A&M-Qatar students, faculty seek answers to close campus [Video]

Weekdays in Qatar are Sunday through Thursday, so at 1 a.m. last Friday, Khalid Al-Sada was out with friends and tried to unwind after a stressful week.

His week became more stressful after he received an email that his university — Texas A&M at Qatar — would be closing by 2028 after a decision was made over 8,000 miles away.

Last Thursday, the A&M System Board of Regents voted 7-1 to authorize A&M President Mark A. Welsh III to terminate the contract between A&M and the Qatar Foundation and close the branch campus by 2028. Regents discussed the matter in executive session, but action had to be taken in open session. No discussion was had in open session.

System officials said A&M’s Board of Regents decided to reassess the Qatar campus last fall due to increased instability in the Middle East. Board Chairman Bill Mahomes said in a statement that …