GUST & PUC Welcome Freshmen at Annual Orientation
IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
KUWAIT CITY, Kuwait – September 2, 2015. Gulf University for Science and Technology (GUST) hosted its annual student orientation at its conference center on Wednesday. Organized by the Office of Student Life (OSL) before the start of every fall semester, the orientation allows students to get all the information they need to start their academic year with confidence and ensure a smooth transition into their new academic journey. Welcoming the students, GUST President, Professor Donald Bates said, “I want each and every one of you to consider this place, GUST, your second home. It is here that you will discover yourself and figure out who you want to be and how you want to make a difference in this world – and we are here to help you do that. We are honored to have the Private Universities Council as part of our orientation this year. GUST and the PUC have enjoyed a long-standing partnership where we’ve worked together for the benefit and enrichment of our students.” The event was also attended by Dr. Sabah Al-Quaddoomi, VP of Academic Services, Dr. Salah Al-Sharhan, VP of Academic Affairs and distinguished Private Universities Council (PUC) representatives: Fahad Al-Khalifa, Director of the Internal Scholarship Office, Aljawhara Al-Ghaith, Social Allowance Auditor, and Noura Al-Dhubaibi, Public Relations Office. Among the PUC’s responsibilities is determining accreditation requirements for all private universities, reviewing performance to ensure commitment to the provisions of the universities’ founding decree and providing scholarships to students within standards set by the council. During the orientation, PUC representatives discussed the roles and procedures of the PUC Scholarship Office as well as the processes and timelines for the social allowance. Dr. Habib Abul, Secretary General of the Private Universities Council said, “We are adamant on creating a healthy learning environment that is in line with our objectives and commitment to academic quality with international standards. Today, we are thrilled to welcome a new group of our students to university life and wish them the best of luck and success.”In attendance, guest speaker Shuaib Rashid, emphasized to the students the importance of a college experience in shaping your skills, character and confidence for the future. New students also had the visit with GUST’s departments and learn more about all the services available to them. During the orientation, the Admission and Registration Department explained some of the important procedures for class registration, add and drop, and their advisor procedures. The Student Success Center gave the students an inside look into the services including academic advising, learning support and counseling; assuring them that the Center is available to help through any situation. The Foundation Program also introduced their unit, its operations, the benefits of taking foundation courses, and the best ways for students to excel in the program in order to move on to their academic courses. The orientation concluded with a campus tour where students also enjoyed a live violinist, and a caricature artist who drew portraits as a memento of their first of many evenings at GUST. 
