New students welcomed to AUS Fall 2021 orientation

American University of Sharjah (AUS) kicked off orientation week for the Fall 2021 semester on Friday, August 20, with new students welcomed through a virtual event hosted by key university officials including the newly appointed Chancellor, Dr. Susan Mumm. Following the official welcome session, students and their parents had the opportunity to engage in an interactive question and answer session and explore a virtual resource fair that showcased the academic and extracurricular opportunities and support services available to new students as they begin their AUS journey.

The university’s orientation week, which runs from August 20 to 28, encompasses a series of virtual activities that allow new students, regardless of where they are in the world, to take part in orientation. The week also includes several on-campus activities for those students wishing to see the campus in person before classes begin. New students will be guided by seasoned AUS students known as peer leaders through a series of online orientation activities, as they learn about academic policies, academic services, wellbeing support, financial and technical assistance, and library services; as well as meet AUS Student Council members and attend several social events. 

Dr. Lisa Moscaritolo, Vice Provost for Student Life, spoke about the important role orientation plays in helping students transition to university life.

“We are excited to welcome our newest students to the community. This week provides them with an opportunity to meet their fellow students and start to feel a sense of belonging. Orientation groups are the first team new students will be a part of at AUS. It is important that new students take advantage of their peer leaders’ knowledge by asking them questions in their sessions or individually. The peer leaders went through an extensive training program, and I am confident the new students will enjoy working with them,” she said.

Starting this semester, all classes at AUS will be held in either a fully face-to-face format or in a hybrid format that will combine both online and face-to-face learning. All students returning to campus will need to strictly abide by the regulations and the standard operating procedures outlined by the UAE Ministry of Education.

"I am so excited to welcome our students back to campus this fall. We are particularly thrilled to have our first-year students start their academic journey with us. We are committed to their success and have some incredible resources to support them in their first year,” said Dr. Mehvash Ali, Director of Academic Support Center and the AUS First Year Experience (FYE) Program.

To help students make the transition from high school to university, AUS offers its First Year Experience (FYE) Program, a university-wide collaborative effort that aims to help first-year students develop the study and self-care skills they need. The FYE program offers a range of resources for students, from informative podcasts to online workshops.

“Our FYE Chats podcast consists of 10-minute episodes on topics relevant to first-year students. It is currently the number 1 ‘How To’ podcast in the UAE. The First Year Experience Pathway is designed to equip first-year students with the core skills needed for success at AUS. These include knowledge about essential AUS resources, study skills, time management and self-care. We are also pleased to offer our first-year students the opportunity to join the first international chapter of the Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society for first-year students. Students can get details about these and many other first-year resources during orientation and by following us on social media, @ausfye," said Dr. Ali.

For more information about orientation, visit www.aus.edu/orientation.