AUS welcomes new students during Fall 2023 Orientation

Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

The start of the academic year is always brimming with excitement, anticipation and eagerness, especially for first-time university students who are taking their initial steps into a new life. During orientation week, American University of Sharjah’s (AUS) campus turns into a bustling beehive as new undergraduate and graduate students explore its beautiful facilities, meet the faculty and start forging long-life friendships.

New student orientation is held from August 20 to 23. It kicked off with an undergraduate student orientation that brought together more than 1,500 new students and parents. They attended welcome sessions, met with university officials and spoke with senior fellow AUSers as they explored what the university has to offer.

During orientation, new undergraduate students attend a series of information sessions, receive guidance and mentorship from their student peer leaders, familiarise themselves with the amazing campus, tour its facilities, receive their class schedules for the first semester, build a community and get to know the class of 2027. As all new students embark on their AUS journey together, they will be connecting with fellow AUSers, making new friends at social events and creating a home in the AUS residential halls for those living on campus.

New graduate students will also attend an on-campus orientation on August 23 where they will have the opportunity to meet with representatives from their colleges, connect with classmates, and learn about the various support services available to them.

“It is always exciting when we welcome new students to our campus. This is the time of the year when we meet future designers, engineers, scientists, writers and entrepreneurs and guide them to embrace new beginnings. We recognise the importance of providing our new students with all the support they need to have the best start to university life. This is why it is extremely important for new students and parents to be part of AUS’ orientation week and join our carefully-designed sessions to gain insights into the initial months at AUS,” said Ali Shuhaimy, Executive Director of Enrolment Management at AUS.

The AUS One Stop Solution Centre serves as a great starting point for all new students as they navigate campus life. Conveniently located with easy access for all students and their families, this centre offers centralised assistance covering various AUS services, including  student accounts, financial grants and scholarships, housing, transportation, admissions, IT, library services, student employment, insurance, security services, visa services and more.

Undergraduate students can also benefit from the AUS Peer Leaders Programme where each new student is paired with a peer leader, who provides guidance throughout orientation week and beyond, supporting them in discovering the resources, activities and organisations available on campus.

“Our role is to provide support and assistance to new students, ensuring they have a smooth transition from high school to university. We help students in a range of things from registering in courses, finding their way around campus or just answering their general inquiries. Any new student with questions can simply approach any of our team members, and we will be more than glad to help,” said Muaaz Farouk Adra, an industrial engineering student and peer leader.

New undergraduate students also have access to a variety of support programmes designed specifically to help them during their first year. This includes the AUS First Year Experience (FYE) Programme, which provides workshops and resources to help students balance their academic responsibilities and social life, as well as establish meaningful connections within the university community. The AUS Academic Support Centre also assists students in honing their study skills and strengthening their academic performance through its range of opportunities and resources.

New students will also have a chance to immerse themselves in AUS’ dynamic campus life during the Week of Welcome (WOW) from August 27 to 31 as they take part in a series of cultural activities organised by student cultural clubs and the AUS Student Council.

“We have a vibrant and dynamic campus life, with access to a wide range of extracurricular activities and more than 100 clubs, teams and associations catering to the interests of students from more than 90 nationalities. We will be celebrating new beginnings with our new and continuing proud AUSers,” said Dr. Lisa Bardill Moscaritolo, Executive Director of Student Experience at AUS.