COLLEGE STATION, Texas (KBTX) -Texas A&M University has provided an update on the planned closure of its Qatar campus, following a decision by the Board of Regents earlier this year to wind down operations by 2028 following rumors about compromised national research data.
President General (Ret.) Mark A. Welsh III recently shared the latest developments in a message to the university community.
In his statement, Welch says the transition team, comprising members from both Qatar and the main campus, has been working closely with Qatar Foundation (QF) to ensure a smooth closure. Their efforts have been focused on maintaining their high-quality engineering education for current students and minimizing the impact on faculty and staff.
In late March, QF announced the launch of a new undergraduate engineering program at Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), which will be housed in the same building currently used by Texas A&M at Qatar. This new program will admit students who would have applied to Texas A&M, ensuring continuity in engineering education within Education City.
Welch says the transition plan aims to provide faculty and staff with as much advance notice as possible regarding the end of their terms, with at least 90 days’ notice in all cases, and six months or more in most. The university has also opened a portal for current employees in Qatar to express interest in positions at the College Station campus, offering priority consideration for these roles.
Similarly, many faculty and staff interested in remaining in Qatar have found opportunities with HBKU’s new program. A cooperative agreement between Texas A&M and HBKU will allow these faculty to support both universities during the transition.
President Welsh says despite the planned closure, Texas A&M at Qatar’s legacy remains significant, with over 1,500 Aggie engineers having graduated from the campus since its inception. President Welsh expressed his gratitude to the Qatar campus community for their resilience and contributions.
“As Aggies, we’re hardwired to build things, so planning the closure of something so many of you were involved in building isn’t easy, but we are moving forward with respect for our students, faculty and staff, and the legacy we have created with Qatar Foundation. We will continue to look for ways to ease the transition for those affected and will never lose sight of the fact that every action we take is going to be difficult for all those proud Aggies in Qatar,” said Welsh.
“Again, I want to thank the entire Qatar campus faculty, staff and student body for their fortitude and perseverance throughout this process. We will continue to keep the campus community updated as planning evolves,” Welsh added.
Welsh says the university will continue to provide updates as the transition progresses. For more information, members of the Texas A&M community are encouraged to reach out to President Welsh directly at president@tamu.edu.
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