Texas A&M University at Qatar Transition
On 9 Feb. 2024, the Board of Regents of The Texas A&M University System voted to begin a multi-year process to shut down the flagship’s campus in the Middle East nation of Qatar. Under terms of the contract with the Qatar Foundation, the termination will take four years — 2028. The university is committed to students completing their education, supporting faculty and staff, and fulfilling research obligations.
This page serves as an ongoing resource to support students, faculty and staff through this transition.
TRANSITION TEAM
The TAMUQ Transition Team, established by EVP and Provost Alan Sams, is composed of the following members. Names are listed alphabetically by last name.
- N.K. Anand (Chair) – Faculty Affairs
- Ray Bonilla/Brooks Moore – Office of General Counsel
- John Crawford – Finance
- Brady Creel – TAMUQ
- Ioannis Economou – TAMUQ
- Lesa Feldhousen – Export Control
- Arul Jayaraman – College of Engineering
- Megan Lacy – Communications
- César O. Malavé – Dean, TAMUQ
- Ryan McLawhon – TAMUQ
- Rosalie Nickles – TAMUQ
- Joe Pettibon – Planning, Assessment & Strategy
- Tim Scott – Academic Affairs
- Damon Slaydon – Human Resources
- Jeff Spath – Qatar Industry Liaison
- Crissy Stratta – Sponsored Research Services
- Mark Weichold – Qatar Government and Community Liaison
To provide feedback or identify questions/issues that need to be addressed, you may contact the Transition Team at tamuqtransition@tamu.edu.
NOTE: All media inquiries should be submitted to Texas A&M Media Relations at tamunews@tamu.edu.
TAMUQ ADVOCACY COMMITTEES
Dean Malavé has worked with the campus community to establish advocacy committees for students, faculty and staff to provide input and feedback to the Transition Team.
Student Advocacy Committee
The following students will serve on the Student Advocacy Committee, representing the needs and concerns of all students during this transition:
- Khalid Al-Sada
- Rhee Jeremiah Costan
- Wellage Ushara De Silva
- Mennatallah Fawzy
- Wisam Gadam
- Noor Henzab
- Rehaan Hussain
- Muhammad Bin Mughees
- Abdul Qadeer
- Muhammad Saad
- Abdulla Zaza
Faculty Advocacy Committee
Faculty senators, Dr. Mohammed Al-Hashimi and Dr. Brittany Bounds, selected the following for their representation of various programs and constituencies to serve on the Faculty Advocacy Committee:
- Mohammed Al-Hashimi (CHEN) and Brittany Bounds (DAS), Faculty Senators
Faculty Transition Advocacy Committee Co-Chairs - Hussein Alnuweiri, FAC Chair (ECEN)
- Nimir Elbashir, PIC Chair (CHEN)
- Naqaa Abbas, WFF Co-Chair (DAS)
- Mahmoud Amani (PETE)
- Reza Tafreshi (MEEN)
Staff Advocacy Committee
The TAMUQ Staff Advisory Council will serve as the TAMUQ Transition Advocacy Committee, representing the needs and concerns of all staff during this transition. Your representatives are:
- Sara Jo Poremski, Chair
- Ibrahim El-Zoghbi, Vice-Chair
- Geeta Megchiani, Secretary
- Maricel Colocado, Member
- Osama Desouky, Member
- Khaled Elsaid, Member
- Brenda Mooney, Member
- Mohammad Younes, USC Representative
Staff may reach out to SAC through one of the following venues:
- Contact any of the above representatives
- Anonymous suggestion box on Marhaba
- Email sac@qatar.tamu.edu
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
To support faculty and staff through the transition, Texas A&M has prepared Frequently Asked Questions that will be updated on an ongoing basis. The current frequently asked questions for faculty and staff were updated on 21 April 2024, reflecting current information about the campus transition. They will be continually updated throughout the TAMUQ transition to provide faculty and staff with relevant information.
COMMUNICATIONS
The university is committed to maintaining regular communications with TAMUQ students, faculty and staff.
Message from TAMUQ and QF transition team chairs Dr. N.K. Anand and Dr. Ahmed M. Hasnah: Texas A&M and QF Update on TAMUQ Transition – HBKU (29 March 2024)
Thank you for your continued patience and commitment to Texas A&M at Qatar as Texas A&M and Qatar Foundation, together, navigate the process of winding down our university’s operations by 2028. We had the opportunity Wednesday to engage with many of you and provide updates on the transition planning efforts. Your participation and insightful questions were invaluable, and we appreciate your active involvement in this important process.
As discussed during that meeting, Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU) is launching a series of new undergraduate engineering programs through its College of Science and Engineering (CSE) starting in the 2024–2025 academic year. These programs are welcoming students who originally applied to Texas A&M at Qatar. Texas A&M will be notifying applicants they will not be admitted to Texas A&M at Qatar, and HBKU will begin handling the admissions and matriculation process with support from TAMUQ as needed.
Message from TAMUQ and QF transition team chairs Dr. N.K. Anand and Dr. Ahmed M. Hasnah: Texas A&M and QF Update on TAMUQ Transition (5 March 2024)
We know the last few weeks have been challenging — not only because of the news that the campus will close but also because of the uncertainty that came with it. We want to bring certainty to this process as quickly as we can, and we commit to keeping you updated as key decisions are made.
On Sunday, Texas A&M and Qatar Foundation transition team leaders had a productive discussion about foundational aspects of the transition. It’s important to understand that the Texas A&M-QF contract provides a strong framework for maintaining academic excellence for students, and for supporting faculty and staff, as we wind down Texas A&M operations through a multiyear process. While Texas A&M is winding down its operations in Qatar, QF will provide appropriate financial support for current operations and the transition process while in parallel looking at long-term plans and options. All of you remain the top priority as we develop and implement thorough transition plans.
Message from EVP and Provost Alan Sams: TAMUQ Transition Team Announced (15 Feb. 2024)
Thank you for your patience over the past several days as we worked to form a team to support the process of winding down operations at the Qatar campus. As mentioned during the town hall on Sunday, President Mark A. Welsh III asked Dr. N.K. Anand, Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs, to lead this effort. Today I am announcing the members of the TAMUQ Transition Team, a nimble group with representatives from key functional areas needed to support and implement the transition. Names are listed alphabetically by last name.
Town Hall with University Leaders (11 Feb. 2024)
Access the full transcript from the town hall held by university leaders — President Mark A. Welsh III, EVP and Provost Alan Sams, Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs N.K. Anand, and Dean of Qatar Campus César Malavé — on 11 Feb. 2024.
Message from President Mark A. Welsh III (9 Feb. 2024)
I know you’re headed into the weekend, and I hope you will be spending time with your family and friends. When I took office, I committed to improve transparency and maintain open lines of communication, which is why I’m reaching out to you now. Earlier today, The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents voted to work toward closing our Qatar campus by 2028.
This decision was made after thoughtful discussion about the need to focus the university on its land-, sea- and space-grant mission. Our work — your work — in Qatar over the past 20 years has advanced ideals, graduated exceptional Aggie engineers and is cemented as an important legacy of Texas A&M. As we look to the future, we will continue our commitment to global education and research through our campuses in the United States.
RESOURCES
Texas A&M University is committed to supporting students, faculty and staff through this transition. The following resources are available to help during this transition.
Employee Support Portal
Access the employee support portal to express interest in coming to Texas, access employee support resources, and find a wide variety of job boards
Counseling Services
For students
As a reminder, Texas A&M University at Qatar offers free counseling services to students. There are three ways in which TAMUQ students may make an appointment for counseling:
- Visit the TAMUQ Department of Student Affairs.
- Call +974.4423.0316
- Email Dr. Steve Wilson at stephen.wilson@qatar.tamu.edu
Appointments are available from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Sunday through Thursday. For more information about student counseling services visit the Student Affairs Health & Wellness site.
For employees
Our EAP is a confidential service provided for all TAMUQ full-time, benefits-eligible employees and their eligible dependents over 12 years old. Lyra Wellbeing also has a 24-hour-a-day, 365-day-a-year phone application for free professional guidance.
Access to 24-hour services
By phone:
- Qatar: 00.800.100.250
- Bahrain: 800.810.48
- Kuwait: +965.2221.2977
- Egypt: 0150.169.2155
- Oman: 800.77.179
- Jordan: 0800.22193
- Pakistan: 008.009.004.4081
- KSA: 800.844.7840
- Morocco: 0800 092 509
- UAE: 8000.120.120
- Other: +44.203.006.6217
Request a call back by email
Send an email to youricasmena@icasworld.com to request a call back.
Via app
Access the Lyra App (branded ICAS currently): https://app.icas.health/
Company Code: TAMUXICAS
For more information on confidential counseling services and subject-specific material may be accessed on .
*Note: Lyra Wellbeing is still in the process of updating their branding. The ICAS information on Marhaba is still valid.