University Life
Student Affairs - Living - Learning - Leading
Mission Statement
The goal of the Student Affairs Department is to support the George Mason University-RAK Campus’ mission of student learning and personal development. It aims to ensure student success and enhance learning and development by motivating and inspiring the student community to get involved in educational activities both inside and outside the classroom. Student Affairs also encourages students to acquire skills and abilities that will help them to become "well rounded" individuals who can deal effectively with personal and professional challenges and lead productive lives.
Student Affairs is responding to students' needs by creating programs and providing services and facilities that are responsive to the personal, social, educational, cultural and recreational needs of the GMU-RAK Campus student community. Program development incorporates emerging trends and issues both on campus and the larger society.
Student Affairs also serves an important resource for students by helping them to better understand the university environment by clarifying and guiding them through policies and procedures. It also receives and addresses student concerns, complaints and suggestions.
Students are always welcome to visit the Student Affairs Office to discuss their ideas, make suggestions and/ or voice their concerns.
Organized Activities
- Yearly Activities
At the GMU-RAK Campus we believe that out of classroom learning experiences play a significant role in students’ professional and personal development by enhancing their social, leadership and organizational skills. We encourage students to become actively involved in campus life by participating in extracurricular activities and joining student clubs and organizations.
Student Affairs, in cooperation with the Student Government Association (SGA) organizes a wide range of activities for students throughout the year aiming to expose students to the immense cultural diversity of the UAE. An activity schedule is regularly emailed to all students and individual events are announced by email and on the notice boards. Following is a list of some of the organized activities, and there are many more events planned throughout the academic terms.
Organized Activities
- Freshmen welcome party
- End of year party
- Music nights
- Iftar dinner
- UAE National Day
- Concert trips
- Cultural Field Trips
- Movie nights
- Bowling nights
- Sports tournaments
- Clinic / Wellness Center
The GMU-RAK Campus Clinic/ Wellness Center’s mission is to provide health supervision and promote health awareness and wellbeing among the campus community and is staffed by registered nurse. Minor cases can be treated on the premises, serious cases requiring treatment will be referred to the nearby Saqr Hospital or other health care providers. The Center also organizes health and wellness education programs.
Close Clinic / Wellness Center - Alumni
The definition “alumni” refers to graduates of a university, college or school. At this moment GMU-RAK Campus does not have alumni since this campus has not yet graduated any students. However, the George Mason Fairfax Campus Alumni Office is open for all matriculated Mason students. For further information refer to the Alumni Office webs ite.
Close Alumni - Career Services
The career services at GMU-RAK Campus are designed to support the campus mission by promoting students’ successful academic progress and adjustment and by providing degree seeking students with individual career guidance and assistance in job placement.
- Learning and study skills workshops
- Information on career options and employment trends
- Awareness of required skills and competencies
- General job skill’s advice and training
- Resume and cover letter writing
- Interview preparation
- Links with potential employers
- Advise students of employment opportunities
- Organization of career fairs on campus
- Internships, job experience, training opportunities
- Clubs and Organizations
Student Affairs provides opportunities for student growth through a variety of clubs, organizations, and activities. It supports extra curricular activities to supplement courses: academic clubs (designed to further education and promote academic activities), civic, social or recreational clubs (designed to promote socializing and recreation). Membership in clubs and organizations not only helps students to make friends, meet people who share the same interests but also helps to acquire important skills e.g. leadership and organizational skills, team work, event planning. GMU-RAK Campus encourages all students to establish or join clubs to pursue various activities, explore or further their interests, make new friends. Students are encouraged to start new clubs. Come to us with your ideas and we will guide you. New club application/recognition forms are available at the Student Affairs Office.
Creating a New Club
The goals and objectives of a Club are usually defined by the organizers of the Club and must be adopted by the club members.The steps for creating a Club follow.
- Formulate the idea of a Club. It may be a group of students with the same interests, cultural background, or discipline.
- Submit a New Club Application (available in the University Life Office) with the required documentation, that is: Executive Committee Members, Mission Statement, Membership list, Signing Authority, Club Constitution, and a faculty advisor.
- Once the Club proposal has been approved, the can start recruiting members. In order to be recognized as an official club by GMU-RAK, the Club must have a minimum of five members.
- All clubs must create and maintain a membership roster. The roster will include the member’s name, G-number, phone number, and email address. NOTE: All membership will be confidential.
- All club activities must be in compliance with George Mason University's policies and procedures. Every club event off campus must have a university representative.
- Residence Halls
GMU-RAK Campus has separate residence halls for male and female students. Though their location is off campus, they are conveniently located in the same general area as the campus. Both residence halls have twenty-four hours security guard service. There is a regular shuttle bus service between the residence halls and the campus.
Male Residence Hall The facility consists of studio apartments with kitchenette. Each apartment is double occupancy, but single occupancy can be arranged at additional cost depending on availability. Each apartment is furnished with two beds, two closets, two study tables, and easy chairs. All kitchenettes are equipped with a refrigerator and a microwave oven. There is a common living room with a television, sofas, chairs and coffee tables. The residence hall has washing machines for student use.
Female Residence Hall
The female students are housed in a brand new villa compound. Each villa consists of three furnished bedrooms with attached bathrooms, a common kitchen (equipped with a refrigerator, stove, washing machine and microwave oven) and a living/ dining room. The furniture is similar to the male residence hall furniture.
Residence Hall Committee
The residence hall students are represented by six residence hall committee members who are elected by the residents at the beginning of the semester. The committee acts as liaison between the campus administration and the residents. It also organizes activities and events at the residence hall.
Close Residence Halls - Sports
The GMU-RAK Campus sports facilities include a multipurpose hall, a well equipped gymnasium and several outdoor sports fields. The sports department aims to develop and maintain physical fitness among all members of the GMU-RAK campus community by offering a variety of sports programs and activities that are open to all students. Students participating in sports activities have the opportunity to develop leadership and teamwork skills. Games, tournaments and friendly matches are regularly organized.
Close Sports - Student Governance
The SGA Constitution defines SGA’s goals and objectives and establishes the roles and responsibilities of each SGA member. The constitution also defines the policies and procedures to follow for planning and organizing campus events. It establishes minimum qualification requirements for students who want run for office and campaign procedures. For further information contact the Student Affairs Office.
Close Student Governance - Student Government Association
The SGA represents the student body, provides student leadership and serves as liaison between the students and the campus administration. It also plays an important role in planning and sponsoring student campus activities and events and has a voice in the governance of the Campus.
The SGA consists of four executive members: President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer. As the student body expands, representative members will be added to the SGA.
Close Student Government Association - Orientation
The orientation program is designed to facilitate a student’s transition from high school to university and to familiarize new students with the GMU-RAK Campus by providing information on academic programs, facilities, policies and procedure and resources. Students have the opportunity to meet their advisor, staff and faculty and current students. Student Affairs conducts a New Student Orientation at the beginning of each semester and attendance of the orientation session is mandatory for new students.
Close Orientation - Student Center
The Student Center is the heart of the student community. It is a cool place to meet fellow students, socialize, hang out, watch TV, check your email, play table tennis and foosball. The Student Center is the venue for many student activities and events. It also houses the office of the Student Government Association (SGA), the student newsletter “Sandstorm” and a multipurpose student meeting room. The coffee bar “Coffee N’ Cream” is located in the Student Center.
Close Student Center - Cafeteria
There is a cafeteria located in the administration building, which has balanced & nutritional offerings that include sandwiches, snacks and cooked meals at reasonable prices
Close Cafeteria - Coffee Bar
The coffee bar “Coffee n’ Cream” situated in the Student Center. It offers a wide selection of coffees, lattes, mochas, pastries, and sandwiches.
Close Coffee Bar