The lost vision of Syrian Protestant College : origins of American University in Beirut

Abstract

The founders of the Syrian Protestant College in Beirut, in their desire to proceed without delay in the establishment of the college, organized the institution with an American charter, an American Board of Directors and an American donor base. This structure allowed them to inaugurate the college quickly, but also had the effect of creating the need for long-term American leadership and American resources contravening the achievement of the goal to create an indigenous institution.