Office of Student Affairs hosts new student orientation

The Office of Student Affairs (OSA) at American University of Sharjah (AUS) hosted a week-long orientation to welcome new students registered for the Academic Year 2014-2015. The activities that started on Friday, September 5, were designed to help new students transition into the AUS community, become aware of the university's extracurricular offerings and learn to adapt to life at the university.

Among the orientation activities were information sessions, fun and intellectual games, educational and entertaining trips, and a dinner reception. The week's events began with OSA staff welcoming new students and their parents. More than 800 orientation packets containing information on the services offered by AUS were distributed to students.

A group of returning active students comprised the orientation team who worked alongside the OSA staff during the orientation period. City tours to Sharjah and Dubai familiarized new students with the neighboring areas and points of interest. Around 200 students joined the Sharjah tour and 300 joined the Dubai trip.

A freshman reception dinner was also organized and attended by more than 700 students in the presence of Dr. Moza Al Shehhi, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs; Dr. Munketh Taha, Director of the Student Development and Organizations Department, and other senior OSA officials. Addressing the students on the occasion, Dr. Al Shehhi said, "We are glad that so many students have joined us in this gathering. This is the first time I saw this hall full of students and we are happy with the increasing student interest in extracurricular activities. We know that you've all had a long day of lectures and presentations; this is now your time to have some fun. I warmly welcome you all to AUS and wish you all a productive academic year ahead."

The gathering provided an opportunity for OSA administrators to interact with new students and introduce them to the non-academic services offered by the department. The evening program included many entertaining games, and musical and cultural dance performances by students belonging to the Emirati, Egyptian and Palestinian cultural clubs.