By Maryam Alchami
UNIVERSITY CITY, SHARJAH – The American University of Sharjah community should prioritize student welfare amid travel disruptions, shifting schedules, and the observance of Ramadan, Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Provost Dr. Matthias Ruth wrote in an email Monday.
Acknowledging the current period as one of “uncertainty and disorientation,” Ruth noted that that travel restrictions and changing timetables may have left students and staff feeling isolated. He acknowledged that students face competing obligations to family and coursework, and that Ramadan’s added spiritual and physical commitments introduce further pressures on daily routines.
Despite those strains, Ruth praised faculty and staff for the “care taken to support our students.” He cited efforts to communicate with students about their needs and plans and help where possible.
He called on colleagues to continue practicing empathy and patience, and to remain “calm and focused on what matters most—the well‑being of people around us and the success of students entrusted to us.”
