At a time when the world is so endangered by lack of understanding, the American University of Beirut, in partnership with the Council for International Exchange of Scholars, announces a new program, Understanding Contemporary Islam. The program, which will begin in the fall of 2003, aims to increase the understanding between Americans and people from Islamic countries by sending eminent scholars from the Muslim world to U.S. universities and colleges that lack extensive academic programs on Islam and Muslim society but that wish to introduce or expand such offerings.
For periods ranging from six weeks to an academic year, these visiting scholars, selected from a variety of fields in the humanities and social sciences, will teach one or two classes; serve as a resource for the host institution; meet with civic, religious, and other community organizations; and encourage the host institution to develop its own capacity in the area of Islamic studies. All scholars participating in the program will have demonstrated experience in Islamic studies, will be fluent in English, and will be prepared to tactfully address misunderstandings of Islam that are sometimes found in American society.
U.S. colleges and universities are invited to submit proposals to host a scholar under the Understanding Contemporary Islam program of the American University of Beirut. Priority will be given to institutions that do not have extensive academic programs or courses on Islam or Muslim societies. Undergraduate liberal arts colleges, minority-serving institutions, community colleges, and other state or private institutions are encouraged to apply.