Memo to: Dr. Haidar Harmanani, Chair

URC members

From: Josiane Fahed- Sreih, Secretary

Date: January 5, 2006

Meeting: University Research Council

The university research council meeting started at 4:10 p.m. in Beirut and Byblos via video conferencing. The following agenda was adopted:

1.  Approval of Agenda

2.  Approval of Minutes

3.  Journal Submission Fees

4.  Course Releases

5.  Research Award

6.  Other Items

Present: Dr. Nouri Beyrouthy, Dr. Soula Boustani, Dr. Haidar Harmanani, Dr. Ketty Saroufim, Dr. Josiane Fahed- Sreih, and Dr. Pierette Zouein.

1-  Approval of Agenda

The agenda was approved as amended.

2-  Approval of Minutes

Minutes of the previous meeting were approved as amended.

3-  Journal Submission fees

a-  Dr. Turk

b-  Dr. Boumosleh

c-  Dr. Abdallah

d-  Dr. Harmanani

URC rules and regulations don’t cover the Submission fees for journals. URC members decided to refer the issue to the Vice President for Academic Affairs for final Decision.

4-  Course releases

a.  Dr. Zein

b.  Dr. Karkafi

The course releases were approved, one for a three credits release and one for 6 credits release.

5-  Research Award

Dr. Soula Boustani, after consultation with Dean Sadik in the school of pharmacy pointed that the requirements to be eligible for the research award were very hard to achieve. She also stated that LAU is not a research institution and hence the criteria already put are difficult to achieve, and should be realistic. Then, discussion centered around the objective of the research award which is to strengthen and to recognize excellence in research. It was discussed whether Associate Professors and Professors only should be recognized for this award. The Candidate should prepare a file in 5 copies and submit it to the VPAA . He/she can either nominate himself/herself or he/she can be nominated by another professor either from LAU or from outside. The Office of the VPAA appoints a peer committee for evaluation, in consultation with the aggregated departments. The award may not be necessarily awarded on a yearly basis, but only when qualified and eligible faculty members apply.

It was then decided to bring it back to the next meeting for further discussions.

The meeting adjourned at 5:30 p.m.