In a move to support both the war effort and undergraduate academic progress, Columbia University announced Thursday that military deployment to Iran will now satisfy the Global Core requirement, earning students four credits toward graduation.
“We’ve heard students’ concerns about the Core being too Eurocentric,” a University spokesperson told The Fed. “What better way to engage with a non-Western civilization than on the ground in the Persian Gulf?”
Under the new policy, students deployed to the Strait of Hormuz will be exempt from the usual reflection essay, though they are still expected to maintain a journal, either on paper or Truth Social, “when operationally feasible.” Students who survive the full deployment will receive a P/F option. Once the course has begun, the Registrar noted, “withdrawal is not an option.”
The announcement comes alongside a revised course listing on Vergil, where the deployment appears under the title “HIST 1493: Civilizations of the Persian Gulf: An Immersive Approach.” The class will not have a discussion section, as students are of course not permitted to ask questions or discuss the orders they are given beyond resounding approval. Office hours will be held via satellite phone, Tuesdays 14:00-15:00, “conditions permitting.”
Faculty have expressed mixed reactions. One professor in the Middle Eastern studies department, on the condition of anonymity, noted that, “This is frankly more rigorous than most Global Core sections.” Another raised concerns about grade inflation, citing the military’s historically generous evaluation standards.
General Studies students will receive priority enrollment.
United States Central Command appears to have misplaced our request for comment.
