The Lebanese American University (LAU) is a secular, nonsectarian, not-for-profit private university chartered by the New York State Board of Regents, accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE) since 2009, and recognized by the Lebanese Ministry of Education and Higher Education. Founded in 1924 as the American Junior College for Women by Presbyterian missionaries, it became coeducational in 1973 and was renamed LAU in 1995. LAU operates campuses in Beirut and Byblos (Lebanon), as well as a campus in New York (USA), with additional sites including the LAU Medical Center-Rizk Hospital in Achrafieh (Beirut) and LAU Medical Center-St. John's Hospital in Jounieh. It offers 34 bachelor's, 26 master's, Pharm.D., and M.D. programs, with an enrollment of approximately 8,500 students from 78 nationalities. Known for its advocacy of academic freedom, LAU has been noted for criticism of U.S. policies impacting Lebanon.