Prof. Batya Engel-Yeger serves as Dean of Students at the University of Haifa, who has built her entire academic career at the University of Haifa and the Faculty of Medicine – Technion. A researcher whose work focuses on sensory processing and daily function, she spoke with AFUH about leading student life at one of Israel’s most exposed universities during an escalating war.

The university has been operating fully online. What has daily academic life looked like for students during this period?

According to the Army instructions, we cannot meet on campus in crowded places or bring large groups together for their safety — so we teach on Zoom, and the faculty meets on Zoom. The semester started and this is how we operate. We go to campus only when absolutely necessary — to care for animals in the labs, for example, or to handle genuine emergencies. Otherwise, we stay home and we keep going.

A missile struck the campus. Can you tell us what that was like?

A part of the missile fell within the university’s territory. Fortunately, no one was there. No one was hurt. But we have to be in shelters for at least ten minutes after every strike — because even when the Iron Dome intercepts a missile, the fragments can cause severe harm to people and property. It is Russian roulette. That is the only way I can describe it.

For students living in the dorms — many of them far from home — how have you been supporting them?

Some of our dorm students are international students, living in a foreign country, alone, under missile attacks. It is genuinely frightening. We try to give them a home environment — our staff visits frequently, brings them food, checks in constantly. We talk with them about the situation, explaining as much as we can what is going on and what is expected, where the shelters are in the campus and how they can reach out for any help they need. For all of our students, we opened a 24/7 telephone line that students can call at any hour for anything they need — whether that’s connecting them with their faculty, with psychological support, with scholarship assistance, or anything else. We try to respond as quickly and as warmly as possible. We opened psychological lectures and support groups for our students which will continue after war to ensure our students get back to life as supported as possible.

Nearly 600 students have been on reserve duty. What has the university done to make sure they don’t fall through the cracks?

The Israeli government has frameworks in place — special conditions to enable these students to catch up the academic gaps, continue their study and complete them on time, as much as possible. These special conditions include, for example, exams, extended deadlines, academic support. But I want to be honest: sometimes even those protections are not enough. The reality is really difficult. Their emotional overload is enormous. The transfer from the battlefield to the class is complicated, affecting attention, ability to relax and study. We stay in contact with them, check in regularly, and make sure they know we are there when they return by providing them with academic, emotional and financial support. For example, psychological support includes individual support, group support, including special projects as “my wave” – treating post-traumatic stress via surfing groups; we support emotionally their spouses as well, we are in contact with the families of students who lost their lives in the battle. We provide academic and environmental adaptations for those who are disabled due to the war. Financially we support them with scholarships, discount in dorms rent, but we need to do more and recruit  more financial resources to help our students on reserve duty as many of our reservists have families, jobs, all of it on hold — sometimes for hundreds of days and we should make things as easy as possible for them so they can focus on their studies and complete them on time.

What has your day actually looked like during this period?

We work around the clock. We are all overloaded — as individuals, as professionals, as people taking care of our own families, but we are focused on helping our thousands of students, providing them with the support they need in these days, to make the university a peaceful place when they return, and to elevate their resilience. Some of our students’ homes were hit by missiles and destroyed completely. In one moment, they had a home; in the next they had nothing. We provided those students with scholarships, laptops, direct financial support — whatever they needed to begin again. Our mission is to be there for every student who needs us, with whatever they need.

Even in the middle of all this, your students have been volunteering. What does that tell you about who they are?

Our students are amazing. October 7 showed everyone that they are brave, they are smart, they initiate and participate in activities to help individuals on campus and in the community. For example, they volunteer on emergency helplines for the elderly and people with disabilities. They go to farms to help the farmers who were affected by the war and help at-risk youth in Haifa. When evacuees came to live in our dormitories, our students were there — providing food, clothes, after-school activities, everything. I am so proud of them.

What do you want American supporters of the University of Haifa to understand about this moment?

I hear the antisemitism in the media — in America and elsewhere — and it is terrible.  Every one of us — faculty, staff, students — is living this challenging time. Our children serve in the army. We run to shelters. And still, we show up. We teach. We answer our students calling the 24/7 phone line at 2am from the battlefield or because of emotional distress. Because our students deserve it. Thanks to those who serve in the army, we are here continuing our lives. They deserve everything — scholarship support, moral support, academic support. Everything.

What is most needed right now?

Scholarships. When students return from months in the army, many of them have no income, lost academic time, and the incredibly hard task of transitioning from combat back to the classroom. That transition requires real support to enable them to get back to life as good and quick as possible. That is where help is most needed, and most felt.

You’ve spent your entire career at the University of Haifa. What brought you here — and kept you?

I live in Haifa. I love my city. I think it is the most beautiful city in Israel — and more than that, it is a city that works. Jews and Arabs live together here. We are an example of a shared society that actually functions. The University of Haifa is the same. We have Jewish students, Christian students, Muslim students, Bedouin students and more — all studying together in tolerance and peace. That diversity is not symbolic. It is who we are.

I studied my bachelor degree in Occupational Therapy at the University of Haifa, As an Occupational Therapist, I worked with people with disabilities for 13 years, while continuing my Masters and Doctorate in Medical Science at the Technion. The university offered me a position at the department of Occupational Therapy, which I led as head of the department for eight years. I also served as the head of the Occupational Therapy at our Faculty Clinical Center. When I became Dean of Students, I felt I had reached the most meaningful role of my career. Even now, in the hardest moment — especially now — I feel that as together with our amazing team, we support our students, providing them with better learning environment, and enable them to achieve their dreams, and overcome challenging times. 

The university is also launching a new initiative specifically for Druze soldiers completing their service. Can you tell us about that?

Yes — we are very proud of this unique innovative project. The University of Haifa is launching the Northern Lights initiative, led by our Dean of Students Office, which is designed to support Druze soldiers transitioning out of military service and into higher education. 

The program is designed as an expression of appreciation for the contribution of Druze soldiers — and the Druze community as a whole — to the State of Israel.

The program’s goal is to expose participants to the academic world and help them understand how university studies can contribute to a better future — personally, socially, and nationally.

It launches right after Passover. It is a reflection of exactly who we are as a university — a place that sees every student, sees the community, from every background, and asks what they need to succeed.

What do you hope students carry with them from the University of Haifa beyond their degree?

That the university is a home that fosters personal development beyond the degree. That they become individuals who embrace the unique way of life of the city of Haifa and the University of Haifa. That they understand the importance of contributing to society. That they continue to show sensitivity to others, to society, and maintain tolerance, demonstrate leadership, and have the skills to integrate into the workforce, and contribute to the State of Israel.