The Academic Advising Unit has been established as a part of the Preparatory Year Deanship’s desire to provide an appropriate educational environment for our students. At Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, the academic advising unit is dedicated to assisting students overcome their challenges during their learning process as well as to experiencing supportive environments. The objective of launching an AAU in most universities is to guide, develop, and strengthen student’s personality. Moreover, it is used to evaluate, and help students to cope with their difficulties that they encounter during university life. Therefore, the academic advising unit (AAU) objectives can be summed up as follows:
- Providing students with academic information and explaining the policies of examinations, and university regulations to them.
- Establishing a cooperative, interactive, and acquainted relationship between students, the university, and the community.
- Advising students on how to construct positive social skills with classmates and faculty members.
- Motivating and supporting the talented students and guiding those who need improvement on their academic performance.
- Introducing new students to the university life.
- Encouraging students to be able to solve-problems.
- Enlightening students with labor market and guiding them towards accomplishing their educational goals.
- Arranging meetings between college deans and department heads with first-year students to learn about the university requirements and majors before they start their desired specialization.
- Giving support to handicapped students throughout their academic path.