COVID-19 Community Update

Midterm Examinations

Dear Beloved Students, 

The entire AU Community is thinking of you and your cherished families as we all navigate this ongoing pandemic. Please know that we are committed to maintaining the highest degree of academic integrity while also ensuring the greatest degree of safety for our entire community. 

Based on the current COVID-19 situation, we have made the decision to hold most of the forthcoming midterm examinations online. Midterms for a few courses will be held on campus. Further details on the arrangements and timings related to midterm exams will come directly from your deans and instructors. 

I am deeply proud of your resilience and diligence in these unprecedented times. You are making things happen in new ways every single day. 

Sincerely,

Karim Seghir, Ph.D.
Chancellor

Attendance requirements

• Courses with NO practical component:

  1. Students are required to attend the online course as per the University attendance policy (i.e. If you miss more than 25% of the lectures without a valid excuse, you will receive a grade of “F” in the course).

  2. Students are required to attend the midterm and final exams on campus.

  3. If a student misses the midterm exam for a valid excuse, he/she will be entitled for a makeup exam to be on campus at a suitable date and time during the semester.

  4. If a student misses the final exam for a valid excuse, he/she will be assigned an incomplete grade in the course and will have to sit for a final exam in the subsequent semester as per the University rules.

  5. Under the COVID-19 pandemic situation, international students who are stranded in their home countries and are not allowed to travel to the UAE to take their exams, will be assigned an incomplete grade in their registered course and will be given a chance to sit for the exam(s) they missed in a subsequent semester as per the University rules. These students will have to submit an acceptable proof that they are not allowed to travel to the UAE during the exam period(s).

• Courses with embedded labs/studios, with the lab/studio component not exceeding 30% of the course grade:

  1. The theory part of the course will be delivered online and the attendance rules will apply as described in point “A” above.

  2. Students are required to attend the practical sessions on campus as per the schedule assigned to them. Missing more than 25% of the practical sessions without a valid excuse, will result in an “F” grade in the practical component of the course.

  3. Under the COVID-19 pandemic situation, international students who are stranded in their home countries and are not allowed to travel to the UAE to attend the practical sessions of the course will be assigned an incomplete grade and will be given a chance to complete the practical session in a subsequent semester, provided that their performance and attendance in the online part of the course is satisfactory. These students will have to submit an acceptable proof that they are not allowed to travel to the UAE in the weeks designated for their practical sessions.

• Courses with labs/studios/clinics, with the lab/studio/clinic component constitutes 50% or more of the course grade:

  1. Students are required to attend the practical sessions on campus as per the schedule assigned to them. Missing more than 25% of the practical sessions without a valid excuse will result in an “F” grade in the practical component of the course.

  2. Students (international and otherwise) who cannot attend the labs/studios/clinics on campus will be advised to drop these courses and register for other courses that are from category A or B (as applicable).

Deanship of Students Services 

Mode of Course Delivery in the Spring Semester

Dear Beloved AU Students,

Congratulations again for completing the fall semester with determination and dedication. 

I am pleased to inform you that a decision regarding the mode of course delivery for the Spring Semester has been made. AU will adopt a hybrid model: all theoretical courses will be online while all practical courses – including clinical trainings, labs, and studios – will be face to face. 

Additional important details are as follow:

• All midterm and final exams will be conducted on campus.
• P/NP grading system will no longer be in use. The standard style of letter grading system will be used exclusively.
• Strict safety and precautionary measures will be implemented similar to spring, summer, and fall semesters. The specific protocols and requirements for entering campus will be communicated shortly. 

Furthermore, I strongly urge students who are currently abroad to start planning for their return to the UAE.  In fact, all of us should begin preparations for a brand new year of making things happen! 

As you relax after a challenging yet rewarding semester, keep in mind that AU is very proud of your accomplishments. 

Sincerely,

Karim Seghir, Ph.D.
Chancellor

End of Fall Semester Message

Dear Beloved Students,

I would like to express my deepest admiration to each of you for completing the semester with great determination. In fact, everyone at AU is very proud of you! Congratulations on your endurance as well as your performance.

This year has certainly taught all of us that a pandemic presents more challenges and obstacles than ever imagined. The disruptions have affected our families, our friends, and sometimes our ability to stay focused. But, not surprisingly, AU students have not allowed these difficult circumstances affect their bright futures.

Despite the considerable pressure and complexity of the examination period, you did what needed to be done – meet the challenge head-on. This skill will definitely serve you well, long after graduation. Indeed, the world is counting on your resilience, diligence, and integrity. And you will deliver, just as you have these last few days, weeks, and months.

We will be in touch very soon about the learning mode for the Spring semester. Until then, I sincerely hope you enjoy the winter break with your families. I also hope that you will take some time to celebrate how much you made happen in 2020.  

Sincerely,

Karim Seghir, Ph.D.
Chancellor

Online final exams procedures

Dear Beloved Students,

Greetings to you all.

Following the Chancellor’s email on November 19, 2020 regarding the Fall semester final examinations, please be informed that students who fall into one of the following categories may be eligible to take their final examinations online: 

• Students who are currently residing outside the country and cannot return to the UAE.
• Students who reside in Abu Dhabi.
• Students with documented medical issues that prevent them from coming to the campus (only medical reports issued from hospitals will be considered).
• Students who test positive for Covid-19.
• Students with close family members (father, mother, etc.) who test positive or have a weak immune system

Students who meet one of the above criteria are required to sign an undertaking and submit documented evidence by logging in to ors.ajman.ac.ae and following the below steps:

1. Click on the “eRequests” menu
2. Click on “New Request” under “All request” menu
3. Select “Registration” under Request Category
4. Fill in the related form (i.e. Online final exams for medical reasons or Online final exams for residing in Abu Dhabi/Alain or outside UAE)
5. Upload documented evidence
6. Submit the form.

Students must submit their forms along with the required documented evidence no later than November 26, 2020. The submission of this form does not necessarily guarantee an approval. Only students who meet all the eligibility requirements will receive an approval notification by December 4, 2020. 

Please note that “Incomplete grade” requests will continue to be handled as per the existing University rules and regulations (i.e. for students with valid reasons who can neither take their final exams on campus nor online or students who have any other medical reasons). 

Dentistry students who are attending preclinical and/or clinical training on campus will be receiving, from their Dean, further information regarding their final exams.

Sincerely,

Dr. Nahla Al Qassimi
Dean of Student Services 

Final Exams

Final Exams

Dear Beloved Students, 

I hope you are continuing to study hard and using your time wisely. A friend of mine once said, “organize don’t agonize,” which is a good approach to your coursework and future careers. Smart strategies yield the best results!

Like you, Ajman University is preparing for the upcoming final exam period, December 10-20. We recently learned from the Ministry of Education that these examinations must be conducted on campus. Therefore, AU is going to take every precaution to ensure that your experience is as safe and seamless as possible. We will utilize the best practices for hygiene, sanitization, and social distancing. Furthermore, we’ll be providing clear schedules and timetables to help you stay organized.   

You will receive more information and details about the protocols of the final exams soon. 

As always, let’s make success happen together!

Sincerely,

Karim Seghir, Ph.D.
Chancellor

Midterm Exams

Dear Beloved AU Students,

I am hearing very good things about progress and productivity in this new academic year.

I congratulate you all for staying strong and being resilient despite unprecedented challenges. Your determination will serve you well now and in all your future endeavors. Remember what Thomas Edison said: Genius is 1-percent inspiration and 99-percent perspiration.

Following up on a recent email, I wanted to let you know that AU has made the decision to hold midterm exams online, except for a few courses in the College of Dentistry. Of course, AU’s commitment to academic integrity will remain as strong as ever. All students will be required to digitally sign the consent form sent few days ago about complying with the proctoring requirements to ensure academic integrity. Any student who did not submit this commitment form will be barred from sitting for the exams. The Office of Information Technology will conduct training sessions to assist you in preparing for the technical aspects of your online midterm exams.

Before making any decision, AU considers the best interests of all students, faculty, and staff and seeks input from an inclusive group of stakeholders. Ultimately, we seek to ensure the safety of our community as we continue to deliver a world-class education.

I wish you all the best in your midterm exams and a safe semester.

Sincerely,

Karim Seghir, Ph.D.
Chancellor

Temporary Closure of J1 Building

Dear Beloved AU Community,

AU is committed to sharing information about cases of COVID-19 on campus in a prompt and transparent way. With this email, I am alerting our Community to the fact that two positive cases have been identified. 

To immediately mitigate the situation, J1 Building will be closed on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday during which time a full and thorough sanitization of every space in the building will be conducted.

J1 Building will re-open on Sunday. However, faculty, staff and students, must show evidence of a recent negative test prior to gaining entrance.

It is imperative that we remain vigilant and responsive to stop the spread of the virus on campus and within the UAE. Be assured that AU will do everything in its power to ensure the ongoing health and safety of our beloved community members. 

Sincerely, 

Karim Seghir, Ph.D. 

Chancellor 

Cancellation of Events & Activities

Dear Members of the AU Community,

As part of the preventive measures taken to reduce and limit the possibility of transmission of the COVID-19 virus infection, the Ministry of Education has requested all higher education institutions to cancel the following programs with immediate effect and not to reschedule them until further notice from the Ministry:

- Student trips within and outside of the UAE

- On-campus competitions, festivals, conferences, and other events    or activities requiring gatherings

- Activities or functions between universities and other external partners

We do apologize for any inconveniences this may cause but the health and safety of our students is of utmost importance. If there are any questions regarding a specific activity or event, please contact Dr. Mohamed Helal, Director of Student Life (067055757). For any medical-related enquiries or consultation, please don’t hesitate to contact the Office of Medical Services (067056294).

Please note that classes will proceed as scheduled. 

Ajman University continues to monitor the situation as it evolves. We are confident that we are well-prepared to reach and secure members of our community as needed. We encourage you to comply with best practices for disease prevention, as announced earlier by the Office of Environmental Health and Safety.

University officials remain in close contact with the Ministry of Health, as well as Ministry of Education. We will communicate any new information as it becomes available.

Sincerely,

Karim Seghir, Ph.D.
Chancellor

Fall 2020 Updates

Dear Beloved AU Students,                    [العربية]

I hope that you and your families are doing well and staying safe. Please know that everyone at Ajman University has missed your presence on campus more than words can say. Fortunately, our experience as a cyber community during the Spring and Summer semesters kept us connected throughout the quarantine. We all emerged with a greater understanding of how technology can serve humanity, as well as pedagogy. 

Since my last communication with you, we have received further directives from the Ministry of Education that warrant some modifications as follows:

For the upcoming Fall Semester, AU will leverage the best of both worlds – online and in-person – to make your education continue to happen. This hybrid system will help maintain the highest standards for health, safety, and academic rigor. All theory lectures of AU courses will be taught via online mode while practical sessions will be covered on campus.

In alignment with the Ministry of Education’s requirements for social distancing, only a certain percentage of students registered in practical sessions (labs, studios and clinics) can be physically present on campus at any given time. Without any change in the times scheduled for these sessions, students registered for each practical session will be divided into groups that will allow them to attend these sessions on campus. More specific information in this regard will be communicated to you soon. 

All theory lectures of AU courses will be taught via online mode utilizing the synchronous online learning management system (i.e. Moodle/Blackboard-collaborate which was used last spring semester). All AU Instructors are required – and are currently being trained – to further enhance their online teaching skills to ensure maintaining high level of interaction and participation. All sessions will be recorded and made available to all students. Course schedules will remain the same.

As mentioned above, all practical sessions – labs, clinics and studios – will be conducted in face-to-face mode. Therefore, in some cases, students may need to attend an online lecture from the campus. Accordingly, AU has allocated space for students to participate in their scheduled online classes even when they are on campus for a practical session. More specific information on practical sessions’ scheduling will be communicated shortly.

All midterms and final exams will be held on campus using classrooms and additional spacious facilities such as the Sheikh Zayed Center and the Sports Complex. Planning has been completed to ensure that these classrooms and additional facilities are configured to comply with social distancing regulations. For added precautions, thermal cameras and/or temperature measuring devices will be installed at the entrances of host buildings. 

If you have any questions about the hybrid system of course delivery – or the process of on campus scheduling of practical session – please contact the Dean of your College for assistance.

Please note that the above arrangements may change if the University receives any further guidelines from the Ministry of Education that require different arrangements. 

AU’s efforts to maintain health and safety is a shared responsibility. Every single one of us has a role to play in protecting our campus community. Always keep in mind that your decisions and actions will impact others. Safety is a team work! 

Let’s commit right now to a smart start for the Fall semester. The only tools we need to be successful on this new “Make It Happen” journey are humanity and technology. We have an abundance of both!

Stay Safe! 

Sincerely,

Karim Seghir, Ph.D.
Chancellor

University Health Update

Dear AU Community Members,

                                            As you may know, influenza season generally occurs this time of year. However, there have been recent reports in the news about the “new coronavirus”, which originated in China but now has confirmed infection cases around the world. Coronavirus symptoms are generally flu-like and include fever, cough, runny nose and difficulty breathing, and they may appear in as few as 2 days or as long as 14 days after exposure. The virus can be spread when an infected person coughs or sneezes in close proximity to others and can affect both people and animals. There is currently no vaccine to prevent the virus and no specific treatment, however the following precautionary measures and tips are very helpful in preventing the spread of the virus:

• Hand hygiene: cleaning hands for at least 20 seconds. Use hand sanitizer in case soap and water are not accessible.
• Cough and sneeze etiquette: covering the mouth with inner elbow or by using tissue papers instead of hands.
• Wash and prepare food carefully and thoroughly cook meat and eggs.
• Exercise and have proper sleep to bolster the immune system.
• Avoid close contact with anyone with cold or flu-like symptoms.
• Avoid unprotected contact with live wild or farm animals.

In case you believe you may have been exposed to the Coronavirus, contact the medical clinic immediately on 06-7056294. Please see attached leaflet for more information. Wishing you continued health!