
US universities fail to disclose millions in Chinese donations, raising concerns about academic integrity and foreign influence.
Key Insights
- American universities are failing to report substantial foreign funding, particularly from China.
- UC Berkeley received $87.5 million from China since 2013, plus additional funds from Hong Kong and Taiwan.
- A 2024 House Select Committee investigation estimates billions in unreported Chinese donations to US universities.
- Congress is considering legislation to increase transparency in foreign donations to nonprofits and universities.
- Critics argue that undisclosed foreign funding could compromise academic freedom and national security.
Alarming Revelations of Undisclosed Chinese Funding
Recent investigations have uncovered a disturbing trend in American higher education: US universities are failing to disclose millions of dollars in funding from China. This revelation has sparked concerns about the potential compromise of academic integrity and the risk of foreign influence on our educational institutions.
According to a 2024 House Select Committee investigation, the scale of unreported Chinese donations to American universities could be staggering. The committee’s findings suggest that “likely hundreds of millions, if not billions in total” have gone unreported. This lack of transparency raises serious questions about the motives behind these donations and their potential impact on academic freedom.
Universities Under Scrutiny
Two prominent institutions, UC Berkeley and Georgia Tech, have come under particular scrutiny. UC Berkeley reportedly received $87.5 million from China since 2013, along with an additional $59.4 million from Hong Kong and $57.5 million from Taiwan. Meanwhile, Georgia Tech accepted $162.8 million from foreign sources, with at least $32.3 million originating from China.
“The one thing that we have to absolutely insist on is, if you give money, that does not give you any license to affect the curriculum and affect the academic freedom of the faculty,” said Texas Tech President Lawrence Schovanec.
These figures are alarming, especially considering that both institutions have remained silent when asked to comment on these findings. The lack of response only fuels concerns about the potential influence these undisclosed funds may have on institutional policies and academic pursuits.
National Security Concerns
The implications of these undisclosed donations extend beyond academia. There are growing fears that some of these funds may be linked to China’s defense and security apparatus. For instance, the TBSI program has been identified as a potential conduit for transferring US technologies and expertise to China, raising significant national security concerns.
These revelations are not entirely new. Under the Trump Administration, a staggering $6.5 billion in unreported funding from countries posing national security threats was discovered. This underscores the urgent need for increased vigilance and transparency in monitoring foreign contributions to our educational institutions.
Legislative Responses
In response to these concerns, Congress is considering several pieces of legislation aimed at increasing transparency in foreign donations to nonprofits and universities. These include the Think Tank Transparency Act, the DETERRENT Act, and the American Donor Privacy and Foreign Funding Transparency Act.
These legislative efforts aim to shed light on foreign funding sources and prevent undue influence on American institutions. However, some in the philanthropic sector worry that such measures could discourage legitimate charitable giving to educational institutions.
The Path Forward
As this issue continues to unfold, it is clear that greater oversight and transparency are needed to safeguard the integrity of our higher education system. American universities must balance their need for funding with their responsibility to maintain academic freedom and protect national interests.
While foreign donations can provide valuable resources for research and academic programs, it is crucial that these contributions do not come with strings attached that could compromise the independence and objectivity of our educational institutions. As we move forward, increased scrutiny and transparency will be essential to ensure that American universities remain bastions of free thought and inquiry, unencumbered by foreign influence.
Sources:
- https://www.philanthropy.com/article/congressional-scrutiny-of-foreign-donors-is-a-good-thing-for-all-nonprofits
- https://www.texastribune.org/2018/04/24/chinese-government-koch-brothers-fund-texas-universities-scrutiny/
- https://www.nas.org/blogs/article/scrutiny-of-chinas-donations-to-american-universities-is-long-overdue
- https://dailycaller.com/2025/01/22/us-universities-chinese-funding/