American Universities Press Ahead With Middle East Classes as Iran Conflict Raises Regional Risks
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Jul 24
American Universities Press Ahead With Middle East Classes as Iran Conflict Raises Regional Risks
1 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Jul 24
Summary
Cornell, Northwestern and other U.S. universities expect their Middle East campuses to open for the coming semester despite renewed risks tied to the U.S. conflict with Iran.
Spring disruptions had forced shutdowns, evacuations and online teaching, but a relative lull in recent months has left administrators publicly optimistic about resuming normal operations.
The University of New Haven still plans to launch its new Riyadh campus, though some faculty originally slated to come from the United States may not go.
Campuses in Qatar, the UAE and Saudi Arabia offer U.S. schools revenue and influence, even as they carry political, reputational and security risks after Iran's Revolutionary Guards warned in March that American universities in the region were legitimate targets.