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

The program, which began in Fall 2015, is set to last until September 2019. The objectives of the program include enrolling students who meet specific criteria, such as gender diversity, minimum Lebanese Baccalaureate exam scores, and LAU admission requirements. As of September 2017, the program has achieved several key milestones. Between April 2017 and June 2017, 18 scholars (40%) were on the Distinguished list, with a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or above, while 13 scholars (28.9%) were on the Honors list, with a cumulative GPA between 3.20 and 3.49. There were no scholars on probation during this period. Similar results were observed between July 2017 and September 2017, with 18 scholars (40%) on the Distinguished list and 13 scholars (28.9%) on the Honors list. The program's advising and registration process has been successful, with 7 USP VI scholars registering for Summer 2017 with full-time loads and 45 scholars pre-registering for Fall 2017 with full-time loads. Between July 2017 and September 2017, all 45 scholars registered for Fall 2017 with full-time loads. The scholars have been in regular contact with their academic coordinators and have received proper advice and direction. The program's monitoring plan involves multiple stakeholders, including the Outreach and Civic Engagement (OCE) team, student mentors, academic coordinators, and student support/tutoring services. The OCE team oversees the execution of the program and ensures successful implementation, while student mentors provide guidance and support to scholars. Academic coordinators closely follow the scholars' performance and establish direct contact with their classroom professors for reporting and tracking purposes. Student support/tutoring services are also available to scholars when deemed necessary. As of September 2017, the program has disbursed a total of 79 scholarships, with 18 scholars graduating during this reporting period. The cumulative number of scholars who have graduated to date under the program is 58, while 41 scholars are currently enrolled. The program has also achieved a high retention rate, with 92.1% of scholars remaining in the program. The employment rate for graduates is 78%, while the internship rate is 100%. The program's impact summary as of September 2017 highlights several key indicators, including the total number of scholarships disbursed, the number of scholars enrolled, graduated, and dropped out. The program has achieved a high graduation rate, with 82.3% of scholars graduating from the program. The retention rate is also high, with 92.1% of scholars remaining in the program. The program's objectives, including enrolling students who meet specific criteria, have been met, and the program continues to provide financial assistance to deserving students.