The Dean’s Office, in the person of the Dean of Student Services, assists students with the assimilation process so they can readily become part of the university community.

The Dean helps students interpret, clarify and understand university policies and procedures and receives student complaints, suggestions, and concerns. The Dean serves on all honor and conduct councils. One of the primary responsibilities of the Dean is to safeguard and represent students’ interests.

The Dean of Student Services manages and provides direction to all divisions of Student Services and is available to meet with students and parents who have concerns related to any aspect of university life.

The Career Services Division manages the student’s job-seeking process. AUD offers full-time Career Services that provide degree seeking AUD students and AUD alumni the opportunity to receive individualized career guidance career research assistance. The Career Services Office also provides assistance throughout all stages of students’ career development.

A wide spectrum of individualized services is provided, including résumé and cover letter writing, interview techniques, job search strategies, salary negotiation advice, aptitude and skill assessment, and general career advice.

Health Services, headed by the Health Center Director (Registered Nurse) and supported by two staff nurses, offers both preventive and daily health care and health education designed to support the physical and emotional health of students and staff. Health services are available 24 hours a day.

The Health Center is open weekdays from 8:00 am – 9:30 pm. After working hours and during weekends, emergency health services are provided by staff nurses who reside on campus and are on call. Students who need to contact the nurse on call for emergency cases should call the University hotline 555. The security guard on duty will then contact the nurse on duty who will attend to the student’s needs. There are two treatment rooms equipped for emergencies in the Male and Female Dormitories. First Aid Guides are posted in all dorm rooms, in the Library, in the Adjunct Rooms, at the Main Reception, and at all the security guard locations.

Health services are available for all students, faculty and staff. Services include treatment for minor health emergencies and conditions, dispensing medication for minor health problems, providing individuals with medical referrals, and offering information on health related issues.

The university Health Center maintains a close relationship with the American Hospital in Dubai (AHD). The university Health Center refers students to this facility and others in the area.

Special AUD student rates are offered at the AHD.

Preventive medicine is also emphasized at AUD. The university Health Center promotes health awareness and education through health days conducted throughout the academic year. Past sessions have included Nutrition and Eating Disorders, Blood Drives, Drugs and Narcotics Awareness, Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Anxiety and Stress Management, Stop Smoking Campaign, Healthy Skincare, Health Hazards in Youth, and Vision Disorders.

The university Health Center maintains health records on all AUD students. Students should make sure that their health records are current and up-to-date. Newly enrolled students complete a medical history form that is kept on file in Student Health Services. All students are required to have this form completed by a licensed physician. Students with medical problems or disabilities that may require care or restrict their campus activities must submit to the Health Director and/or Student Support Manager a letter from their family physician describing their conditions, restrictions, and special requirements. Information about a student’s health is not released to those not involved in the student’s immediate care without the expressed permission of the student. All health forms are included in the AUD admissions packet. Blood testing for residence visas is conducted at the AUD Health Center. This service is offered only to students and staff sponsored by the university.

AUD Health Services does not issue statements or excuses for class absence.

The motto of AUD Housing is “MAKING OUR DORM YOUR HOME”. The Housing Division does this by ensuring safe, clean, and comfortable housing for students who require on-campus housing. The Housing Manager, assisted by two Dormitory Controllers, and eight Student Resident Assistants, manages the Division.

AUD student housing consists of four residential buildings, two for males and two for females. The male and female dormitories are totally segregated. On the ground floor of each building there is a fully equipped kitchen, a student lounge, a laundry room, and a TV room. AUD has clear guidelines for what constitutes inappropriate behavior in student housing. It is the responsibility of students to abide by these rules at all times.

The Housing Manager oversees security, receives and arranges for maintenance and repairs in the dorms, handles roommate conflicts and general complaints, enforces housing rules and regulations, and offers emotional support to students to ensure a safe, comfortable, and peaceful living and learning environment. There are a number of important rules and regulations that govern student housing. The AUD Housing Kit contains all housing information.

Resident Assistants work in both the dormitories and the Housing Office. They report directly to the Housing Manager and assist with various duties. These include, but are not limited to: receiving maintenance requests, recording complaints, answering questions, making appointments for the Housing Manager, and conducting tours for prospective students and their parents. In addition, Resident Assistants report any violations of housing rules, damage to dormitories, maintenance needs and suggestions for improvements in the dorms. Resident Assistants, working in close collaboration with the Housing Manager and Student Activities Coordinator, plan and host various dorm activities and programs.

Any dorm student interested in applying for a Resident Assistant position should contact the Housing Manager.

Students face a variety of challenges which affect their personal growth, emotional wellbeing and success in university. Conflicts and problems often arise which prevent students from reaching their full-potential.

Students may find that their usual ways of handling problems are not working well for some reason.

That is why AUD offers one-on-one personal counseling services. The Personal Counselor’s role is to assess the problem and provide support and guidance for students experiencing personal problems. The confidentiality of the counseling sessions is protected by the counselor’s code of ethics.

Students can talk about the problems they are facing, explore related thoughts, feelings and understand their personal resources. For some students, one conversation is all they need to make things better, while others may return for several appointments. The Personal Counselor provides referrals to qualified, certified, and experienced counselors, psychologists, psychiatrists and therapists equipped to aid students with psychological problems, learning disabilities, and/or other serious issues. This list is also available to students who wish to obtain external counseling.

Counseling Services also offer seminars and workshops on mental health detection and prevention. These are designed to help student’s identify, understand and respond to general mental health issues.

Involvement in student activities at university is an important component of student life. AUD’s American educational philosophy stresses a well-rounded student experience. Through participation in clubs and organizations, students not only become involved in university life, but also strengthen their socialization, team-building, leadership, event planning and organizational skills. Membership in student clubs and organizations also enables students to make new friends and share mutual interests with fellow students. The memories created on campus, through activities, is an essential part of the holistic development of a university student. The aim of the Office of Student Activities is to create and offer those opportunities for AUD students.

The Coordinator of Student Activities, with assistance from the Student Government Association, creates and plans numerous activities for students throughout the year.

These activities, designed to be social and cultural, include desert safaris, dhow trips, beach parties, guest lectures, dinners, international celebrations, plays, music nights and other events.

AUD-sponsored activities introduce students to many of the diverse social and cultural events held in each city. A calendar of events is available on the university’s website (www.aud.edu). Any student having an idea for a student activity should contact the Coordinator of Student Activities.

The AUD Athletics Office provides an athletic outlet for all students, faculty, and staff. The AUD athletic program offers unique opportunities to “get involved”.

For the highly competitive student athlete who is interested in competing against universities from the UAE and elsewhere, AUD offers a number of intercollegiate team sports.

The AUD Intramural Program for student, faculty and staff is offered as per the schedule for each semester. Students who are unable to commit to the mandatory training that is involved with playing on an intercollegiate team may want to consider this alternative.

The Athletics Coordinator also offers guidance and assistance to students who want to organize new sports activities, or who want to start new athletics clubs.

AUD Athletics also has a drop-in program for all students who are interested in staying fit.

Athletic facilities include a 400 meter track, a 25 meter pool, a soccer pitch, 3 tennis courts and 2 basketball/volleyball courts that are open to all in the AUD community when official games and practices are not scheduled. The AUD dorms also have two fully equipped student gyms available only to dorm students.

A Student Center, housing indoor sports facilities is scheduled to be inaugurated in September, 2008. A central indoor football field is designed so that it can be dismantled into two independent courts and used as a basketball or volleyball court. This court will have a stadium with a capacity of 2,500 spectators, in addition to an outdoor stadium that faces the soccer field and accommodates 300 spectators. Separately, there are two squash playgrounds and two 1,600-square feet gymnasiums for boys and girls.

The central mission of the Office of Student Support is to enrich and support the educational, intellectual and personal growth of AUD’s diverse student population. The Student Support Manager assists students in developing skills and strategies to help respond effectively to specific academic challenges and to ultimately achieve academic success through life-long learning habits.

The Office of Student Support offers a range of services to help students develop their own educational goals and succeed in their chosen program of study. These academic support services include: individualized academic counseling, access to tutoring and peer-tutoring, workshops and disability support services. The Student Support Manager also retains a list of tutors who offer individual tutoring sessions for students in need of academic assistance.