Updates from the Dean’s Office

Welcome to the CMU-Q community update page. This page will be active during times when the Dean’s Office is sending regular updates about campus openings, operations, and shifts to educational scheduling.

Spring 2026

Due to the conflict in Iran, the Dean’s Office will be sending regular updates about safety, campus operations and plans for the coming days. These updates will be posted here for your reference. As necessary, special updates will also be sent to the community and posted here.

Scheduled Update: April 16, 2026

Dear CMU-Q community,

On Monday I told you I would share details about the in-person Graduation Ceremony. This week has been very busy as institutions across Qatar vie for space for their events. While we have decided on a preferred venue, date and time for the ceremony, we need a few more days for final confirmation. I will share those details with you early next week.

In the meantime, I realize that seniors want to plan. Here is what we know:

There will be an in-person graduation sometime during the week of May 4
There will be an in-person CMU-Q Excellence Day on April 28, which will combine College Honors Presentations, Meeting of the Minds, and a CMU-Q Excellence Award Ceremony that will recognize senior honors, senior leadership, and Meeting of the Minds winners.
There will be an in-person QF Convocation celebration on May 6.

You will hear more from us soon.

Wishing you a wonderful and restful weekend ahead,

Dean Michael Trick

Past Communications

April 13, 2026: Scheduled update

Dear CMU-Q community,

Over the weekend we received the very welcome news that Education City is reopening and we can resume some activities in our building. I have been in the building both yesterday and today, and it is simply wonderful to run into the members of our community who are working or studying from here.

Updates for April 13, 2026

The CMU-Q building is open for members of our community, while classes will remain online as we previously announced. If they choose, faculty members are welcome to incorporate hybrid activities into their classes.
We are finalizing details for the Graduation Ceremony, and we will share these details with our seniors and other members of the community on Thursday, April 16.
We are now planning for Summer I to unfold as originally scheduled. In-person classes will be held in our building and online classes will remain online. SURA and QSIURP will also move ahead, and the Research Office will send more details to students soon.
Our next Scheduled Update will be on Thursday, April 16.

To those who are still out of the country, please stay connected with us as well as you can in these final weeks of the semester. I know I speak for everyone when I say that our community is strongest when we are together. I hope that will happen soon.

Kind regards,

Dean Michael Trick

April 9, 2026: Scheduled update

Dear CMU-Q community,

While the news of a temporary ceasefire has been hopeful, I am sad to hear of the continued violence in Lebanon. Many of our community members have strong connections to Lebanon, and I know this is a very difficult time. On behalf of everyone in our extended CMU-Q community: we are thinking of you and we sincerely hope for lasting peace soon.

For students who are finding this conflict challenging, I want to remind you that the Student Affairs staff is an excellent resource, including Dr. Atorina. Staff and faculty can access the Employment Assistance Program for support, and I encourage you to use this resource if you are struggling.

Updates for April 9, 2026

At the moment, community members have access to the building by appointment. We are encouraged that access is opening up, and we hope that we will have even more access next week.
Regardless of when the building reopens, we are investigating venues around town for end of year events. As we confirm details, we will share these with you.
I know that many of us are looking forward to the Graduation Ceremony. We are planning an in-person graduation, and are very close to finalizing details like time and place. Thank you again for your patience–I know many graduating seniors, their families and faculty members are waiting to make plans. We will share details with you soon.
Our next Scheduled Update will be Monday, April 13.

I want to thank the faculty members and educational staff who have shown tremendous flexibility and thoughtfulness with the end of semester assessments. This semester has not unfolded how we thought it would, and I am very proud to work with such an agile and talented team of educators and support staff.

Wishing everyone a quiet, peaceful and productive weekend.

Kind regards,

Dean Michael Trick

April 6, 2026: Scheduled update

Dear CMU-Q community,

We are in the final month of the semester, and I am pleased that today I have just a brief update for you.

Updates for April 6, 2026

The wider Education City campus, including the CMU-Q building, remain closed. We will be sure to share updates on reopening when we hear them.
Because of the building closure, we are looking at venue options around Doha for our end-of-year events. I am hopeful that we will have more information on these events, including the Graduation Ceremony, within the next week. Thank you for your patience—we will know more soon.
In the meantime, I know that individual CMU-Q groups and departments, including the Office of Community Excellence, are organizing smaller gatherings around Doha so our community can stay connected. The best way to beat Zoom fatigue is to meet up with your friends, classmates and colleagues, so please take advantage of these opportunities.

Our next Scheduled Update will be Thursday, April 9. I wish all of you a peaceful and productive week.

Kind regards,

Dean Michael Trick

April 2, 2026: Scheduled update

Dear CMU-Q community,

Thank you to everyone in the community who attended the Community Conversations, and especially to those who asked questions and shared comments. We have noted your concerns and we hope today’s update will give some clarification.

We have decided that the educational programs will remain online for the rest of the semester. While there has been a drastic reduction in alerts, the regional conflict still remains unresolved. Given the short time until the end of the semester, we would like to give some clarity now so members of the community can plan ahead.

Please note that the CMU-Q building is currently closed, but we will consider hybrid activities when possible.

What does this look like

All classes and assessments in April will be available online. Faculty members will continue to teach and conduct assessments online.
Voluntary hybrid classes and assessments may take place. Faculty members may offer students in Qatar the option of in-person classes, activities and assessments. This will be on a voluntary basis for faculty and students.
Detailed information about academic options will follow. Many questions from faculty and students have focused on individual courses and circumstances. The Education Office and faculty leadership are working to determine the best way forward for each course’s conclusion. Please be patient as we sort out how each course can be adjusted.
Detailed information about events will follow. While many events in April have already been postponed or cancelled, we are hoping to hold some events. We will share more details on how these events will unfold, either on campus or off campus, and with hybrid options.
In-person graduation will take place, either on May 4 or later. Class of 2026, celebrating your graduation is top-of-mind as we plan for the rest of this semester. Ideally, we will come together on May 4 as planned. We are also preparing contingency plans in case we cannot celebrate on May 4 in the building. These plans include possibly finding a different venue, or reluctantly postponing until travel and events can more reliably be scheduled. More details will follow.
Summer plans and research. Now that we have certainty for the spring semester, our attention turns to the summer plans for academics and research. We will update the community on these plans soon.

Thank you everyone for your flexibility and understanding. I know many of you may still have questions, but I hope that this update has provided some clarification and reassurance. The next Scheduled Update will be on April 6, 2026.

Kind regards,

Dean Michael Trick

March 2026

March 30, 2026: Scheduled update

Dear CMU-Q community,

Classes started back online yesterday after the Eid break, and I know everyone in our community is looking forward to a strong finish to this very unusual semester.

Updates for March 30, 2026

Last night, Qatar Foundation opted to move Education City operations online, and the students in the dorms have been temporarily relocated and are safe. QF will keep Education City online until the government authorities advise them that it is safe to return. Our building will remain closed until QF reopens Education City.
I had two community conversations yesterday–one with faculty and one with staff–where I shared updates and answered questions. Tomorrow, I will see the students for their community conversation, and I hope to hear how they are doing as we head into the last few weeks of classes.
The US Embassy in Qatar has removed its “shelter in place” advisory. As always, we recommend that you take alerts seriously and follow instructions until the Qatar government signals that there is no longer a threat.

The next Scheduled Update will be on April 2, when we will announce plans for the rest of the semester. Thank you everyone for your patience as we weigh the many factors of this complex situation. The Crisis Management Team continues to consider input from the Qatar government, Qatar Foundation, CMU leadership in Pittsburgh, our community members, and our security advisors. We hope to provide more certainty and clarification on April 2.

Kind regards,

Dean M

March 25, 2026: Scheduled update

Dear CMU-Q Community,

I hope you had a peaceful and restful Eid break, and you took some time to recharge after a few very challenging weeks.

The news from the Qatar government over the last few days is very encouraging. Government ministries and Qatar Foundation entities are reopening, and the Ministry of Education and Higher Education has indicated that schools and universities can resume teaching in person. For the CMU-Q crisis team, these are positive and crucial developments as we weigh our decision to return to in-person classes. We also are in regular contact with the U.S. Embassy, Qatar Foundation, and our security consultants, so we have a full picture of the situation in Qatar.

While we are optimistic that we will be able to return to in person classes and operations on April 12, we will wait to see how the next week unfolds before making a final decision. We will confirm by April 2 if we expect all faculty, staff and students to be in Qatar and on campus April 12 to resume the semester.

Updates as of March 25

All classes will resume online on March 29.
We are preparing to reopen the building next week, once we finalize safety procedures for security alerts. Please watch your inbox for further information and guidance on working and studying in the building.
After the building reopens, faculty will have the option to offer hybrid lectures from the building.
All assessments between March 29 and April 9 will take place exclusively online. Computing Services has prepared some helpful information for faculty on ways to effectively and equitably deliver your assessments remotely, and this will be sent to you before the weekend.
Next week we will hold three separate Community Conversations over Zoom for faculty, staff, and students. Watch your inbox for those invitations, as well as the link to a form where you can submit questions.

The next Scheduled Update will be on Monday, March 30. If there are any urgent updates before then, we will share through a Special Update.

Please enjoy the next few days before classes resume. I am very hopeful that CMU-Q will have a peaceful, connected, and meaningful end of the Spring 2026 semester.

Kind regards,

Dean Michael Trick

March 23, 2026: Special update

Dear CMU-Q Community,

I hope you are enjoying the Eid break and keeping well.

We are aware of the recent Ministry of Education and Higher Education announcement regarding the transition to in-person education and operations beginning tomorrow. Please note that we will continue with our existing remote operations for the staff workdays of Wednesday, March 25, and Thursday, March 26. We will share more information on our education and work plans in our next scheduled update on Wednesday, March 25.

I want to thank you for your continued dedication, and I wish you a restful rest of the break.

Kind regards,

Dean Michael Trick

March 19, 2026: Scheduled update

Dear CMU-Q community,

Tomorrow is the first day of Eid Al-Fitr, and the beginning of our campus Eid break. The last few weeks have been challenging for our community, including the news over the last 24 hours. During these days off from work and classes, I hope everyone takes time to rest, reconnect with family and friends, and find some balance and peace.

I am also mindful of the many community members who have family and loved ones in places where the conflict is more intense than it is in Qatar. Please know that you have the support of this community during this worrying time. Over these days off, I encourage faculty, students, and staff members alike to reach out to your classmates and colleagues to check in with them and offer words of friendship and support.

Updates for March 19, 2026

For those community members who will stay in Qatar over the Eid break, please be mindful of the government safety guidelines around prayers and gatherings. The Ministry of Interior is an excellent source of information with respect to security measures, and I encourage you to check the latest guidelines as you celebrate Eid.
Classes will resume online on March 29. That week, we will hold separate Community Conversations for faculty, staff, and students. Please watch for calendar invitations to those discussions.
Our next Scheduled Update will be Wednesday, March 25. If there are any urgent updates, we will send Special Updates as needed.

To everyone in the community, I wish you a peaceful and restorative Eid break.

Kind regards,

Dean Michael Trick

March 17, 2026: Scheduled update

Dear CMU-Q community,

I hope everyone is doing well as we approach the Eid break.

Over the past week, we have continued to monitor the conflict and how it is affecting Qatar. We have also consulted extensively with Qatar Foundation and the partner universities, as well as faculty leadership and our security advisors, to arrive at a plan for when the semester resumes after Eid break.

Updates for March 17, 2026

Classes will remain online until April 9.
On Thursday, April 2, we will communicate if classes will resume in person on April 12. This will give faculty and students 10 days to arrange return to Qatar if they are out of the country.
Depending on their roles and responsibilities, staff members should plan to be in the building during the transition week of April 5 to prepare for the resumption of classes. All staff members should speak with their supervisors for further guidance.
If we cannot confirm on April 2 that it is safe to return fully in person, we will give you more details on how the rest of the semester will unfold, including assessments.

I wish I could confirm today how the semester will unfold, including assessments and graduation-related events. It is my sincere hope—and that of the entire Crisis Management Team—that our semester will end with everyone back on campus. With the uncertainty the region is facing, we will hold off with that decision until we have a better understanding of how and when this conflict will resolve.

The next Scheduled Update will be on Thursday, March 19.

Kind regards,

Dean Michael Trick

March 15, 2026: Scheduled update

Dear CMU-Q community,

Yesterday was a long and challenging day for the students who live in the dorms after being evacuated in the early morning hours of Saturday. Qatar Foundation confirmed later yesterday that the dorms are safe and students could return if they choose. All of the students did opt to go back, but it was certainly a long, stressful day for them. To all of the students who were affected, I know the entire community wishes you a peaceful and restful night tonight.

Updates for March 15, 2026

Qatar Foundation has confirmed that members of the community can visit the building following the same guidelines as last week. Please keep your visit brief, and ensure you keep your phones with you and follow the instructions in case there is an alert.

We encourage everyone to continue following the Qatar government guidance with respect to safety, including emergency alerts.

Qatar Airways has been operating limited flights in and out of Doha for the past week. For those who wish to voluntarily depart Qatar, we recommend you book your tickets out of Hamad International Airport.

Our next Scheduled Update will be on Tuesday, March 17. If we have any urgent information, we will send a Special Update.

Wishing everyone a peaceful last week of classes as we approach the end of Ramadan.

Kind regards,
Dean Michael Trick

March 14, 2026: Special update

Dear CMU-Q community,

At about 1:00 this morning, the Ministry of Interior requested that people living in certain locations—including the Qatar Foundation dorms—relocate to safer areas. Out of an abundance of caution, QF safely evacuated all students living in Education City dorms to hotels. Those living in Education City Community Housing were not asked to relocate.

Dean Dalia and the Student Affairs team are in close contact with the students affected, ensuring that they feel safe and supported.

For the time being, we recommend that everyone in Doha remains sheltered in place. While the CMU-Q building was not evacuated, we suggest community members do not enter the building until we get further guidance from QF and the MOI.

I would like to remind members of the community who are considering voluntary departure that limited flights are available through Hamad International Airport. As well, if you wish to depart through Riyadh, please fill out the CMU-Q Voluntary Departure – Community Sign-Up form. We are planning for a bus to depart Monday, March 16 at 10:00 am.

I know that last night was especially unsettling for the community. Please, continue to support one another and make use of resources we have available on the Dean’s Office Community Updates Google site.

Everyone, stay safe and take care of yourselves.

Michael Trick

Dean

March 12, 2026: Scheduled update

Dear CMU-Q community,

I am relieved that we have reached the end of another week with our community members safe, whether they have traveled or sheltered in place in Qatar.

Updates for March 12, 2026

Qatar Airways has resumed a limited flight schedule out of Hamad International Airport. We believe it is now safer and more practical for community members who wish to depart to do so from Qatar. We will send out details about overland assisted voluntary departure travel later today.
With fewer updates, the next Scheduled Update will be on Sunday, March 15 at 4:00 pm. If there are urgent updates in the meantime, we will send a Special Update.

Take care of yourselves, and remember to prioritize your health and wellbeing during this challenging time.

Kind regards,
Dean Michael Trick

March 11, 2026: Scheduled update

Dear CMU-Q community,

Hello and welcome to a very small update from the Crisis Management Team.

Updates for March 11, 2026

As Dean Dudley reminded everyone in the March 4 message, “CMU-Q guidelines for video/audio and tips for remote learning,” CMU-Q expects students to have their cameras on during remote classes. Since students have now had a week to request a waiver, all students who have not received a waiver should plan to have their cameras on as of tomorrow, Thursday, March 12.
The second bus of community members who requested assistance in voluntary departure left this morning.
We have moved the links to Health and Wellbeing Support to the Community Updates page. Please see that page for all information shared with the CMU-Q community during the Iran conflict.

Take care of yourselves, and remember to prioritize your health and wellbeing during this challenging time.

Kind regards,
Dean Michael Trick

March 10, 2026: Scheduled update

Dear CMU-Q community,

We have just a few items for today’s message—please take a moment to read through them.

Updates for March 10, 2026

We realize that the CMU-Q community needs one place to access the messages, documents and resources that the Dean’s Office is sending out. The Crisis Management Team has created a Google Site for Dean’s Office Community Updates as a centralized place where our community can find resources we have sent with respect to this conflict. Please bookmark this page. You must be signed into Google with your Andrew ID to access this site.
Members of our extended community—parents, spouse, dependents and family members—can still see the public messages on our public website updates page.
As we mentioned in an earlier update, CMU-Q will continue remote operations and online classes through the Eid break. We will give a week’s notice to announce we will be resuming in-person classes. This means that we will announce by March 22 if we will be resuming in-person operations on March 29, the first day of classes after Eid break. When classes resume in-person, we will expect all students, faculty, and staff to be on campus as usual.
I am very pleased to share that the first mini-bus of community members left campus this morning and is now past the border crossing and enroute to Riyadh.
I am also pleased that there seem to be regular, although limited, flights that are departing from Hamad International Airport. It is important, however, to note that the Qatar Airways schedule is very fluid, especially for flights more than 48 hours away. Many flights are being changed and cancelled.

Your health and wellbeing

Please stay connected with our community, and your friends and family. If you are feeling overwhelmed, stressed or isolated, here are some places you will find support:

Students may reach out to anyone on the Student Affairs team, Education Office team, or individual faculty members. If you feel that you need additional support, Dr. Atorina Benjamin is available and you can email her to schedule a confidential counseling appointment.
Staff and faculty can access the Employee Assistance Program for counseling and mental health resources.

Kind regards,
Michael Trick

March 9, 2026: Scheduled update

Dear CMU-Q community,

The Crisis Management Team continues to monitor this dynamic situation, and I ask everyone to be mindful that our recommendations for the safety of our community may change day to day.

Updates for Monday, March 9:

We continue to recommend sheltering in place as the safest option. Community members do have the option for assisted voluntary overland travel to Riyadh if they wish, and we shared details about that in yesterday’s message.
I would also remind students, faculty members, and teaching staff to review the flexibility in academic policy guidelines that Dean Dudley shared yesterday.
With respect to the building, we are now offering some limited access for work and study purposes. We ask that community members keep their visits to the building brief:
1. Faculty and staff may work or do research from the building.
2. If students need to access the building to keep their academic or research projects moving forward, that will be permitted.
All classes will remain online until after the Eid break at the earliest.

Your health and wellbeing

Please stay connected with our community, and your friends and family. If you are feeling overwhelmed, stressed or isolated, here are some places you will find support:

Students may reach out to anyone on the Student Affairs team, Education Office team, or individual faculty members. If you feel that you need additional support, Dr. Atorina Benjamin is available and you can email her to schedule a confidential counseling appointment.
Staff and faculty can access the Employee Assistance Program for counseling and mental health resources.
If your families would like to see the messages from the Dean’s Office, please share this link with them: http://www.qatar.cmu.edu/updates. We will continue to post updates as the situation continues and until it is resolved.

Kind regards,
Michael Trick

March 8, 2026: Scheduled update

Dear CMU-Q community,

We have a few significant updates today, so please take a moment to read today’s message carefully.

Updates for Sunday, March 8:

We continue to recommend sheltering in place as the safest option. That said, if community members choose to depart voluntarily through Saudi Arabia, we will assist in the overland travel to Riyadh. You will receive an email later this evening with details. International students who are under QF sponsorship will receive an email later with additional information.
Our plan is to remain online for classes and operations through the Eid break. When we return to in-person classes, we expect that faculty, students and staff will also be in Doha to resume the semester.
⁠We have received approval from Pittsburgh to be flexible with some academic policies, given this extraordinary semester. Dean Dudley will send a separate email with details.

Your health and wellbeing

Please stay connected with our community, and your friends and family. If you are feeling overwhelmed, stressed or isolated, here are some places you will find support:

Students may reach out to anyone on the Student Affairs team, Education Office team, or individual faculty members. If you feel that you need additional support, Dr. Atorina Benjamin is available and you can email her to schedule a confidential counseling appointment.
Staff and faculty can access the Employee Assistance Program for counseling and mental health resources.
If your families would like to see the messages from the Dean’s Office, please share this link with them: http://www.qatar.cmu.edu/updates. We will continue to post updates as the situation continues and until it is resolved.

Kind regards,
Michael Trick

March 7, 2026: Scheduled update

Dear CMU-Q community,

Hello everyone, I hope you are taking some time today to rest and connect with family and friends.

I would like to acknowledge that as this conflict continues, each member of our community is carrying layers of worry. For those in Qatar, I appreciate your worries are many: your personal safety, the safety of your family, friends, colleagues, classmates, and pets, and the uncertainty that this conflict has brought to our entire community.

For those who have family and loved ones elsewhere in the region, you have the additional worry of how the conflict is intensifying, and what that may mean. Many of you have families elsewhere in the world who are watching this unfold, and you are also managing their anxieties and concerns.

In periods of uncertainty, it’s natural for stress and anxiety to become our dominant feelings. There are many techniques to manage these feelings: deep breathing, simple grounding exercises, focusing on what is within your control versus what is not, and being mindful of how much media you consume.

Connecting with one another in our community is really important. Support your friends, colleagues and classmates with patience, empathy, and openness. Reach out to check on people. Show grace to yourself and to those around you. If you are feeling overwhelmed, consider reaching out to a member of our community, or to make use of the resources we list each day at the bottom of the message.

Taking care of ourselves and each other helps ensure we can continue to learn, teach, and work together with resilience. This community has made it through challenging times before, and each time we emerge stronger and more united. We will make it through this challenge together as well, especially if we support one another with strength and hope.

Health and wellbeing resources

If you are feeling overwhelmed, stressed or isolated, here are some places you will find support:

Students may reach out to anyone on the Student Affairs team, Education Office team, or individual faculty members. If you feel that you need additional support, Dr. Atorina Benjamin is available and you can email her to schedule a confidential counseling appointment.
Staff and faculty can access the Employee Assistance Program for counseling and mental health resources.
If your families would like to see the messages from the Dean’s Office, please share this link with them: http://www.qatar.cmu.edu/updates. We will continue to post updates as the situation continues and until it is resolved.

Kind regards,
Michael Trick

March 6, 2026: Scheduled update

Dear CMU-Q community,

As we move into the second week of this conflict, the Crisis Management Team continues to meet, gather information, and reassess. This information includes feedback we have received from members of our community, including the webinar questions and comments. Yesterday, Deans Khaled, Kira and Dalia also visited the dorms to check in with the international students, and shared that feedback with the rest of the Crisis Management Team and Qatar Foundation Housing.

Here are the factors we are considering as of Saturday, March 7:

We do not believe that the threat is over, but we have experienced a lower frequency of attacks over the last few days.
The Qatar government is allowing residents who live near the US Embassy to return to their homes.
The Qatar and US military are intercepting threats further away from central Doha, making the risk of falling debris less than it was.
We have heard of an increasing number of successful departures through Saudi Arabia, which gives us more confidence that the overland route is a viable option.
We understand that the uncertainty of how long we will be online is stressful for the entire community.

Based on these factors, here are our updates:

⁠We will continue to offer online instruction and operate remotely through the Eid break. We will reassess at that time, and if we are in-person as of March 29, we expect community members to be back for the remainder of the semester. We will give one week’s notice that classes will resume in person, to give everyone enough time to arrange travel back to Doha.
Tell us your interest in voluntary departure, with potential support from CMU-Q. While we still recommend sheltering in place as the safest option, recent developments suggest the risk profile for voluntary departures may be lower now than earlier in the week. Please complete this form to share your thoughts.

As we look to another week in this extraordinary situation, I thank everyone for sharing their worries and concerns. I hope we will get more clarity this week of how the situation will unfold.

Your health and wellbeing

Please stay connected with our community, and your friends and family. If you are feeling overwhelmed, stressed or isolated, here are some places you will find support:

Students may reach out to anyone on the Student Affairs team, Education Office team, or individual faculty members. If you feel that you need additional support, Dr. Atorina Benjamin is available and you can email her to schedule a confidential counseling appointment.
Staff and faculty can access the Employee Assistance Program for counseling and mental health resources.
If your families would like to see the messages from the Dean’s Office, please share this link with them: http://www.qatar.cmu.edu/updates. We will continue to post updates as the situation continues and until it is resolved.

Kind regards,
Michael Trick

March 5, 2026: Scheduled update

Dear CMU-Q students, staff and faculty,

I am relieved that today’s message will be quick and straightforward.

Updates for today: March 5, 2026

If you would like to retrieve items from the building, we ask that you reach out to FM Hotline to confirm a time when you can come in. We encourage you to please contact us first, and that you stay only long enough to retrieve your items.
Students and advisors, we are working with the Pittsburgh campus to explore flexibility within formal academic policies, considering the extraordinary semester we are having. We hope to have more clarity early next week and we will share with you more details as soon as we can.
If you are planning to leave the country, please let us know.
1. Students should contact [email protected]
2. Faculty members should contact your Area Head, as well as Khaled Harras.
3. Staff members should contact your supervisor, as well as Human Resources.
Our Computing Services department has been in touch with Qatar Foundation Housing, and we think we have helped resolve the issue of internet access in the dorms. Please let us know if you continue to have issues.
Please check Andy and Scotty for the webinar slides, an expanded FAQ document, and guidelines for voluntary travel.

Current safety status: March 5, 2026

Classes and operations will remain online until further notice.
We recommend that the CMU-Q community shelters in place.
Please follow instructions and alerts from official sources, including the Qatar government.
CMU-Q messages will be sent through the following channels: email, SMS, and the Rave Guardian app, depending on urgency.

Your health and wellbeing

Please stay connected with our community, and your friends and family. If you are feeling overwhelmed, stressed or isolated, here are some places you will find support:

Students may reach out to anyone on the Student Affairs team, Education Office team, or individual faculty members. If you feel that you need additional support, Dr. Atorina Benjamin is available and you can email her to schedule a confidential counseling appointment.
Staff and faculty can access the Employee Assistance Program for counseling and mental health resources.
If your families would like to see the messages from the Dean’s Office, please share this link with them: http://www.qatar.cmu.edu/updates. We will continue to post updates as the situation continues and until it is resolved.

Wishing you a quiet and peaceful evening.

Kind regards,
Michael Trick

March 4, 2026: Scheduled update

Dear CMU-Q students, staff and faculty,

Today’s message is quite lengthy based on feedback we received at yesterday’s webinar and information we received today. Please take a moment to read through today’s update.

Updates for today: March 4, 2026

The slides from yesterday’s webinar are now available on Scotty and Andy. You will notice a new yellow notification banner at the top of the page where we have posted the link.
We have prepared an expanded FAQ document based on questions from yesterday’s webinar. Please take a look at that document for more detailed answers to questions like voluntary departure, mental wellbeing, academic continuity and operations and logistics. This document is available on Andy and Scotty.
While we maintain our recommendation to shelter in place, we have prepared a guide if you are considering voluntary departure. This document is available on Andy and Scotty.
We are aware that some other institutions are offering basic logistical support for voluntary travel for international students. We continue to recommend that sheltering in place is the safest, best option at this time.
We understand that some embassies are contacting their nationals to arrange transportation outside of Qatar and to their home country. This is being arranged by embassies directly. Should you be contacted by your embassy, it is at your discretion to depart. If you are a student, please inform Student Affairs. Once we resume in-person classes, our expectation is that you return to Qatar.
We are working with Qatar Foundation to determine the process for returning to the building to retrieve items. We will share details when we know them.
If faculty and staff members would like dependents and family members to receive emergency SMS messages from CMU-Q, please log in to Workday and add secondary contact numbers. As well, we are updating the qatar.cmu.edu/updates page at the same time as the email updates are sent out—please pass this link to family and loved ones if they would like to stay up-to-date.

Current safety status: March 4, 2026

Classes and operations will remain online until further notice.
We recommend that the CMU-Q community shelters in place.
We strongly recommend that community members do not access the CMU-Q building.
Please follow instructions and alerts from official sources, including the Qatar government.
CMU-Q messages will be sent through the following channels: email, SMS, and the Rave Guardian app, depending on urgency.

Your health and wellbeing

Please stay connected with our community, and your friends and family. If you are feeling overwhelmed, stressed or isolated, here are some places you will find support:

Students may reach out to anyone on the Student Affairs team, Education Office team, or individual faculty members. If you feel that you need additional support, Dr. Atorina Benjamin is available and you can email her to schedule a confidential counseling appointment.
Staff and faculty can access the Employee Assistance Program for counseling and mental health resources.
If your families would like to see the messages from the Dean’s Office, please share this link with them: http://www.qatar.cmu.edu/updates. We will continue to post updates as the situation continues and until it is resolved.

Wishing you a quiet and peaceful evening.

Kind regards,
Michael Trick

March 3, 2026: Scheduled update

Dear CMU-Q students, staff and faculty,

Thank you to everyone who attended today’s webinar. We have some very important action items following this meeting:

We will make the slides available to the community through the usual places on Andy and Scotty.
We have recorded your questions, and thank you to everyone for submitting them. We will prepare an extended FAQ based on these questions and send them to you tomorrow.
We will be receiving guidance soon from Qatar Foundation on accessing the building to retrieve items. We will share a process when we have it.

Thank you again for your questions and feedback. This is very helpful to the Crisis Team as we continue to meet and plan. We will schedule another webinar soon so we can hear more from you.

In the meantime, I will continue to send the Scheduled Update by 4:00 pm, including weekends, until the current situation is resolved. All Scheduled Updates and Special Updates from me will be posted here for your reference: http://www.qatar.cmu.edu/updates.

Updates for today: March 3, 2026

Today’s update is a summary of the information we shared at the webinar.

Until further notice, we will continue online operations.
We believe that sheltering in place continues to be the safest course of action for our campus community at this time.
We continue to consult with our security advisors, assess the current logistical situation, and meet as a Crisis Team to plan and prepare.

Several factors inform this decision:

Airspace limitations: Regional airspace remains largely closed. Attempting movement under these uncertain conditions could expose travelers to additional risk.
Operational realities: Commercial travel options are limited, and travel in an active conflict environment carries inherent safety concerns.
Current threat trends: Based on security briefings and ongoing monitoring, the intensity and frequency of recent Iranian attacks on Qatar appear to be decreasing.
Information assessment: Based on input from our security firm, as well as messaging from the various embassies in Qatar, we are carefully balancing recommendations and guidance.

Current safety status: March 3, 2026

We recommend that the CMU-Q community shelters in place.
1. Do not go outside.
2. Find a secure location away from windows, close your curtains, and stay within your residence or another safe building.
3. Have a supply of food, water, medications, and other essential items.
4. Keep your phone charged and maintain communication with family and friends to let them know you are safe.
We strongly discourage community members from entering the CMU-Q building.
Please follow instructions and alerts from official sources, including the Qatar government.
CMU-Q messages will be sent through the following channels: email, SMS, and the Rave Guardian app, depending on urgency.
Please check that your contact information is updated:
1. Students should make sure your mobile numbers are on SIO.
2. Staff and faculty, please login to Workday and double-check that your current mobile number is in Workday.
3. Faculty, staff and students should all have the Rave Guardian app on your phones, registered with your Andrew IDs.

Plans for tomorrow: March 4, 2026

Dr. Atorina will be offering an online Community Support Session: Staying Grounded in Uncertain Times. This session will focus on understanding stress and anxiety during periods of uncertainty, learning practical grounding and breathing strategies, and providing space for questions and support. We recognize that current events may be particularly distressing for members of our community with personal or past experiences of conflict or instability. All faculty, staff, and students are welcome. We encourage anyone in our community who may benefit to attend.

March 4, 2026
1:00 to 2:00 pm

A calendar invite will be sent to you directly.

Your health and wellbeing

Please stay connected with our community, and your friends and family. If you are feeling overwhelmed, stressed or isolated, here are some places you will find support:

Students may reach out to anyone on the Student Affairs team, Education Office team, or individual faculty members. If you feel that you need additional support, Dr. Atorina Benjamin is available and you can email her to schedule a confidential counseling appointment.
Staff and faculty can access the Employee Assistance Program for counseling and mental health resources.
If your families would like to see the messages from the Dean’s Office, please share this link with them: http://www.qatar.cmu.edu/updates. We will continue to post updates as the situation continues and until it is resolved.

Wishing you a quiet and peaceful evening.

Kind regards,

Michael Trick
Dean
Carnegie Mellon in University

March 3, 2026: Special update

Dear CMU-Q community,

We are fully aware of the U.S. State Department’s advisory to U.S. citizens. While this message has been widely circulated by the media and other channels, we are awaiting further clarification.

I strongly advise you to remain sheltered in place. We have been in meetings and are working with Qatar Foundation and our international security consultants to get more information, which we will share at today’s webinar or later in the day.

Michael Trick
Dean
Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar

March 2, 2026: Scheduled Update

Dear CMU-Q students, staff and faculty,

I hope that this second day of remote classes and operations has been going smoothly, and you are also taking some time to stay in contact with friends and loved ones.

Updates for today: March 2, 2026

For those who are new to the CMU-Q community, I want to reassure you that we have an experienced Crisis Management Team made up of faculty and staff leadership. This team undergoes regular training and simulation exercises to ensure that we will gather information, make decisions, and communicate with the community in a way that is helpful, accurate, and calm. The CMU-Q Crisis Management Team draws from resources that include our international security consultant, the U.S. Embassy, and the Qatar Foundation Crisis Management Team. Tomorrow we will hold a webinar for the community so we can share what we know, what we are looking out for, and how we see the next few weeks unfolding. Please look out for a calendar invitation.

Students: if your families would like to see the messages from the Dean’s Office to the community, please share this link with them:http://www.qatar.cmu.edu/updates. We will continue to post updates as the situation continues and until it is resolved.

Current safety status: March 2, 2026

Everyone in the CMU-Q community should shelter in place.
1. Do not go outside.
2. Find a secure location away from windows, close your curtains, and stay within your residence or another safe building.
3. Have a supply of food, water, medications, and other essential items.
4. Keep your phone charged and maintain communication with family and friends to let them know you are safe.
We strongly discourage community members from entering the CMU-Q building.
Please follow instructions and alerts from official sources, including the Qatar government.
CMU-Q messages will be sent through the following channels: email, SMS, and the Rave Guardian app, depending on urgency.
Please check that your contact information is updated:
1. Students should make sure your mobile numbers are on SIO.
2. Staff and faculty, please login to Workday and double-check that your current mobile number is in Workday.
3. Faculty, staff and students should all have the Rave Guardian app on your phones, registered with your Andrew IDs.
Qatar airspace remains closed. If you are travelling, please monitor your airline for any changes to your flight and continue to follow official guidance from the authorities.

Plans for tomorrow: March 3, 2026

Tomorrow we will continue online operations.
Some students and faculty may continue to have difficulties with their connection or attendance online. We leave it up to faculty members to decide what works best for their classes.

Your health and wellbeing

Sheltering in place can be challenging, and I encourage you to stay connected with our community, and your friends and family. If you are feeling overwhelmed, stressed or isolated, here are some places you will find support:

Students may reach out to anyone on the Student Affairs team, Education Office team, or individual faculty members. If you feel that you need additional support, Dr. Atorina Benjamin is available and you can email her to schedule a confidential counseling appointment.
Staff and faculty can access the Employee Assistance Program for counseling and mental health resources.

Stay safe, and I will see you tomorrow on the webinar.

Kind regards,

Michael Trick
Dean
Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar

March 1, 2026: Scheduled Update

Dear CMU-Q students, staff and faculty,

I hope this message finds you well. It has been a stressful 24 hours, and I hope everyone is staying home, keeping in contact with friends, classmates, coworkers, and family, and taking care of yourselves.

Updates for today: March 1, 2026

We would like to establish a regularly scheduled touchpoint with our community until the situation is less uncertain. We plan to send a message daily out to the community before 4:00 pm each day with three areas of focus: non-urgent updates, current safety status, and our plans for the next day.

We will send any urgent updates out if and when they arise.

We have created a page on the website for our community where we will post the latest scheduled update, as well as any urgent updates. Please bookmark www.qatar.cmu.edu/updates to access these updates.

Current safety status: March 1, 2026

Everyone in the CMU-Q community should shelter in place.
1. Do not go outside.
2. Find a secure location away from windows, close your curtains, and stay within your residence or another safe building.
3. Have a supply of food, water, medications, and other essential items.
4. Keep your phone charged and maintain communication with family and friends to let them know you are safe.
We strongly discourage community members from entering the CMU-Q building.
Please follow instructions and alerts from official sources, including the Qatar government.
CMU-Q messages will be sent through the following channels: email, SMS, and the Rave Guardian app, depending on urgency.
Please check that your contact information is updated:
1. Students should make sure your mobile numbers are on SIO.
2. Staff and faculty, please login to Workday and double-check that your current mobile number is in Workday.
3. Faculty, staff and students should all have the Rave Guardian app on your phones, registered with your Andrew IDs.
Qatar airspace remains closed. If you are travelling, please monitor your airline for any changes to your flight and continue to follow official guidance from the authorities. If your flight operates as scheduled, you may travel and proceed directly home upon arrival.

Plans for tomorrow: March 2, 2026

Tomorrow we will continue online operations.
I would like to emphasize that some of our students and faculty might have difficulties with their connection or attendance online.
While our expectation is to operate online, we understand that the situation is challenging. We leave it up to each faculty member to decide what works best for her/his class tomorrow (e.g. run online, provide asynchronous options, or cancel and make up class).

Your health and wellbeing

Students may reach out to anyone on the Student Affairs team, Education Office team, or individual faculty members. If you feel that you need additional support, Dr. Atorina Benjamin is available and you can email her to schedule a confidential counseling appointment.
Staff and faculty can access the Employee Assistance Program for counseling and mental health resources.

Wishing you a safe and peaceful day,

Michael Trick
Dean
Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar

February 28, 2026: Classes and campus operations will be remote beginning tomorrow

Dear CMU-Q community,

This morning there were confirmed missile attacks by the United States and Israel on Iran, and retaliatory missiles from Iran that have been intercepted over Qatar. The U.S. Embassy and the Qatar government are strongly recommending that Qatar residents shelter in place until further notice.

Our crisis management team is closely monitoring this situation, and we will share updates and information to ensure our community remains safe.

As of February 28, 2026, 1:45 pm:

Everyone in the CMU-Q community should shelter in place.
1. Find a secure location away from windows, close your curtains, and stay within your residence or another safe building.
2. Do not go outside.
3. Have a supply of food, water, medications, and other essential items.
4. Keep your phone charged and maintain communication with family and friends to let them know you are safe.
Please follow instructions and alerts from official sources, including the Qatar government.
All classes and campus operations will be remote beginning Sunday, March 1.
1. Students, please check with your professors for details about your classes and assessments.
2. Faculty members should contact Computing Services through [email protected] or +974 4454-8440 if you need assistance in moving your classes online. Supervisors should contact their staff members with a plan for remote operations.
3. Faculty members will receive further instructions about assessments and mid-semester due dates.
Messages will be sent through the following channels: email, SMS, and the Rave Guardian app, depending on urgency. Please check that your contact information is updated:
1. Students should make sure your mobile numbers are on SIO.
2. Staff and faculty, please login to Workday and double-check that your current mobile number is in Workday.
3. Faculty, staff and students should all have the Rave Guardian app on your phones, registered with your Andrew IDs.
If you are travelling, please monitor your airline for any changes to your flight and continue to follow official guidance from the authorities. If your flight operates as scheduled, you may travel and proceed directly home upon arrival.

Since this is a fluid situation, classes and campus operations will remain remote until further notice.

Our crisis management team is very closely monitoring this situation and we will update you as we learn more. We urge everyone to stay home, remain calm, and please only rely on official sources of information, including the U.S. Embassy and Qatar government.

Kind regards,

Michael Trick
Dean
Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar