academic year 2014- 15. Thirteen will be on Periodic Paid Research Leaves (four in the fall, six in the spring, and three for both semesters). Another six will be on Junior Paid Leaves (three in the fall and three in the spring). Three faculty members will be on leave without pay (one in the fall and two for both semesters). In addition, three faculty members will be seconded on REP assignments for the academic year 2014-15. F. FACULTY RECRUITMENT A total of 580 applications have been received for faculty positions due to start September 1, 2014 that were advertised by the faculty. After consultation with the departments and the FAS Advisory Committee, 31 offers have been accepted. These faculty members include: 9 Lebanese citizens, 10 US citizens, 2 Italian, 2 Lebanese/US citizens, 1 French, 1 Iranian, 1 Spanish, 1 US citizen/Iranian, 1 Lebanese/Canadian, 1 Jordanian/British, 1 Egyptian and 1 Australian/ British. The visiting chairs for the academic year 2014-2015 are Dr. Lisa Hajjar (Edward Said Chair of American Studies), Dr. Nazanin Shahrokni (Whittlesey Chair in the SOAM Department), and Dr. Tayib El-Hibri (Howell Chair in the History and Archaeology Department). G. APPLICATIONS FOR PROMOTION Seventeen applications for promotion were received by the deadline of August 31, 2013. Six applications were for the promotion to the rank of full professor and 11 for the rank of associate professor. Five out of the six applying to the rank of full professor was successful, and nine applying to the rank of associate professor were successful. H. GENERAL REMARKS 3 The Faculty of Arts and Sciences moved ahead on a number of strategic initiatives in 2013-14. We also addressed persistent challenges and expanded education and research in selected areas. Although programs that normally attract many foreign students--such as CAMES, Arabic –as-a-foreign-language, and the freshmen program--saw reduced enrollments due to security concerns, this was more than made up for by strong growth in other programs such as Computer Science, Psychology, Media Studies, and Chemistry. The FAS Advising Unit, created in 2012-13 worked this year to institutionalize continuous improvement in undergraduate advising through regular workshops, monitoring, and seeking out best practices. FAS communications coordinator, Ms. Karma Arakji, has developed new brochures for all FAS undergraduate programs, and she continues to assist in coordinating communication strategies for the faculty. Despite challenges of several kinds, FAS has had a very successful recruiting year, attracting excellent new faculty in some fields where recruitment has been challenging in the past such as geology, public administration, and mathematics. Associate Dean Meloy continued to lead an effort to use space more efficiently by subdividing classrooms and offices. That we are reaching the saturation point is underlined by our need to remove a men’s bathroom in Fisk Hall to create more space where faculty members can meet with students and prepare their classes. Similar work continued in Nicely, Bliss, and Jesup Halls.