Head of Sunnah Department Affirms University's Certificate Strength and Listens to Student Challenges

Islamic University of Minnesota - Dr. Majed bin Obaid Al-Salmi, a member of the College of Islamic Studies Council and Head of the Department of Sunnah and its Sciences at the Islamic University of Minnesota – Main Center, has affirmed that the university is a tangible entity with a physical campus, a website, academic and administrative staff, and established curricula. He clarified that the presence of the country code (SO) at the end of the university's domain name reflects the state's recognition of the institution.

This statement was made during an address by Dr. Al-Salmi to postgraduate students of the Department of Sunnah and its Sciences on Sunday, September 14, 2025. The meeting was held in implementation of the University Vice-Rector's directive to department heads, aiming to listen to the challenges faced by students and work on finding suitable solutions. This comes within the framework of the Islamic University's commitment to enhancing communication between academic department administrations and their students.

During the meeting, Dr. Al-Salmi emphasized that the academic equivalency of a certificate is a sovereign matter that varies from one country to another, stressing that the strength of a degree is not measured by equivalency alone but by the scientific quality of the student's research.

Discussions also revolved around lecture timings and duration. The issue of lecture schedules conflicting with prayer times was addressed, and practical suggestions were offered, most notably following lectures via mobile phone while heading to the mosque and utilizing recorded lectures. Regarding the short duration of lectures, it was agreed that additional sessions and meetings with faculty members could be arranged to increase opportunities for discussion and scientific interaction.

  Dr. Al-Salmi advised students to build their theses on solid foundations and to benefit from the expertise of the faculty members, emphasizing that communication channels with the department are always open to address any difficulties or escalate them to the relevant authorities.

 At the conclusion of the meeting, the Head of the Department expressed his gratitude to the university for its efforts in supporting the educational process, confirming that such meetings will be organized periodically to ensure continuous and constructive communication between the department and its students.