Moeser announced the creation of the committee in Friday's Faculty Council meeting, saying it was the result of a proposal by Student Body President Justin Young and Student Body Vice President Rudy Kleysteuber.
Young said he met with Moeser on Thursday to discuss the idea and that the chancellor said he was supportive of the concept. "He was definitely very enthusiastic about this opportunity," Young said. "He seems to be changing around and getting more student involvement."
Young said the purpose of the seminar is to study the nation of Qatar in depth, to examine the issues surrounding the development of a campus there and to advise the chancellor.
"We really sort of wanted to get a balanced introduction to the Qatar proposal and evaluate its merits and drawbacks and just hope the chancellor gives it due consideration," Kleysteuber said.
But advising the chancellor is only one part of the seminar, Young said. "Ultimately, the goal is to study the issue but also advise the chancellor on what should be done."
Students first publicly expressed their opinions on the proposed campus at a Nov. 14 forum sponsored by Campus Y and student government. Many students voiced concerns at that forum, and some felt students had not had adequate input in the process to this point.
The details of the seminar are still being finalized, Young said. Business Professor Bob Adler and chemistry Professor Holden Thorp have been asked by Moeser to facilitate the seminar.
Young said he has been working on creating a curriculum for the seminar and finding out if students can earn academic hours for participating. Meeting times, the duration of the seminar and the seminar's starting date are all still being worked out, Young said.
Moeser has said he plans to make a decision about whether to pursue a satellite campus in Qatar before the end of the calendar year. Young said he hopes to have the seminar formed and meeting before the chancellor makes his decision regarding Qatar.
