University of Arizona Terminates Chinese Campus Programs Due to National Security Risks

The University of Arizona announced the termination of four microcampus programs in China at the end of the current semester in late September, citing a recent congressional report that flagged national security risks associated with U.S.-China academic partnerships.

The decision impacts approximately 2,200 students, 36 faculty members, and 4 staff members, with the university committing to support employee relocation and to provide alternative pathways for students to complete their degrees. A university spokesperson stated, “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,” according to Inside Higher Education.

The closures follow the release earlier this month of “Joint Institutes, Divided Loyalties,” a report issued jointly by the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party and the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, and previously reported on by California Globe. The report examined nearly 150 U.S.-China academic collaborations and identified risks including technology transfer to China’s military-industrial complex, restrictions on academic freedom, ideological indoctrination, and potential espionage obligations under People’s Republic of China law.

Among the programs flagged as “high risk” was the University of Arizona’s Arizona College of Technology at the Hebei University of Technology, which offers a Bachelor of Science program in applied physics. The report also referenced a prior University of Arizona partnership with the Harbin Institute of Technology—a university affiliated with China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and designated as one of the “Seven Sons of National Defense”—which ended in 2023.

In response, University of Arizona officials opted to shutter all four active microcampuses in China, despite the report singling out only one current program. The programs include:

• The Arizona College of Technology at Hebei University of Technology (applied physics, B.S.).
• A dual-degree program in environmental science at Northwest Agriculture and Forestry University in Shaanxi province, now in its fifth year and recently praised in a federal and provincial review for strong student outcomes, including placements in top U.S. and European graduate programs.
• A bachelor’s program in law at Ocean University of China, where students study both Chinese and U.S. law.
• An additional microcampus program, details of which align with the university’s broader China initiatives.

Microcampuses at the University of Arizona are defined by the administration as programs hosted at partner institutions abroad, taught by a mix of U.S. and local faculty, with students earning dual degrees. Launched in 2017, these initiatives aimed to enhance internationalization, offer affordable global education pathways, and generate revenue, with goals to expand to 25 worldwide sites serving 25,000 students. The university maintains 15 such programs globally outside China.

Jenny Lee, dean of international education, told affected students: 

“The U of A is committed to supporting you in the completion of your degree. We welcome you to join us at our main campus, in Tucson, Arizona, under an extended Study Arizona Program for up to 4 semesters (usually during the junior and senior years). The U of A will follow up soon with further guidance regarding Study Arizona and other possible options for your degree completion pathway.”

Ken Smith, who leads the environmental science dual-degree program at Northwest Agriculture and Forestry University, learned of the closure one week prior to the announcement. “Things were really going super well, and, boom, we shut down,” Smith said. Current seniors will graduate with their degrees, while third-year students may complete requirements online or via relocation to Tucson, though costs pose barriers for many.

Rong Qian, a graduate of the program’s second cohort now pursuing a master’s at Imperial College London, expressed shock at the news and gratitude toward University of Arizona faculty for their support. “I want to express my gratitude for those professors, especially those from [UA] … not only for their patience and time [with] me and my studies, but also for their encouragement, their support and their easygoing characteristics,” Qian said.

Smith described the closures as a setback for U.S.-China diplomacy: “Living in China for the past four years and watching the U.S. news, I think a lot of political figures don’t know much about China … It’s a major modern economic power, a major military power,” adding that mutual understanding serves both nations’ interests.

The House Committee on Education and the Workforce commended the move on X, stating: “@uarizona is making the right decision to end its China-based campus agreements. The CCP uses these programs to steal cutting-edge research for its own military buildup and promote communist ideology. These programs are a direct threat to U.S. national security. Every American school should follow suit and end agreements with the CCP.”

.@uarizona is making the right decision to end its China-based campus agreements. The CCP uses these programs to steal cutting-edge research for its own military buildup and promote communist ideology. These programs are a direct threat to U.S. national security. Every American…

— House Committee on Education & Workforce (@EdWorkforceCmte) September 24, 2025

This action is similar to Northern Arizona University’s recent termination of its joint undergraduate program in Electronic Information Engineering with Chongqing University of Posts and Telecommunications, a defense-linked institution involved in civil-military communications, as reported by The Globe. That closure, announced following the same congressional report, drew praise from Rep. Eli Crane (R-AZ), who wrote to NAU leadership last month urging a review. 

“I applaud Northern Arizona University’s leadership in reviewing its international partnerships and ensuring that its programs align with national security initiatives,” Crane said. “NAU’s actions reflect a responsible approach to protecting students, faculty, and the integrity of U.S. research and education. We greatly appreciate their commitment to these shared values, as well as all they do for Northern Arizona.”

The report notes broader concerns, including roughly $680 million in unreported or underreported Chinese gifts and contracts to 14 U.S. universities with joint institutes, and follows the shuttering of eight other U.S. branch campuses in China over the past year. Other Arizona ties examined included a now-defunct University of Arizona master’s program with Harbin Institute of Technology.

NAU’s phase-out is set for completion within 90 days, with halted recruitment and ongoing contract negotiations. The University of California system has similarly curtailed China-linked research grants in response to prior findings.