AUB President John Waterbury established the Task Force for Reconstruction and Community Service (TFRCS) to consider ways the University could assist in reconstruction and relief efforts in the aftermath of the July War of 2006.

TFRCS was later expanded to include the engagement of students, faculty and affiliates in community service. In December 2007, with the help of a USAID start-up grant, AUB established the Center for Civic Engagement and Community Service (CCECS) to promote the integration of service to society with academic study and research in a variety of disciplines, encourage responsibility and leadership through volunteer service, and create close links with the community.