Orientation

“Orientation” includes introductory sessions/events organized and delivered by Campus Orientation Teams to familiarize and provide information and assistance to new students to the various social settings and campus life so that they may be aware of and familiar with university life at the beginning of their University career.

Guiding principles

• Familiarize new students to the wide range of issues facing them as AAU students, including factors affecting their personal safety
• Introduce the variety of students services that are available on campus, so that students feel able to navigate the university on their own
• Assist the students in understanding rules, regulations and policies.
• Acquaint (create awareness of) the students with the university mission and goals and assist them in understanding how these relate to their life goals.
• Assist them in discovering how to avoid potential problems and in identifying where to find help when they need it.
• Introduce them the strategies that will help them get on to a good start.
• Create a campus atmosphere that reduces anxiety and stimulates attractive learning environment.
• Increasing student critical thinking social and leadership skills.

Orientation Procedures

Pre-activities

• Organize Campus Orientation Unit (Orientation Staff) from relevant departments
• Establish Information Desks at convenient sites (entrance)
• Preparing properly decorated  venue with welcoming quotes which able to contain large number of students
• Inviting resource persons who would share  their experience
• preparing Coordinators (recruiting volunteers  from senior students)
• Preparing brochures, students guide books, site maps, (Disseminated Materials)
• Erecting direction indicators/labeled pointers in different places in campus
• Plan and organize a favorable program Enhanced with entertainment.
• Preparing audio-visual equipments such as sound magnifier, projector, DVD player  and music CD
•  During arrival/orientation session 
• Reception Teams shall set up a conspicuous temporary Reception Desk as prescribed by university authority each year at train stations/central bus. New students from Addis Ababa are expected to report to their respective Addis Ababa University campuses;
• In collaboration with bus/train station managers, reception teams shall announce their location at reasonable intervals to direct  new AAU temporary stations
• Reception teams will sort and dispatch new arriving AAU students to their respective campuses using Addis Ababa University vehicles or prepaid transport services.
• On their arrival at their respective campuses, the new students shall be received at the main gate and escorted to the Institution premises and to the Information desk
• Campus Orientation staff will contact them with voluntary students and they guide them to the hall, welcoming them with music, shaking hands and disseminate the brochures, hand books… (Prepared printed materials)
• The on-arrival orientation will be held in the hall booked and arranged for the purpose by the respective campus orientation staff/unit
• On-arrival orientation sessions will be conducted on the day of their arrival as decided by the responsible office and for subsequent…….days.
• Refreshment will also be served during orientation sessions
• At the end of each orientation session, the students shall be taken to tour the campus, meet their room mates, engage with members of the faculty and staff, and learn about other areas of interest, such as, the various clubs, the volunteer center, and student leadership opportunities.
• There will be evening programs/entertainment to offer students a chance to gather with classmates.
• They also will be introduced to university protocols (the do's and don’ts) of campus life - academic, institutional and social. Then, they will become a part of and build pride (happy and confident) in the Addis Ababa University community.

Socialization

To familiarize students on campus life continuously and update them on issues that are relevant until they fully experience campus life. 

• Detail description on how to experience life in the residence halls and how to use the catering services.
• (For further, please see University general rules and Residence and catering policy)
• Address issues related with disability students, foreign students, female students and students who needs affirmative action.
• Familiarize students to extra-curricular activities that existing now in the University
• Clubs
• Student Union
• Outdoor and Indoor activities on each campuses
• Sport  activities that held annually intra public universities
• Part time Job opportunities
• The university brought a free  Legal services
• Introduce the Bill of Rights and Code of conduct 
• With examples of habitual or mal practices that contradict the rules and regulations of the university  and how they should behave in the university
• Organize and conduct Tour of campus by clustering students in manageable size.
• Information on alternative catering and entertainment places and Institution that helps them in day to day activities. Aware them the circumstance that exists around the university. Such as market places, religious institutions, theater, Cinema …
• Familiarize students with clearance and withdrawal process 

Students are expected to:

• Communicate their concerns about safety or health to the university clinic immediately
• Contact to counseling service officers any feeling or need for counseling in relation to   either academic or personal problems should.
• It is the responsibility of the student to ask for assistance however, Councilor   may refer a student at any time if appropriate and necessary.
• Cleared at every end of the year and keep one copy for her/him self
• Return back every property when withdraw due to illness, personal hardship, or good causes