International Graduate Student Graduation

The first Saudi Arabian Grad Class at Bay Path University, 2016!

October 19, 2015 --- (Longmeadow, MA) The International Students at Bay Path University graduated after the completion of their master's degree in Communication and Information Management and Business Administration.

A superb ceremony was held in the Mills Theater with the following speakers: Elizabeth Cardonna, Mistress of Ceremony; Provost Melissa Morris-Olson; Prof. Rob Griffin, Invited Speaker; President Carol Leary, Remarks, Kate Zhang, Student Speaker for MBA; Jararh Aljarrah, Student Speak for CIM; Dean Tom Loper, Concluding Remarks.

Kate Zhang'16, Professor Laurie Rosner, and Yuan Wang'16 after the graduation at the great celebration in Empsall Hall. 

A Presidential kiss, President Leary, Graduate Sarah Alzoman's '16 daughter with Mosaed Albahussain'16.

Hassan getting ready to graduate!

Rashed and Sarib supporting their friends and asking, "When will it be my turn?"

Graduate Hamad Alfehaid'16 and his father in a very happy moment before the ceremony!

The wonderful Jen Palma and supportive Prof. Melissa Daley who drove two hours to be at the ceremony!

The 85th Saudi Arabian National Day at Bay Path University

Professor Griffin, President Leary and Saudi Club President, Mohammed Alsharkh

On September 25th, The Saudi Club of Bay Path University celebrated in a very big way --- their 85th National Day. Taking over the stage at Blake Common they had an ongoing multimedia presentation with wonderful Arabic music in the background. Visitors to the event first met members of the club who wrote their name in Arabic on a special memorial card designed for the event.

Following that, visitors were greeted by an amazing photo gallery sponsored by SACM (Saudi Arabian Cultural Mission). Then guests enjoyed a wonderful repast of Saudi Arabian food with aromatic Arabian coffee.

Part of the presentation was a representation of low-lying Saudi Arabian furniture that guests could sit on and enjoy a series of photographs of previous Saudi leaders seen hand in hand with American Presidents. President Carol Leary attended the event and participated in cutting a delicious celebratory cake.

President Leary cutting the cake at National Day celebration

The Saudi National Day (Al-Yaoum Al-Watany,اليوم الوطني) is celebrated in Saudi Arabia on every 23 September. Saudi National Day follows the day where the King Abdulaziz announced the country as a kingdom on 23 September 1932.This year (2015) Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is celebrating its 85th Saudi National Day. Ever since that day there had been seven kings, the current one is King Salman. [ 1 ]

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[ 1 ] Saudi National Day. (2015, September 23). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 18:39, September 29, 2015, from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Saudi_National_Day&oldid=682419129

Welcome to Our New Saudi Club Leaders

Ramadan Mubarak! With great hopes that you are having a good and blessed Ramadan.

I wanted to make the news official that the Saudi Club at Bay Path University recently held elections and voted Mohanad Higgi as Vice-president and Mohammed Alsharkh as President. After those results the following positions were created and filled by the following individuals.

• Shaza Turki - Saudi Cultural Club Leader
• Saad Alshamrani - Sports Club Leader
• Ahmed Adijany - Social Committee Manager
• Abdullah Alshammari - Accountant

Saudi Club Vice President Higgi and President Alsharkh

Abdullah Alshammari, Accountant

Dave Yelle, Provost Melissa Morris-Olson, Ahmed Andijany with his wife Zain.

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Shaza Turki with President Leary and Saudi Club Vice-President Higgi.

President's Springtime Reception

On Tuesday, June 2, 2015, Noel and President Leary invited the Saudi Graduate students to their lovely home. A large contingent of students were welcomed into the Leary's home and all enjoyed the wonderful repast. Students got to meet all members of staff as well as their new professors that they will have in the coming months.

The evening was beautiful after a rainy day and the general agreement was that everyone had a terrific time and really enjoyed themselves. Both the President and Provost Melissa Morris-Olson had wonderful greetings for the students and shared their heartfelt comments about how the campus is enriched by their presence.

Shaza Turki, President, Mohanad Higgi

Majed Alshahrani and Provost Morris-Olson

Sarib, Mosaed, Mohanad, Mohammed, President Leary, Abdullah, Elizabeth Cardonna, Ahmed and Mohanad.

Majed Alshahrani and Jill Bodnar

Tom Loper, Abdallah Alhallaf, Abdullah Alshammari and Majed Alshahrani

My Journey . . . by Hamad Alfehaid

It is my privilege and desire to share my wonderful experience here at Bay Path University.

 Good day to everyone! I have been longing for this time wherein we will welcome more, new Saudi students to our CIM program here at Bay Path. I understand that several of you here are so excited to spend your education here. 

Welcome! New Students

I, too, had the same mixed emotions (like Mohanad) when I first stepped into this University. That was October 27, 2014. That was an amazing day for me. Of course, it was scary. It was also my first time to be away from my home country, and aside from that I am not yet equipped and fluent with the language. I was also a bit scared thinking that everything would be difficult for me: my classes, the university rules, and the teachers.

It was an amazing day even though I am in doubt.  Yet everything falls into place with the wonderful woman name Jill Bodnar. I supposed you know Ms. Bodnar already. This wonderful woman was not your ordinary woman. She is so thoughtful and helpful, making everything convenient. Promise, you would not feel any pressure with her helping you.  And as I said everything was scary, but eventually I learned to be comfortable. I moved into the campus and met different kinds of people and from whom several have become my friends.  What is wonderful though is that almost all of the students here are also international students. This made things a lot easier.  It is through cooperation and our compassion with each other that we made it through our first year here.  The rest was just easy.  It was indeed wonderful to know that even if you are away from home you have people who would always be there to help you.

I assure you, that you will like it here at Bay Path.  Everyone is so friendly. Though some appear to be strict, but no, they are very thoughtful individuals, willing to help you anytime you need it. As an international student, I would say that the CIM program support here is of top quality.  Professor Robert Griffin helps improve things and makes things clear.  CIM program allows us to understand and specifically it puts emphasis on supporting scientific methods and experiments.  They made these readily available for students and even those international ones to share pure knowledge.  Canvas is so convenient. You can pass assignments via it online and enrollment is very easy. You can access your registration online and there are also many online libraries through the Hatch Library, which is easy to use and beneficial for your studies..

I have been to other universities before but I think (and in my own opinion), the best of them all is Bay Path University.  My personal experience with this university makes it special. I hope I do help you in your choosing of a college university and for all my Saudi students colleagues, I hope my experience rings a bell.  I am also encouraged by current Saudi colleagues here at the University to also share their thoughts. Thank you much and once again,

Have a Good Day!

Hamad Alfehaid

My Journey at Bay Path University

Thanks, Professor Rob Griffin!

It is my pleasure to talk about my journey here at Bay Path University.

First of all, I would like to welcome all of our new Saudi students to the CIM Program here at Bay Path. They are quite excited to study at Bay Path University.

The first day for me at Bay Path University was October 27, 2014. It was a great day for me.  I thought everything will be difficult to know about my classes and to know about the university rules, but everything was easy because there was a wonderful woman --- her name is Jill Bodnar ( I think everyone knows Jill), and she was very helpful; making everything easy for us. I moved onto campus and in doing that I got to meet so many people and they were all in the same boat as me. Moving away from home and in a new place and town. Together we found our way around. It was really good to have those people to help me out and make a family away from home.  

Bay Path University is a magnificent university. All the professors and staff always try to help all the international students and offer us a high level of support. The CIM program, under Prof. Briotta, is a great program, CIM program focuses on many things especially the practical side with supporting scientific methods and experiments. They have a great system that we can avail ourselves to. For example, we can submit our assignment easily (via Canvas), registration for the next semester is also easy, and we read scientific books for our program.

In my humble opinion, I have attended several universities, but Bay Path University is a different university --- very special.  I hope that this message might chime with some of my other Saudi students so that you can tell us about your experiences and share any useful or helpful information. 

Best regards,  

Mohanad Abahussain

Welcome!

It is my great pleasure to welcome you to the first edition of the Bay Path University International Student Club's Blog at Bay Path University. I am the adviser to the Bay Path University international graduate school community.

I have been working with this community since the Fall 2014, and it has been a great pleasure. Together we are going to progress forward with many initiatives that will advance our mutual understanding of our cultures.

This is an exciting time for our international student's who are studying very hard for their advanced degrees, and for Bay Path University as a welcoming host to their academic success.

Please subscribe (above) by submitting your email address, and you will automatically receive notifications for future additions from our individual students — who will tell you about their experiences here at Bay Path University!

Thanks,

Professor Rob Griffin