University of Arizona Shutters Chinese Microcampuses

"The University of Arizona is quietly shutting down its four microcampuses in China at the end of this semester, in response to a government report released earlier this month that criticizes branch campuses of U.S. institutions in China."

"The report, "Joint Institutes, Divided Loyalties," highlights programs at 13 institutions deemed to be "high risk"-including one UA microcampus, the Arizona College of Technology at Hebei University of Technology, which awards students a B.S. in applied physics-and calls on the universities to sever those partnerships. (It also highlights a former partnership between UA and the Harbin Institute of Technology, a Chinese university affiliated with the country's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, but the university told Inside Higher Ed that partnership ended in 2023.)"

""Acknowledging a congressional directive, the University of Arizona immediately terminated its China-based microcampus agreements. We have communicated directly with those affected and are working with enrolled students to help them continue their education," a university spokesperson told Inside Higher Ed via email."

The University of Arizona will close all four of its China microcampuses at the end of the semester in response to a government report criticizing U.S. branch campuses in China. A joint congressional report labeled some American programs as potential facilitators of technology transfer and national security risks and identified 13 "high risk" programs, including one UA microcampus. The university terminated its China-based microcampus agreements, has notified affected individuals, and is working to help enrolled students continue their education. Approximately 2,200 students, 36 faculty and four staff will be affected, and the university will provide relocation assistance to employees.

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