In cooperation with the Public Relations Unit in the College of Science and Humanities in Hawtat Sudair, the Student Support Unit organized the activities of the Academic Counseling Week program under the name “Academic Counseling; Way to Excellence”. The following is a summary of these activities: Tuesday 10/11 The Head and members of the Student Support Unit met with the various departments’ coordinators of the Unit in order to present the program’s plan and its implantation. The meeting was honored by the presence of the His Excellency the Vice Dean for Academic Affairs, Dr. Yousef Bin Mohammed Al Muhus. Moreover, the departments’ coordinators were provided with copies about the program to be later given to the counselors for application. Wednesday 11/11 Students were notified of Academic Counseling Week through banners, e-bulletins and short text messages sent on mobile phones. Sunday 15/11 1. The new students were distributed to their academic counselors and linked with the system; 2. the academic counseling forms were also distributed to the counselors; 3. the academic counselors met with the students in the college departments during the week; In cooperation with the College of Public Relations, the Student Support Unit organized the Academic Counseling Week in the College, which consisted of a workshop for the faculty members on academic counselors’ tasks and skills as well as the academic counseling mechanisms. The workshop was honored by the presence of His Excellency the Dean for Educational Affairs, Dr. Yusuf Bin Mohammed Al-Mahus; His Excellency the Vice Dean for Educational Affairs, Dr. Adel Al-Alyan; His Excellency the Vice Dean for Student Affairs and the faculty members. At the beginning of the workshop, Dr. Yusuf Bin Mohammed Al-Mahus welcomed the attendees and talked about the importance of the workshop and the role of the teaching staff members towards students; he also talked about the benefit of the academic counseling programs for the students’ overall academic performance. Dr. Jalal Al-Sedik, the head of the Unit, gave a presentation on the academic counselor’s role and tasks as well as his skills. Dr. Awadallah Jaafar, then, gave a brief explanation of the academic counseling, presenting an example of a ‘student file’ that contained everything a counselor/ student might need to check: a student plan, registration processes, a student academic schedule, registered, passed and remaining courses, a student level as well as the marks of previous terms. Moreover, Dr. Ayman Jaradat pointed out that all the new students were to be reported to their academic counselors. Dr. Abduh Khalaf then discussed the ups and downs of the academic counseling in the last academic year 1435-1436 H..
Monday 16/11 The second day of Academic Advising Week started with a training course, presented by Dr. Jalal Al- Sedik for the new students about the concept of academic counseling, its importance as well as the responsibilities and duties of students to the academic counseling process. A panel discussion was presented by Dr. Alaa Marwad for the students about all the rights and duties of a university student.
Tuesday 17/11 The third day of the Academic counseling started with a training course presented by the counseling expert Dr. Mubarak Al- Saif. The course targeted the faculty members and was about the apprenticeship program, its concept, importance as well as the way to use it to improve students' academic level. Moreover, the course was attended by the faculty members and some experts in the field.
Wednesday 18/11 The fourth day the Academic Counseling Week started with a training course for the faculty members on the psychological and social role of a counselor towards students. The course was presented by Dr. Al-Twaijri from the College of Education, and Dr. Abdul Hamid Haji Ali, the head of Guidance and Counseling Unit in MU. At the beginning of the training, Dr. Abdul Hamid talked about the Guidance and Student Counseling Center and its role in directing students’ ideas and behaviors in the right way. At the end, he said that a student actually needs a cooperative advisor who guides him through by adopting the simplest types of therapies, including the cognitive therapy, behavioral therapy, consultative psychotherapy and family therapy. Dr. Al Twaijri also explained the importance of guidance and psychological counseling for students and its role in building confidence between a student and his teacher
