AUS welcomes over 1,200 new students for Fall 2014 semester

Studying at American University of Sharjah (AUS) enables students to become globally competitive in their chosen specialties and professions, stated the new AUS Chancellor, Dr. Björn Kjerfve, at a welcome session held for new students and their parents at the AUS Main Auditorium on Friday, September 5, 2014. Dr. Kjerfve welcomed the attendees on behalf of the university's founder and president, His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan Bin Mohammad Al Qassimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah. The session marked the start of the university's Orientation Week.

Encouraging the students to benefit from the university's resources and invest their time and effort in acquiring knowledge during their exciting and challenging academic journey, Dr. Kjerfve said, "It gives me great pleasure to meet and see our new freshmen class of 1,250 dynamic young men and women who join us this semester; you are among the top percentiles of your high school graduating class and we aim to provide you with a challenging and stimulating academic experience in a supportive campus environment."

The chancellor also urged the students to take advantage of the facilities available and to seek help from the professors and departments whenever needed. "I would like for you to explore and sample the many academic choices AUS provides and for you to challenge yourself academically and by participating in the many available student activities, sports and others, beyond the classroom," he said.

"I would also like to assure parents that we take the responsibility of their children's and our students' education very seriously. We are committed to providing an enriching campus environment where your sons and daughters can receive the best overall educational experience in the region," added Dr. Kjerfve.

While the chancellor focused on introducing students to the significance of academic education and extra-curricular activities, AUS Interim Provost, Kevin Mitchell, stressed the importance of critical thinking, intellectual independence and academic integrity.

"The mission of the general education program is to offer students opportunities to reflect on an increasingly interdependent world and their place within it through art, literature and the study of societies and cultures in the region and beyond," he said. "At AUS, we are not content with describing the world around us, but seek to develop an analytical understanding of the subjects we are studying."

Mitchell also encouraged students to familiarize themselves with the university catalog as it will play a key role in their degree. "The catalog is your guide to academic policies and degree requirements. The catalog and the Student Handbook are very important and I urge you to read them carefully. Both documents will be discussed during orientation week and it is therefore essential to attend all sessions," he said.

AUS Vice Chancellor for Enrollment Management Ali Shuhaimy also welcomed new students and their parents. Joining the AUS community is an accomplishment, noted Shuhaimy, as he congratulated freshmen and their parents on making the right choice, promising to provide all possible and needed support to pave the way for students to continue achieving their goals. "AUS is not just another university; we are an institution that prides itself in being recognized as a leading university in the region," he said. "Our graduates enjoy the advantage of being in the forefront of employers' selection."

AUS Student Council President Saud Al Qassimi also addressed the gathering and welcomed the new batch of freshmen to the university.

A freshman present on the occasion said, "There were a number of reasons why AUS caught my attention, including its multicultural environment and the quality of its education. It is recognized as one of the best universities in the region with a strong American curriculum and will enable me to strengthen my job opportunities in the future."

The student's mother also expressed her enthusiasm with her daughter's enrollment at AUS and said, "We chose this university because of its premier reputation. Along with being the best, the university also has a beautiful campus and excellent faculty. We are confident that our daughter will benefit from the education and get a good job after she graduates."

The welcome session will be followed by a weeklong schedule of events that aim to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the university, from logistics to procedures and includes on- and off-campus festivities, such as city tours around Sharjah and Dubai, open house games at the Student Center, awareness sessions for parents and students, a dinner reception and a library tour.