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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Academic Calendar 2016: .................................................................................. 4
Academics: .............................................................................................................. 6
FAQ: ................................................................................................. 8-13
Admission & Registration: .................................................................................14
PUC scholarship students: ................................................................................
Student Affairs: ....................................................................................................
Student Success Center (SSC): ........................................................................
Office of Student Life (OSL): ...........................................................................
Sports & Athletics: .............................................................................................
GUST STUDENT HANDBOOOK
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GUST Academic Calendar for 2016 - 2017
GUST Academic Calendar for 2016 - 2017
Dates
Event
Date
Event
Sun 28-Aug-2016 - Thu 1-Sep-2016
All Faculty Return
Sun 23-Apr-2017
University Holiday/ Al-Israa Wal Miraj
Tue 30-Aug-2016
New Faculty Orientation
Thu 4-May-2017 - Thu 11-May-2017
Spring Semester Classes End
Thu 1-Sep-2016
Returning Faculty Orientation
Sat 6-May-2017
Spring Final Exams
Sun 4-Sep-2016
Fall Semester Classes Begin (15 Wks instruction)
Mon 15-May-2017
Last Day to post final grades
Sat 10-Sep-2016 - Tue 13-Sep-2016
University Holiday/ Day of Arafa
Sun 21-May-2017
Summer-1 Classes Begin (6 Wks instruction)
Sun 11-Sep-2016 - Thu 15-Sep-2016
University Holiday/ Eid Al-Adha
Sat 27-May-2017 - Thu 29-Jun-2017
First Day of Ramadan
Wed 14-Sep-2016
Instructional Holiday
Sun 25-Jun-2017
University Holiday/ Eid Al-Fetr
Sun 2-Oct-2016
University Holiday/ Al-Hijri New Year’s Day
Thu 6-Jul-2017 - Sun 9-Jul-2017
Summer-1 Classes End
Tue 18-Oct-2016
Commencement
Sat 8-Jul-2017
Summer-1 Final Exams
Mon 12-Dec-2016
University Holiday/ Prophet’s Birthday
Sun 16-Jul-2017
Summer-2 Classes Begin (6 Wks instruction)
Thu 22-Dec-2016 - Mon 2-Jan-2017
Fall Semester Classes End
Thu 24-Aug-2017 - Sun 27-Aug-2017
Summer-2 Classes End
Sat 24-Dec-2016
Fall Final Exams
Sat 26-Aug-2017
Summer-2 Final Exams
Sun 1-Jan-2017
University Holiday/ New Year’s Day
Thu 31-Aug-2017 - Mon 4-Sep-2017
University Holiday/ Day of Arafa
GUST STUDENT HANDBOOOK
Thu 5-Jan-2017 - Sat 14-Jan-2017
Sun 8-Jan-2017
Sun 15-Jan-2017
Sat 25-Feb-2017
Sun 26-Feb-2017 - Thu 2-Mar-2017
Mon 27-Feb-2017
Last Day to post final grades
Winter Break
Spring Semester Classes Begin (15 Wks instruction)
University Holiday/ Independence Day
University Holiday/ Liberation Day
Instructional Holiday
Fri 1-Sep-2017
Tue 05-Sep-2017 - Thu 7-Sep-2017
Tue 05-Sep-2017
Thu 7-Sep-2017
Sun 10-Sep-2017
University Holiday/ Eid Al-Adha
All Faculty Return
New Faculty Orientation
Returning Faculty Orientation
Fall Semester Classes Begin
Note: Observed days for Islamic Holidays will be announced by Human Resources.
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Academics
GUST STUDENT HANDBOOOK
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Freshman:
completed 0-30 credits
What am I?
Sophomore:
completed 31-60
credits
What about attendance?
Mandatory:
yes; it’s true
Junior:
completed 61-90
credits
You are allowed 11 absences:
it is not a gift; save them for a rainy day
When is an absence
“excused”?
Senior:
> or equal to 91 credits
When do I receive a Failure
due to Absence (FA):
Private student: if you exceed 11 hours of absences after week 10.
PUC student: if you exceed 11 hours before week 10 and only enrolled in 4 units.
When do I receive a Withdrawal
due to Absence (WA):
Private Student: exceed 11 hours before week 10
PUC Student: exceed 11 hours before week 10 and enrolled in > 4 courses
When do I receive a Withdrawal
due to Absence (WA):
Private Student: exceed 11 hours before week 10
PUC Student: exceed 11 hours before week 10 and enrolled in > 4 courses
GUST STUDENT HANDBOOOK
Death of a first-degree
relative:
attendance for 3 days will
be suspended
Admission to hospital
Road traffic accident
(Note: Quizzes and assignments can be rescheduled)
- You will need to bring documentation to the office of the Dean of Student
Affairs
What is the best way of
communication?
EMAIL
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I went to see my professor but
I could not find him/her?
Did you stop by during office hours?
Send an email to your professor
How do I know important
dates/announcements?
Check the GUST website
Check GUST BUZZ through your GUST email
How do I choose my major?
Find out what you like to study,
where and what you want to do after
you graduate
It should not be “easy” as your
friends keep telling you; it should be
meaningful to you
Why is a major sheet
important?
Check GUSTIMES.COM
If you have a mobile device and have at least one social media account
(Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat) Follow us!
It is your GPS while you are a student
at GUST
Should you need help enrolling in
classes: the Student Success Center
(SSC) will advise you on choices.
And again, ALWAYS check your GUST email.
When can I change my major?
GUST STUDENT HANDBOOOK
What is a major?
It’s what you choose to study at GUST and earn a degree
Private student:
1.Must not have taken > 60 credits
2.If > 60 credits: need approval from
Dean of college
3.Can change majors within the same
college or to a different college
PUC student:
• Check PUC website
(www.puc.edu.kw)
• Make sure you check with PUC
Scholarship Office (W2-009) in the
Admission & Registration Department
(A&R) on the ground floor
•Always check your GUST email for
announcements
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GUST STUDENT HANDBOOOK
What is a study load?
-It is the number of courses you can take each semester (4-6)
- You can enroll in up to 7 courses if:
1- GPA > 3.00
2- You are graduating in the same semester
I got my final grades and they
are bad; what can I do?
•You can repeat units if you received
and (F), (D), (C-)
What is a prerequisite?
It is the first course in a sequence of courses without which you cannot enroll in
upper level classes
Life got in the way; I need to
stop studying for a while, can I
do that?
- Yes you can. You will have to visit
the A&R Department to fill a “Leave of
Absence” form
•You have 3 attempts for each grade
you repeat
- If you don’t fill the form and we don’t
hear from you for a whole semester,
you will be suspended the next
semester
Can I return to study if I am
suspended?
-You will have to apply for re-admission
Admission How do I & know if I am doing
Registration well in a course or not?
- Check course syllabus
- Know criteria for each assessment/assignment
- Go see your professor during office hours
- Get the right feedback from your professor
When are final grades
announced?
48 hours after final exams
I don’t like my grades; I think I
deserve better?
Please apply for a grade appeal by visiting the assistant dean of your college
How can I keep a history of my
grades?
You can print an unofficial transcript from SIS
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Admission &
Registration
GUST STUDENT HANDBOOOK
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Admission & Registration:
How do I know if I am an honor student?
- Tables of spring and summer 2016 registration dates.
I am a private student; I enrolled in this course
but it is too difficult, what do I do?
1 st week of study g withdraw yourself g NO financial penalty g NOT affecting
GPA
g Up to week 10 g check with A&R g financial penalty g awarded (WA) g NOT
affecting GPA
When can I withdraw?
g From the whole semester g before week (12) g Semester Withdrawal (SW) on
transcript
g From the university g before final exams g University Withdrawal (UW) on
transcript
g Highest honor:
1) GPA is 4.00
2) No disciplinary action
3) Completed major sheet requirements
4) Completed & graduated within 8 semesters
g Honor:
1) > or equal to 3.67
2) No disciplinary action
3) Completed major sheet requirements
4) Completed and graduated within 8 semesters
• GPA calculation: page 23/24
I am a PUC scholarship student and enrolled
in a course that is too difficult; what can I do?
g Please check with the PUC Scholarship Office (W2-009)
When and how can I graduate?
GUST STUDENT HANDBOOOK
1) Passed Credits (PCR): 120 – 126 on your major sheet
2) GPA > or = to 2.00
3) Fulfilled major sheet requirements
4) Check your email for online announcement
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PUC scholarship students:
• How can I change my major?
1. Passed credits between 75– 24
2. GPA ≥ 2.67
3. You will have to pay for any credits that are not transferred
4. You can apply in the last week of each semester (before final exams)
• How can I repeat an F grade?
The PUC will pay for 4 separately repeated different subjects where the grade is
C- or less
Based on GUST regulations, you can repeat more courses on your own expense
• I lost my scholarship; how can I return?
You will need to complete at least 30 credits after losing the scholarship during
a period of 2 years or less
Must maintain a GPA ≥ 2.33
Registration is open the first week of each semester (summer not included)
How do I apply for a High Achiever Scholarship? (Kuwaitis only)
You will need to complete at least 30 credits (transferred credits not included)
Maintain a GPA ≥ 2.5
First week of each semester (summer not included)
Check your email for announcements
Sheik Jaber Fund
Abdurrahman Al Rashaid Al Bader Scholarship
GUST summer scholarships at UMSL and GW
• How do I know if I am eligible for the above?
Please check your email regularly for announcements on application criteria
usually in the first month of the semester.
Student Success Center (SSC)
Services offered by the SSC:
Academic Advising
Individual and group Academic Advising is available
Specialists assist students with educational planning, course selection, and
other related academic requirements
o Group Advising week for GUST students who are enrolled in ESL 098.
Advising Sessions From To Location Time
Group Advising
for ESL 098
students
Sunday
27-3-2016
Thursday
31-3-2016
ESL 098
class
rooms
Will be shared
with the faculty
and the students
early March 2016
GUST STUDENT HANDBOOOK
Subject Spring 16 Summer 16
Reinstatement 17 – 21 Jan. 2016 -
Achievers scholarship 17 – 21 Jan 2016
-
14 – 18 Aug. 2016
Change major 1 – 5 May 2016
Student Affairs:
• What is social allowance?
It is a monthly allowance offered by the Ministry of Higher Education for
Kuwaiti students and children of Kuwaiti mothers.
• What are other forms of scholarships/ financial aid
available at GUST?
GUST internal scholarships
Financial aid
o Individual advising sessions will be available as per the below
schedule:
Walk-in Advising Sessions From To Location Time
Open & New Students Registration Advising
sessions for Spring 1502
Add/Drop & Late Registration Advising
Sessions for Spring 1502
Early Registration Advising Sessions for
Summer 1503 session 1 & 2
Add/Drop & Late Registration Advising
Sessions for summer 1503 session 1
Early Registration Advising Sessions for
Fall 1601
Add/Drop & Late Registration Advising
Sessions for summer 1503 session 2
Open Registration Advising Sessions for
Fall 1601
Sunday
10-1-2016
Sunday
17-1-2016
Sunday
10-4-2016
Sunday 22-
5-2016
Sunday
29-5-2016
Sunday
10-7-2016
Sunday
24-7-2016
Thursday
14-1-2016
Tuesday
19-1-2016
Thursday
21-4-2016
Tuesday
24-5-2016
Thursday
9-6-2016
Tuesday
12-7-2016
Thursday
25-8-2016
W6 Hall
W6 Hall
From 8:30 am
to 2:30 pm
From 8:30 am
to 2:30 pm
N3-101 From 8:30 am
to 2:30 pm
N3-101 From 8:30 am
to 2:30 pm
N3-101 From 8:30 am
to 2:30 pm
N3-101 From 8:30 am
to 2:30 pm
N3-101 From 8:30 am
to 2:30 pm
New students Registration Advising
Sunday Thursday N3-101 From 8:30 am
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Sessions for Fall 1601
28-8-2016 1-9-2016
to 2:30 pm

Retention Services
How do I know if I am at acvademic risk?
When your GPA is < than 2.00
• For students at academic risk and in need of individual personalized
one-to-one academic guidance.
• Success information sessions are offered for retention students: The
students will be contacted individually to be informed about the location and
the timing of the session early January 2016.
Academic Support
• Individual and group tutoring is available at the Student Success
Tutoring Center for all undergraduate students in a variety of subjects, ranging
from Mathematics to English to more core related subjects.
• Please check your email for updated Tutoring Center schedules
• Before you decide that it’s not good enough or is not what you are
looking for; give them a try!
SSC Workshops
Various workshops are offered throughout the semester on topics relating to
study skills and healthy lifestyles.
Please check your GUST email for updates.
Wait for an email announcement from OSL about student employment
opportunities at GUST
Office of Student Life (OSL)
• You think you have the fun element and would like to be
social at GUST?
• Want to start a new student club or be part of an existing club?
• Want to be employed as a student worker at GUST?
• Have an idea for an event and want to organize it at GUST?
Check with OSL about how they can help you achieve any or all of the above.
Sports & Athletics:
• Are you already an athlete or want to become one?
• Do you want to be part of our existing sports teams?
• Your gym membership expired and you don’t want to pay or not in
the mood to train on your own?
• Want to harvest your competitive edge and participate as a GUST
student in sport competitions?
Check with our Athletics Department staff about the above and be part of the
fit club @ GUST.
Counseling Services
• “I don’t think I am coping well at GUST.”
• “I feel I am being bullied in class”.
• “I don’t feel I fit in”.
GUST STUDENT HANDBOOOK
o Personal counseling services are offered to all undergraduate
students to address the above issues & more.
o Just walk in to chat or book an appointment.
Disability Services
• This program offers help to students with documented physical &
learning difficulties who are already enrolled at GUST.
Student Employment at SSC:
Can I work at SSC?
you can work for a maximum of 20 hours and earn 5 KD per hour each month.
How do I apply to work at SSC?
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