AUB names its School of Nursing after Rafic Hariri

The school will be named after his late father, the Lebanese Prime Minister Rafic B. Hariri—who was an AUB trustee and a generous supporter of the University.

"AUB and the Hariri Family have a long and very proud history together, and we both understand the importance of providing education to students regardless of their socio-economic class," said President Peter Dorman.

"I am grateful that the family is continuing this long tradition of philanthropy at the university by naming and endowing the School of Nursing and ensuring that generations of students will be able to excel in this important field."

"I am proud to continue my father's commitment to education and AUB through this donation," said MP Hariri.

"My father was very pleased to serve as trustee of this great institution since he understood and valued its impact on Lebanon and the region. He was always eager to contribute to its advancement and that of the country, paying with his own life for defending his ideal of a free, democratic, and modern Lebanon."

The gift will be used to renovate and equip the new building which will be named after the late former prime minister.

Part of the gift will be used to endow a fund to support the directorship of the school and a faculty chair, which will be known as the Rafic Hariri Professor of Nursing.

About one-third of the donation will allow the University to provide Hariri Scholarships for nursing students.

Dr. Huda Abu-Saad Huijer, director of the School of Nursing, said that she was thrilled that the Hariri family chose to associate their name to the School of Nursing.

"Rafic Hariri has contributed to the education of thousands of people in Lebanon and the region and now his legacy will extend to educating generations of future nurses," said Huijer.

"All of us at the School of Nursing, faculty, students, and staff are grateful for this generous donation".

The School of Nursing, which celebrated its centennial in 2005, was the first nursing school to be established in the Middle East.

In 2007, both its BSN and MSN programs received accreditation by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) in the USA for a five-year term, or the maximum term for initial accreditation.

It thus became the first school of nursing to be accredited by CCNE outside the US territories.

Known to have provided financial support for more than 35,000 students, many of whom have studied at AUB, Rafic Hariri was also one of the University's greatest donors.

He donated to various University projects and programs and to support student scholarship programs.

He was the driving force behind renewing confidence in Lebanon, which encouraged many foreign faculty and staff to join AUB.

Among his many donations was the Houssam Eddine Hariri Building, a 10-storey faculty housing unit located on the west end of the campus and inaugurated in 1992.

Hariri's philanthropy had also made it possible for academic and medical faculty members to stay in Lebanon during the civil war, thus ensuring that the hospital could stay operational and provide high-quality care to its patients.

For his generosity, leadership, and dedication to education, AUB gave the late Hariri the first University Medal of Honor in 1991.

In April 2005, the University planted a cedar tree on campus in tribute to his philanthropy and legacy.