The Department of Education sends an annual verification list to schools and universities to remind them of federal laws and regulations they must abide by. These laws include environmental norms, Title IX, FERPA, the Law of Educational Rights, and family privacy. However, for many years, the verification list did not mention foreign gifts and contracts. This led to a surprise in 2019 when the department began investigating non-compliance with regulations.As a result of the sudden scrutiny, many higher education institutions had to scramble to put their dissemination practices online. They had to comb through gifts and contracts and sometimes hire expensive auditors to ensure compliance. This was a significant burden for these institutions, according to Deborah Altenburg, the associate vice president of research policy and government affairs at the Association of Public Universities and Grant Tierra.
The reason for this sudden focus on foreign gifts and contracts is due to concerns about foreign influence on American academic institutions. The issue of foreign influence in academic research has been a topic of discussion for years, with some lawmakers worried that foreign governments could use gifts and contracts to influence research and promote their political agendas.
This concern led to the Department of Education's announcement in 2019 that it would be investigating foreign gifts and contracts to academic institutions. The investigations have resulted in several institutions being found in violation of the law, with some facing hefty fines and other penalties.
While the investigations have been successful in uncovering violations, they have also highlighted issues of racism in academia. Some critics argue that the focus on foreign influence is rooted in xenophobia and unfairly targets scholars of Asian descent. These scholars are more likely to have connections to their home countries and may receive more gifts and contracts from foreign sources.
Despite these concerns, the investigations are likely to continue. Academic institutions must now be careful when accepting foreign gifts and contracts and ensure that they are in compliance with federal regulations. For those looking to teach abroad, it is important to be aware of these regulations and to seek out reputable companies like Find Work Abroad and Teaching China to ensure that they are working with institutions that are in compliance with federal laws.
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