Semi-Annual Progress Report: University Scholarship Program (USP VI)

The program, which began in 2014, has a duration of five years and is funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) with a total award of $3,984,380. LAU has committed to providing a cost-sharing amount of $1,713,175. As of Fall 2018, 8 scholars (30.7%) were on the High Distinguished list, 3 scholars (11.5%) were on the Distinguished list, and 11 scholars (42.3%) were on the Honors list. Additionally, 17 scholars completed their academic plans and graduated by the end of Fall 2018. The scholars have been in regular contact with their academic coordinators and have been receiving proper advice and direction. The monitoring of scholars is a crucial aspect of the program, and a plan has been devised to ensure that they maintain good academic standing and graduate on time. This plan involves multiple stakeholders, including the Outreach and Civic Engagement (OCE) at LAU, student mentors, academic coordinators, and student support centers. The OCE oversees the execution of the program and ensures successful implementation, while student mentors provide guidance and support to the scholars. Academic coordinators closely follow the scholars' performance and provide necessary advisory action when needed. The scholars have access to various support services, including tutoring from LAU student support centers and counseling from the Deans of Students' Offices. As of the end of Fall 2017 semester, 22 scholars (84.6%) had a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above, indicating a strong academic performance. The program has achieved significant milestones, including the graduation of 17 scholars by the end of Fall 2018. The scholars have also demonstrated a high level of academic achievement, with 8 scholars on the High Distinguished list and 11 scholars on the Honors list. The program's success can be attributed to the close monitoring and support provided to the scholars, as well as the commitment of LAU to providing a high-quality education. The total number of scholarships disbursed to-date is 542, with 218 scholars enrolled during the reporting period. The total number of scholars who graduated this reporting period is 300, and the total cumulative number of graduate scholars who are employed is 199. The total number of scholars who dropped throughout the entire program duration is 24, with 2 scholars dropping during this reporting period.