Key Takeaways
- Federal agencies are investigating UND over alleged foreign funding disclosure violations.
- Officials cited concerns involving Chinese aviation companies and UND aerospace research.
- UND must provide nearly a decade of records within 30 days.
The U.S. Department of Education and State Department opened an UND Foreign Funding Investigation on Sept. 16 into the University of North Dakota over allegedly incomplete and inaccurate foreign funding disclosures tied to its aerospace research.
Federal Agencies Cite Disclosure Concerns
The agencies said reviews of UND records found disclosures that were incomplete, inaccurate, or submitted late. The UND Foreign Funding Investigation focuses on compliance with Section 117 of the Higher Education Act of 1965, which requires federally funded colleges and universities to report foreign gifts and contracts worth $250,000 or more annually.
Under Secretary of Education Nicholas Kent said the agencies believe UND and Duke University, which is facing a separate investigation, incorrectly identified some government partners as nongovernmental entities.
“Unfortunately, it appears that both Duke and UND have provided untimely and incomplete foreign funding disclosures,” Kent said in the federal announcement. He said the agencies expect both universities to cooperate with the investigations.
The U.S. Department of Education said the UND Foreign Funding Investigation is intended to verify whether UND complied with federal reporting requirements and whether its previous disclosures were accurate.
Investigation Focuses On Aerospace Research
Federal officials said UND has received significant federal awards supporting its School of Aerospace Sciences and its work on uncrewed air systems. The agencies described that work as important to U.S. national security.
The Education Department also said the aerospace efforts have attracted significant investment and involvement from Chinese aviation companies that it says have close associations with China’s military. The agency did not identify the Chinese company or companies it believes were incorrectly classified in UND’s disclosures.
As part of the UND Foreign Funding Investigation, UND must provide a broad set of records within 30 days, according to the federal notice. The request includes tax records, documents describing the university’s Section 117 compliance system and copies of reportable foreign gifts, grants and contracts.
Investigators also requested records involving UND’s agreements with foreign entities concerning international students, faculty and research personnel. Records of international research collaborations and participation by university personnel in foreign government talent programs are included in the request.
State Department Calls For Accurate Reporting
Sarah B. Rogers, under secretary of state for public diplomacy, said the agencies found problems with the universities’ handling of their reporting obligations.
“Our reviews found real gaps in how Duke and UND have handled their Section 117 obligations,” Rogers said, citing late disclosures, missing details and the alleged mischaracterization of at least one foreign government partner.
The UND Foreign Funding Investigation follows a Sept. 15 House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee hearing that examined alleged foreign influence operations involving China and Cuba, according to the Education Department. The agencies said the reviews are part of broader efforts to improve transparency around foreign funding at U.S. universities.
The Grand Forks Herald reported that UND had not immediately responded to requests for comment Wednesday afternoon. The investigation remains ongoing, and the federal allegations have not been established as findings of wrongdoing.
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