The University of North Florida has announced the closure of a branch of the Confucius Institute, a non-profit public educational organization affiliated with the Ministry of Education of China, amid growing concerns over the Chinese influence on campuses across the U.S.
The university made the announcement on Tuesday, following a review by its Academic Affairs and Student Affairs office.
“The University has decided to begin the process of terminating contracts with the Confucius Institute Headquarters of China and Shaanxi Normal University,” reads the statement.
The university closed the institute after the review found that its mission and goals were not aligned with that of the university.
“After reviewing the classes, activities, and events sponsored over the past four years and comparing them with the mission and goals of the University, it was determined that they weren’t aligned,” the university said.
The Confucius Institute has a worldwide presence with a primary motive to promote Chinese language and culture in the rest of the world.
In March, three Republican lawmakers introduced Foreign Influence Transparency Act requiring the institute to register under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA).
Earlier, the Pennsylvania State University and the University of Chicago have also cut ties with the Confucius Institute.
