Glossary of Terms
A
Academic emphasis
Academic emphasis is a structured plan of study within a specific academic major. The concentration appears on the official transcript.
Academic major
Academic major represents a degree-seeking student’s primary field of study. The university lays out a framework of required courses a student must complete to earn the major.
Academic minor
Academic minor represents an optional, secondary field of study for a degree-seeking student. No student may declare a major and a minor in the same discipline. The university lays out a framework of required courses a student must complete to earn the minor. The minor appears on the official transcript.
Associate degree programs
Associate degree programs are postsecondary programs two academic years in length or the equivalent that include the freshman and sophomore levels.
B
Baccalaureate degree programs
Baccalaureate degree programs include postsecondary programs at least three academic years in length starting at the sophomore level or at least four academic years in length starting at the freshman level or the equivalent. According to Lebanese law and the LAU Charter, such programs should have at least 90 credits after the Freshman or Bacc II.
Books & Electronic Resources
This caption represents the budget for books, electronic resources and periodicals.
C
Certificate degree programs
Certificate degree programs include postsecondary programs that last less than two years (below the baccalaureate degree). (Certificate Arts (CT Arts), Certificate Design (CT Design), Certificate Graphic Design (CT Graphic Design)).
Communication
This caption represents the budget for post, telephone, cellular, internet, e-mail and postage.
Contracted Services
This caption represents the budget for insurance, repairs and maintenance, rent, contracted services, lawyers’ fees, auditing fee, maintenance contract, software and software support, outside services, rental of equipment, advertisement, temporary services, management services, Printing and subscriptions & membership.
Contribution, grants and contracts
income derived from academic institutes, support grants, and unrestricted gifts to be raised to support the University operating budget.
Course quality points
Course quality points are the quality points corresponding to an attempted course computed by multiplying the grade quality point by the number of credits of the course.
Cumulative quality points
Cumulative quality points are the quality points corresponding to all the accumulated terms on a given level computed by adding together the term quality points of all terms completed on a given level.
D
Degree students
Degree students include all Freshman, Associate, Bachelor’s, Master’s, Doctoral, and undecided students.
Depreciation
This caption represents the budget for depreciation and amortization of fixed assets (the decrease in value or function of assets because of wear and tear, damage, obsolescence or decline in price).
Depreciation & Amortization
This caption represents the budget for depreciation & amortization expense.
Doctor’s degree programs
Doctor’s degree programs include post-baccalaureate degree programs where the academic degree earned carries the title ‘doctor’. There are three categories of doctoral degrees: ‘Doctoral degrees – research/scholarship’ such as a PhD in any field, Doctoral degrees – ‘professional practice such as Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm-D) and Doctor of Medicine (MD)’, and ‘Doctoral degrees – other’.
Doctor’s degree-other
Doctor’s degree-other is a doctor’s degree that does not meet the definition of a doctor’s degree –research/scholarship or a Doctor’s degree-professional practice.
Doctor’s degree-professional practice
Doctor’s degree-professional practice is a doctor’s degree that is conferred upon the completion of a program providing the knowledge and skills for recognition, credential, or license required for professional practice. The degree is awarded after a period of study such that the total time to the degree, including both pre-professional and professional preparation, equals at least six full-time equivalent academic years. These degrees include: Medicine (M.D.), Law (L.L.B or J.D.), and Pharmacy (Pharm-D).
Doctor’s degree–research/scholarship
Doctor’s degree–research/scholarship is a PhD or other doctor’s degree that requires advanced work beyond the master’s level, including the preparation and defense of a dissertation based on original research, or the planning and execution of an original project demonstrating substantial artistic or scholarly achievement. Some examples of this type of degree may include Doctor of Education (Ed.D.), Doctor of Business Administration (D.B.A.), Doctor of Sciences (D.Sc.), and others, as designated by the awarding institutions.
E
Endowment income
Represents the distribution of funds from LAU’s Endowment. The amount of annual distribution is according to LAU’s investment policy.
Entertainment and Public Relations
This caption represents the budget for entertainment and public relations related costs.
F
Financial Aid
This caption represents the University’s financial aid program consisting of scholarships, grants, hardships, loans, student work employment, graduate assistantships, restricted grants and dependents grants budget items.
First-time student
First-time student is a student who has no prior postsecondary experience attending any institution for the first time at the undergraduate level in the fall semester. It also includes students enrolled in the fall term who attended college for the first time in the prior summer term, and students who entered with advanced standing.
Fiscal and other operating expenses
This caption represents the budget for taxes, municipality fees, stamps & legal fees, clearance charges, other taxes, non-refundable VAT & VAT contingency, other contingencies, printing, laundry & cleaning, miscellaneous expense, gifts & sponsorship, personnel training & development, interest, bank & credit cards charges, cashier allowance, cost of goods sold for memorabilia, book binding, honoraria, awards, donated courses, membership, previous year expense and sponsor & co-sponsor. It also comprises the budget for bad and doubtful accounts, other taxes, interest charges and DCF on loans.
G
Grade quality points
Grade quality points: The University grading system uses a series of letters to which grade quality points are assigned.
| Letter grade | points |
|---|---|
| A | 4 |
| A- | 3.67 |
| B+ | 3.33 |
| B | 3 |
| B- | 2.67 |
| C+ | 2.33 |
| C | 2 |
| C- | 1.67 |
| D+ | 1.33 |
| D | 1 |
| F | no quality points |
| NP (No Pass) | no quality points |
| U (Audit) | no quality points |
| W (Withdraw) | no quality points |
| I (Incomplete) | no quality points |
Graduate students
Graduate students are students who hold a bachelor’s degree or the equivalent, and are taking courses at a non-professional post-baccalaureate level. This level includes students enrolled in an MA, MS, MBA or MSE, and the EMBA program.
Grant-in-aid Stipends
This caption represents the budget for payment made to stipends based on grants received.
M
Master’s degree programs
Master’s degree programs include post-baccalaureate degree programs where the academic degree earned carries the title ‘master’. It is an award that requires the successful completion of a program of study of generally one or two full-time equivalent academic years of work beyond the bachelor’s degree. According to Lebanese law, such programs should have at least 30 credits.
N
Net financial investments return
This caption represents the return on the net financial investments.
New First-time Student
New First-time Student is a student who has no prior postsecondary experience attending any institution for the first time at the undergraduate level.
Non Degree students
Non Degree students include all students enrolled in the TD program, the Certificate Program and special students.
Non-matriculated students
Non-matriculated students are students taking courses for credits but they do not receive any form of degree/diploma/certificate recognition for the courses (Special Students)
Non-Teaching Expenses
This caption represents the budget for salaries and benefits related to full time and Part Time staff and for contracted and temporary employment.
O
Official transcript
Official transcript is an official record of student performance showing all academic work / courses completed at the university (LAU or BUC) and the final grade received in each course. The official transcript includes an explanation of the Grading System, explanation of symbols, the features of the safety paper used, and a statement about FERPA re-disclosure.
Other revenue
Other revenue includes other student revenues such as ancillary activities, student housing, student association, auxiliary activities as well as the “Academy of Continuing Education” income.
P
Post-baccalaureate certificate
Post-baccalaureate certificate is an award that requires completion of an organized program of study requiring 18 credit hours beyond the bachelor’s; designed for persons who have completed a baccalaureate degree but do not meet the requirements of academic degrees carrying title of master.
Post-master’s certificate
Post-master’s certificate is an award that requires completion of an organized program of study of 24 credit hours beyond the master’s degree but does not meet the requirements of academic degrees at the doctoral level.
Professional degree
Professional degree is a degree that confers eligibility for licensure in a specific profession (Bachelor of Engineering, Bachelor of Architecture, and Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy, Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Doctor of Pharmacy, and M.D.).
Professional students
Professional students are students following professional degree programs, such as students in Pharm-D. after being admitted to the first professional year (i.e. after completing a minimum of 60 credits) and M.D. students.
R
Replacement and renovations
This caption represent the budget for funds set aside to cover replacement, renovation, and upgrade of existing facilities and equipment.
S
Special graduate
Special graduate: If the Bachelor’s Degree of the applicant is not in the field to be pursued, but his/her cumulative GPA is 2.75 and above, then the applicant may be accepted, as a Special Graduate, and will be required to take remedial courses in the Major. Such students must complete all course requirements, specified by the relevant academic program, with a minimum GPA of 2.75, before they are considered bona-fide students in the Master’s Program.
Special students
Special students are students taking courses for credit but are not working for a degree.
Special undergraduate
Special undergraduate: If the Bachelor’s Degree is not in the field to be pursued, and the cumulative GPA is less than 2.75, but equal to, or greater than, 2.5, then the applicant may be accepted as a Special Undergraduate. He/She will be reconsidered for admission into the Master’s Program after the completion of a number of courses, specified by the Department, or School, with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00, and without any repeats
Student FTE
Student FTE is calculated as follows: UG = (# of actual enrollments in undergraduate course X credit hour of course)/15 G = (# of actual enrollments in graduate course X credit hour of course)/9
Supplies
This caption represents the budget for laboratory & studio accessories, supplies and accessories, toners and ink cartridges, Office supplies (Stationary & photocopy papers), detergents & sanitary product and supplies for maintenance.
T
Teaching Expenses
This caption represents the budget for salaries and benefits related to full time and part time faculty and Physicians.
Term Grade Point Average (GPA)
Term Grade Point Average (GPA) is the term quality point total divided by the total number of credit hours earned in that term.
Term quality points
Term quality points are the quality points corresponding to all the courses attempted during a term computed by adding together all the course quality points of the courses attempted during a term.
Transportation
This caption represents the budget for transportation fuel, car repairs and others.
Travel & Conferences
This caption represents the budget for travel, accommodations, conferences and training.
Tuition
This caption represents the Fee that students pay for the educational instruction they receive (graduate, undergraduate, professional and online).
U
Undergraduate students
Undergraduate students include students enrolled in the AA or AAS program, the BA, BS, BE, BArch program, the Freshman Arts and Freshman Science programs, the RCD, TD and certificate programs as well as students classified as undecided students (AA, AAS, BA, BS) and special students.
Utilities
This caption represents the budget for water, electricity, fuel oil and gas.