AUD hosts 2008 Orientation program, 'Week Of Welcome'

The program is currently taking place in the presence of Dr. Lance de Masi, AUD's President, Mr. Elias Bou Saab the Executive Vice President of AUD, Dr. Jihad Nader, Provost and Chief Academic Officer, and the University's Faculty and Administrative bodies, as well as Student Orientation Leaders.

AUD President Dr. Lance de Masi, greeting the new students, emphasized the academic excellence the University has been providing over the past decade and outlined the objectives of the Orientation program.

He also elaborated on the University's academic excellence illustrated by the many accreditation honors granted to AUD since 1996 by the accreditation committee of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS).

On the significance of the driving force behind what makes the youth choose AUD as the academic destination to pursue their university studies, President de Masi says "we are fond of saying that The American University in Dubai is American not only in name but in substance.

This serves as our calling card and captures the essence of the educational experience we seek to provide right here in the Gulf."

He adds, "The uncompromising maintenance of high academic standards, an emphasis on innovative and critical thinking and identification of the "whole person" as the target for human and cultural development are those factors which truly distinguish American education.

Even at this point in AUD's young history, these are precisely the values which underpin the University's identity.

Add to this the belief that education in the UAE is best served by curricula which are career-driven and skill-based, and you'll understand how AUD is contributing to the accomplishment of the national/Dubai's agenda for progress."

Dr. Nader, in turn, described AUD's liberal education.

He added that AUD provides the type of education which "emphasizes an individual's whole development in addition to providing in-depth knowledge of one or more professional fields."

He also pointed out that AUD shapes the dispositions of the youth to become leaders in society by way of "broadening the knowledge of its students of other cultures and other times, thus enabling them to make decisions based on reference to the wider world and to the historical forces that have shaped it.

AUD allows its student body to adopt the understanding and have the experience in thinking systematically about moral and ethical problems and achieving a profound insight into various fields of knowledge."

WOW commenced on Saturday, August 30, 2008, with the Parents Orientation and continued the next day with the Student Orientation, during which Ms. Bushra Finaish, AUD Assistant Dean of Student Services and Student Support Manager, provided students with a better understanding of the mission and core values of the University.

She commented, "Orientation at AUD is a student led introduction to University life this year.

The incoming freshmen class is being initiated into the college experience during WOW: Week of Welcome, which will provide them with the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the rights and responsibilities of being a college student as well as to become part of the AUD community through the various activities planned. This introduction to college life is led by Student Orientation Leaders. AUD's focus on student to student interaction allows the more senior students to share their perspectives and insights with the incoming freshmen class, a great value to all students."

The objective of the Orientation is to provide new students with a comprehensive overview of the AUD community, thus provoking them to better embrace this novel phase in their life.

It paves the way for them to meet other students and become more familiar with the AUD community and help them become aware of AUD's rules and policies.

In addition, a series of presentations and short films were presented during Orientation that discussed the departments and services offered at AUD which include Health Services, Housing, Student Activities, Academic Support, Athletics, Counseling, Career Services, Registrar, IT Services, Grievance and Institutional Effectiveness and Library Services.

During Orientation, new students had the chance to sign up with several different Student Clubs, promoting their vital involvement in the activities of the University community at large and allowing them to seek education outside the classroom.

A presentation by the Student Government Association (SGA) helped the students gain a better understanding of the challenging and exciting AUD experience, to better mingle with their peers, and Departmental meetings, where students were given the opportunity to hear from the Deans and Chairs of their respective departments, were also scheduled.

Saturday's program was dedicated to the Parent's Orientation Session in which new student residents and their parents met with the Student Services Team and the Resident Assistants (RA).

During the session, Ms. Raya Al Barazi, AUD Housing Manager, welcomed the new student residents and their parents and presented her duties and the Housing Rules and Regulations at the University.

She then attended to the queries raised by the students and their parents on the matter.

Students were also made familiar with the Health Services and Insurance Plan and the Counseling Services available at the University, the Housing office hours, the RA responsibilities, the Violation Point System Implementation, the Housing Events Calendar for the current academic year and the University's Policies on Academic Integrity.

In addition, parents were given the opportunity to meet other parents with similar interests and concerns.

The session was brought to an end with a fun atmosphere where the Resident Assistants held on campus games and distributed giveaways to new student residents.

It is worth mentioning that the Student Services Office at AUD has put together an interesting calendar of events for new student comers that is set to extend over the current week conveying several fun games and activities that shed lights on the spirit of the Holy Month of Ramadan, such as a Suhoor and an Iftar that will be held in the special AUD Ramadan Tent.