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Intellectual Wholeness

MEU’s Intellectual Wholeness initiative aims to be the connective thread between academic rigor and Adventist faith across our university. To reach this goal, we’re strengthening our academic core so that intellectual excellence and spiritual formation grow together rather than apart.

This means investment in faculty and program quality: more terminal-degree faculty, broader program offerings, and stronger scholarly standards. We also need to close accreditation gaps, both nationally with MEHE and internationally, and build the kind of academic reputation that gives students and families real confidence in what we teach. None of this works in isolation — it’s what keeps enrollment sustainable and protects MEU’s identity as an Adventist institution in a competitive, pluralistic market.

Endowed Faculty Position

Strategic Goals 1 & 19
1. Recruit faculty with terminal degrees, at least 2 per department, to offer the current and new programs.
  • KPI: Percentage of departments with ≥2 faculty holding terminal degrees         
  • Target: 40% of departments by Fall Semester 2026-2027, 60% of departments by Fall Semester 2027-2028 and 80% of departments by Fall Semester 2028-2029                                                                    
19. Secure funding through land leasing, fundraising, and an endowment to support the Strategic Plan.
  • KPI: Funding through fundraising campaign               
  • Target: 2025-2026: Donations $225,000                        2026-2027: Donations $700,000, Endowment Income $27,000                                                                                2027-2028: Donations $500,000, Endowment Income $51,000                                                                                    2028-2029: Donations $1,400,000, Endowment Income $107,000

Purpose

To strengthen academic excellence by supporting the recruitment and retention of highly qualified faculty members through endowed positions.

 

Key Initiatives

  • Establish endowed faculty positions across priority academic departments.
  • Support the hiring of distinguished faculty members.
  • Expand existing academic programs.
  • Enable the development of new degree programs.
  • Build long-term financial sustainability through endowment funding.

 

Expected Impact

  • Enhanced academic quality and teaching excellence.
  • Increased capacity to launch new academic programs.
  • Stronger faculty recruitment and retention.
  • Sustainable support for the university’s strategic priorities.

 

Funding Needed

InitiativeBudget
Named Endowed Faculty PositionUS$500,000
Total Investment RequiredUS$500,000

 

Implementation Timeline

  • July 2026 onwards.

Invest in the Next Generation of National Faculty Members

Strategic Goal 2
2. Identify and mentor Adventist national students to eventually teach at MEU (Ultimate goal of 60% Lebanese faculty (per MEHE), 80% MENA faculty)
  • KPI: Number of Lebanese and MENA national students participating in the mentoring program towards becoming MEU faculty members                                        
  • Target: Add 2 new students per year for the next 3 years (6 students by Fall Semester 2028-2029)       

Purpose

To prepare the next generation of Adventist MENA faculty members through mentoring, academic development, and financial support.

 

Key Initiatives

  • Identify and mentor promising Adventist students.
  • Provide tuition assistance linked to continued participation in the mentoring program.
  • Offer academic, spiritual, and professional mentoring.
  • Support leadership development through mentoring activities and retreats.

 

Expected Impact

  • Increased number of qualified national faculty members.
  • Stronger faculty succession planning.
  • Progress toward long-term faculty composition goals.
  • Sustainable investment in future university leadership.

 

Funding Needed

InitiativeBudget
Support first year (60%) of tuition for one undergraduate student training to work at MEUUS$4,872
Support first year (60%) of tuition for one graduate student training to work at MEUUS$4,872
Mentoring programUS$1,600
Support a weekend retreat for students in the Next Generation Mentoring ProgramUS$3,500
Total Investment RequiredUS$14,844

Identify and Develop New Offerings

Strategic Goal 3
3. Identify and develop new offerings (new degree programs, 2+2 programs, certificates & microcredentials) each year to meet regional and denominational needs, and to attract more students.
  • KPI: Percentage of departments with a new offering (new program, certificate, mi-
    cro-credential, etc)
  • Target: 50% of departments by Fall Semester 2027-2028
    80% of departments by Fall Semester 2028-2029

Institutional Accreditation

Strategic Goal 4
4. Achieve international institutional accreditation
  • KPI: % compliance with accreditation requirements    
  • Target: Compliance with 40% of accreditation requirements by end of year 2027 and 80% of accreditation requirements by end of year 2028 and 100% of accreditation requirements will be completed along with the self-study/application in 2029

Academic Research

Strategic Goal 5
5. Develop additional academic research.
  • KPI: Number of faculty participating in funded research, conference/workshop attendance, and course-release/sabbatical programs
  • Target: 100% of faculty attending at least one conference/workshop per year (2026-2029); research funding process live by Spring 2026; course release program piloted 2026-2027, fully implemented 2027-2028 

Purpose

To strengthen faculty scholarship by expanding research opportunities and supporting professional development.

 

Key Initiatives

  • Sponsor faculty participation in professional conferences.
  • Support faculty research through course release.
  • Fund research supplies and equipment.
  • Encourage scholarly publications and academic collaboration.

 

Expected Impact

  • Increased faculty research productivity.
  • Enhanced teaching through current scholarship.
  • Greater institutional visibility through research.
  • Expanded opportunities for academic collaboration.

 

Funding Needed

InitiativeBudget
Send a faculty member to a professional conference: $1,500/faculty memberUS$15,000 annually
Sponsor course release time for faculty researchUS$1,500
Fund supplies and equipment for researchUS$5,000
Total Investment RequiredUS$21,500

Digital Repository

Strategic Goal 6
6. Build a digital repository of library resources and archives

Be the bridge for life change

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If you have any questions, please email Dr. Carlos Biaggi or call +961.71.189650 or +1.240.428.4270.

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