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 2015-2016. The activities that started on Friday, August 28, 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 the OSA staff welcoming new students and their parents. More than 600 orientation packets containing information on the services offered by AUS were distributed to students.

A group of returning active students comprised the orientation team that 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 250 joined the Dubai trip.

A freshman reception dinner was also organized and attended by more than 700 students in the presence of Kevin Mitchell, Interim Provost; Dr. Moza Al Shehhi, Dean of Students; and other senior OSA officials. Addressing the students on the occasion, Dr. Al Shehhi said, "I welcome you all to the AUS family. Student Affairs is here to provide you with programs, services and activities to complement your academic endeavors and enrich your student life experience at AUS. We hope to see you in our events and I wish you all good luck as you start your journey with us."

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, Syrian and Palestinian cultural clubs.