AUS welcomes new students with an engaging orientation program for Fall 2022

American University of Sharjah (AUS) prepared an extensive orientation program for Fall 2022 to welcome its new undergraduate students as they begin their journey into university life.

New students were able to begin their orientation journey early, as they were invited to log onto a pre-orientation portal. This allowed them to access virtual training on AUS IT platforms and gain essential information for their first year of university. The pre-orientation portal also facilitated administrative tasks and allowed students to organize their transition to AUS before the start of  orientation yesterday, August 20.

Orientation week constitutes on-campus and online events that help students discover the campus and tour its facilities, meet their peer leaders, connect with fellow first-year students and learn about services available to them. 

During this week, AUS Peer Leaders will meet with new students and assist them throughout orientation week and beyond. They help them discover all of the resources, activities and organizations available on campus.

“Our role is focused on helping new students transition smoothly from school to university life. The Peer Leader Program assigns new students to different peer leaders from the same college or major to help guide them. Students can expect to receive help from their peer leaders in all aspects, from registration and finding their way around campus to answering general inquiries. If new students have any questions, they can always approach any member of our team, who will be glad to help. We are here to support new students, and we cannot wait to meet them during orientation week,” said Muaaz Farouk Adra, an industrial engineering student and peer leader.   

New students will also be introduced to the AUS First Year Experience (FYE) Program, a university-wide collaborative effort that helps first-year students develop study and self-care skills. Through workshops and other resources, the FYE program helps students learn how to balance their academic responsibilities and social life, and how to make meaningful connections with the university community. AUS also offers new students the opportunity to refine their study skills and improve their academic performance through the AUS Academic Support Center and its range of opportunities and resources.

During orientation week, new students will also connect with their colleges, meet their advisors and register for classes. Through library tours, they will learn about accessing the AUS library, one of the premier libraries in the region, with collections of books, e-books, journals, databases and more to support learning. With AUS students representing approximately 90 nationalities, the celebration of cultural diversity, tolerance and respect are at the very center of the AUS student experience. New students can explore the vibrant campus life through the many student organizations and clubs covering interest areas ranging from sustainability and photography to cultural and ethnic groups.

“The transition to university can be overwhelming. Students move from the familiar school routine and leave home to enter a new and unfamiliar world. It is a big change for students and their families as well. This is why attending orientation week is essential. We also have select sessions for parents to let them know what their sons and daughters can expect over their first few months at AUS, and show them how they can best support them at this time. The goal is to help new students navigate their first year with ease and provide them with the tools and support they need,” said Ali Shuhaimy, Executive Director of Enrollment Management at AUS.

AUS is also organizing a special on-campus orientation day for its new graduate students on August 24, 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. 

Students joining AUS this year will be part of the university’s celebration of its 25 years of academic excellence, innovative research and community impact. To mark its silver jubilee, the university will present a series of festive, reflective and scholarly activities that celebrate faculty, staff, students, alumni, and AUS business and community partners. The celebrations will run over a 12-month period.

For more information on AUS orientation week for new undergraduate students, visit www.aus.edu/admissions/orientation and for new graduate students, visit www.aus.edu/admissions/orientation/welcome-graduate-students.