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

The program aims to provide scholarships to students from Lebanon and other countries in the Middle East. The reporting period for this semi-annual progress report is October 2015 to March 2016. A total of 327 USP VI scholars are currently enrolled at LAU, with 253 of them being full-time students. The program has disbursed 61 scholarships to-date, with 48 scholars graduating by the end of the reporting period. The dropout rate for the program is 9%, with 1 scholar dropping out during the Spring 2016 semester. The program has achieved several key milestones, including having 6 scholars on the High Distinction List, 12 scholars with a Major GPA above 3, and 30 scholars with a Cumulative GPA above 3. Additionally, no scholars are on probation. The program has also implemented a monitoring plan to ensure that scholars maintain good academic standing and graduate on time. The monitoring 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 scholars. Academic coordinators closely follow up with scholars and establish direct contact with their classroom professors to track their performance. The program also provides enrichment activities, including club and leadership activities, to enhance the scholars' academic and personal development. These activities include orientation, lectures, and community service projects. For example, the program organized an orientation day for USP students, a lecture on happiness and tools for living a more fulfilling life, and a memorial walk for those who died by suicide. The program has also reported several key achievements for the quarter, including having 23 scholars on the Distinguished List and 3 scholars on the Honors List. The program continues to provide support and guidance to scholars to ensure their academic success and personal growth.