Following the campus’s move to remote learning, Georgetown University in Qatar (GU-Q) students and faculty are criticizing the Iran war while applauding the university’s response.

After threats from Iran to target U.S. universities in the region, GU-Q first moved online in early March and later announced April 1 that campus operations would remain remote for the remainder of the Spring 2026 semester. GU-Q has also assisted international students in leaving the country and provided students with a pass/fail option in their courses.

Rima Isaifan, a science adjunct lecturer at GU-Q, said higher education can adapt and continue educating students despite challenges such as remote operations. 

“I think this moment underscores the importance of flexibility and preparedness in higher education,” Isaifan wrote to The Hoya. “It highlights that while delivery modes may shift, the core mission, supporting student learning and development, remains constant. It also offers an opportunity to reflect on how institutions can build more resilient and inclusive models of education in the future.”

The United States and Israel initially launched joint attacks on Iran on Feb. 28, leading Iran to launch retaliatory strikes on Qatar and other U.S. allies in the region. On March 29, Iran threatened to strike U.S. universities in the region following strikes on Iranian universities. The threatened strikes never occurred, and on April 7, the United States and Iran reached a temporary ceasefire.

Yasmin Ahmed (SFS-Q ’28), vice president of GU-Q’s student government association (SGA), said the student community appreciated the quick responses and measures taken by the university.

“I’d like to stress how amazing the administration has been,” Ahmed told The Hoya. “GU-Q and GU, the amount of support that we have had during this time, I genuinely didn’t even know was capable. A lot of us were thinking, ‘I don’t know how they even managed to organize all these departures. I don’t know how they managed to pass/fail.’ At every announcement we’ve had, we’ve genuinely been amazed at and grateful for the support that we’ve received.”

The campus had originally planned to offer students and faculty the option to return to the classroom the week of March 29, but delayed the decision by a week following Iran’s threats on universities in the region. In an email sent to students April 1, Dean Safwan Masri said remote operations would extend throughout the remainder of the Spring 2026 semester.

Maurice Jackson — a professor at Georgetown’s main campus in Washington, D.C., who is currently teaching at GU-Q — said university administrators in Qatar have made a concerted effort to support GU-Q students.

“I think the community has done a very good job,” Jackson told The Hoya. “The dean had a meeting with the professors, and then they’re meeting with others. I think I should say here that there are certain people who work for the university, some people I’ve known for a long time from other countries — from Yemen and Palestine places like that — who have just been outstanding at being there for the students.”

“Georgetown has some wonderful counselors making sure that if a student needs to talk to somebody, they’re able to talk to them,” Jackson added.

Sama Alissa (SFS-Q ’27), a Palestinian Jordanian student who left the GU-Q campus following the strikes, said she believes the GU-Q community is largely opposed to the war, and that students no longer feel safe in Doha. 

“I don’t think anyone would disagree that we’re all against this war,” Alissa told The Hoya. “We have a lot of Iranians in our community as well, so also we feel for them.”

“It’s not easy when the place that is a safe haven, that’s been a safe haven your whole life, just kind of overnight changes,” Alissa added. “It’s very hard going from taking walks at 2 a.m. as a woman and feeling completely safe to hearing 13 rounds of missile strikes in a single day.”

Isaifan said the campus community has exhibited strength and solidarity during uncertainty around campus operations and personal safety.

“The GU-Q community has shown a high degree of resilience,” Isaifan wrote. “There is a shared understanding that we are navigating an unusual situation together, and this has developed a sense of solidarity. The dean and faculty are actively supporting one another, and students have been adaptable and committed, which has made a significant difference.”

Ian Almond, a professor of world literature at GU-Q, said he is concerned with Qatar’s long-term safety.

“On the whole, I think it looks worse on the outside than it actually is here in Qatar,” Almond wrote to The Hoya. “But that doesn’t mean the situation can’t get more dangerous.”

“The missile attacks/drone attacks have largely stopped,” Almond added. “My fears, if I’m honest, are more longer term — it’s no longer a very stable part of the world. But to be honest, nowadays, where is?”

Still, Ahmed said the SGA is working to maintain student engagement and support students while the campus operates remotely, including by receiving event proposals from clubs.

“With this current SGA, I actually feel like we’ve done more since this happened,” Ahmed said. “Just because of how everyone’s feeling and all the uncertainties, we’ve acted as a liaison between freaking out about what’s happening and contacting administration.”

“I know a couple now are submitting proposals for online events, which is really nice to hear,” Ahmed added. “We’ve been supporting on that front as well, but we’ve also tried to engage students and get their minds off of what’s happening.”

Alissa also said the conflict has strengthened bonds between GU-Q community members, despite the ongoing uncertainty and instability.

“Our community has gotten together in such a beautiful way because of this,” Alissa said. “It’s so sad that that happened because of a tragedy. I’m taking a class with our senior dean for faculty and academic affairs, and I remember the first after the war started, he said we spent such a long time after COVID trying to rebuild that community, and we finally have it, and now it feels like it’s being taken away again.”

“I think funnily enough, it proved to be the exact opposite,” Alissa added. “I’ve never texted as many Georgetown people that I’ve barely talked to as I have in this last month and a half.”