Department of Personal Status and Family Law Holds Preparatory Meeting

As part of its preparations for the launch of the First Semester of the 2026-2027 Academic Year, the Department of Personal Status and Family Law at the College of Sharia and Law, Islamic University of Minnesota - Main Center, held a preparatory meeting chaired by Dr. Ihab Talaat Abdulkhalek, with the participation of faculty members. The meeting focused on discussing academic and administrative preparations for the upcoming semester, while reviewing development plans aimed at enhancing the quality of the department's academic programs and improving the overall effectiveness of the educational process.

At the beginning of the meeting, Dr. Ihab Talaat Abdulkhalek welcomed both newly appointed and returning faculty members, expressing his appreciation for their valuable contributions to the department's academic mission. He wished them a successful and productive academic year and warmly welcomed all attendees, including Dr. Omar, emphasizing that teamwork, cooperation, and institutional collaboration among faculty members are essential foundations for achieving the department's objectives and fostering a culture of academic quality and excellence.

The meeting included extensive discussions on several academic issues, foremost among them the development and modernization of curricula and course content to keep pace with contemporary scholarly and legal developments and to further enhance the quality of education. Participants also reviewed the requirements of the Research Methodology course and explored mechanisms for improving it in ways that support the intended learning outcomes and strengthen students' research, analytical, and critical thinking skills.

In this context, Dr. Sahar presented a proposal to revise the student assessment method for the Research Methodology course by allocating 60% of the final grade to classroom participation and academic discussions, and 40% to research papers or academic projects. The proposal aims to encourage active student engagement, promote applied research skills, and strengthen students' participation in scholarly activities.

Faculty members also discussed several technical challenges related to the University's website and the Learning Management System (LMS), emphasizing the importance of addressing these issues to ensure the smooth operation of the educational process and improve the efficiency of academic services. In this regard, participants reviewed a number of proposals to strengthen communication between faculty members and students, including the creation of WhatsApp groups for each course to facilitate the sharing of instructional materials, academic announcements, and ongoing academic communication.

The meeting further addressed several future initiatives designed to strengthen the department's academic presence and expand its scholarly activities. These included proposals to launch a specialized electronic platform, organize academic and cultural events, and publish academic newsletters and educational publications that would contribute to enriching the department's scholarly environment. Participants emphasized that all such initiatives would be implemented only after completing the required administrative procedures and obtaining the necessary approvals from the University administration.

The meeting concluded with the adoption of several practical measures aimed at ensuring full academic readiness before the beginning of the semester. These included sharing academic materials and research papers with the Head of the Department to determine their suitability for inclusion in course syllabi, distributing teaching schedules and instructional materials to faculty members prior to the start of classes, following up on technical issues related to the University's website and electronic platform, establishing communication groups for each course, and preparing for upcoming academic requirements, particularly examinations, while continuously monitoring students' academic progress.

The participants concluded the meeting by reaffirming the importance of maintaining close coordination and collaboration among faculty members and integrating their efforts to provide a stimulating learning environment that promotes academic excellence, enhances educational quality, and supports the achievement of the department's objectives during the new academic year.