AUD greets more than 200 new students in spring 2009
The American University in Dubai (AUD) greeted more than 200 new Students during its orientation day at the beginning of the Spring 2009 semester. The orientation program was held 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.
Dr. de Masi welcomed the new students emphasizing the academic excellence the University has been providing over the past decade and outlining the objectives of the Orientation program. He elaborated on the University’s academic excellence illustrated by the honor AUD received of being the first and only institution outside of the US and Latin America to be granted accreditation by the accreditation committee of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS).
The objective of the orientation program is to provide new students with a comprehensive overview on the AUD community; it paves the way for them to meet other students and helps them become aware of AUD's rules and policies.
On the significance of what makes the youth choose AUD as the academic destination to pursue their university studies, De Masi noted, “We are fond of saying that AUD 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 added, “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. 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 as being a liberal education provider, he asserted 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.” Furthermore, he added 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.”
Ms. Bushra Finaish, AUD Assistant Dean of Student Services and Student Support Manager, provided the students with a better understanding of the mission and core values of the University and the most pressing demands they are about to encounter as they step into their new University experience. She commented: “Orientation at AUD is the student led introduction to University life ; it provides the opportunity for incoming students to familiarize themselves with the rights and responsibilities of being a college student as well as learning 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 and is of great value to all students.”
A series of presentations and short films, that discussed the departments and services offered at AUD, including Health Services, Housing, Student Activities, Academic Support, Athletics, Counseling, Career Services, Registrar, IT Services, Grievance and Institutional Effectiveness and Library Services, were also presented during the orientation
The convocation was followed by Club Sign Up, to promote the new students vital involvement in the activities of the University community at large and allow them to seek education outside the classroom, a presentation by the Student Government Association (SGA) that helps the students gain a better understanding of the challenging and exciting AUD experience to better mingle with their peers and Departmental meetings, where students will be given the opportunity to hear from the Deans and Chairs of their respective departments.
