Narrative
Full Description
Project narrative
On December 8, 2014, Hanban signed a site agreement with Western Kentucky University (WKU) that outlined the terms to which it would establish the Model Confucius Institute at Western Kentucky University, with $1.5 million USD in grant funding from Hanban (Record ID#111062). In 2015, Hanban signed a supplemental agreement with WKU for a further $500,000 USD grant for $2 million USD total for construction (Record ID#111063). WKU would provide $800,000 USD of reserve funding from the coal technology lab Institute for Combustion Science and Environmental Technology and $700,000 USD from donations. The Model Confucius Institute Building would be a 7,100-square foot, two-story building on Normal Drive housing a Chinese teacher resource center, classrooms, a copy center, flex spaces, a kitchen, and offices for the Confucius Institute, located adjacent the new $22 million USD WKU Honors College-International Center on WKU's campus in Bowling Green, Kentucky , was to be used for the Confucius Institute no less than 50 years. Furthermore, Hanban officials reportedly promised to pay all maintenance costs and operating costs, including utilities, for the Model Confucius Institute, despite the contractual terms saying otherwise (that WKU would be obligated for it). On January 23, 2015, the Board of WKU approved the design and construction of the Model Confucius Institute building. The Model Confucius Institute Building was formally inaugurated on May 5, 2017. Record ID#44094 captures the grant for the original establishment of the Confucius Institute at the University of Western Kentucky University. The Model Confucius Institute grew controversy and concern when announced, with faculty members questioning how it would fit into the university's programs and what would happen if political relations between China and the U.S. changed (with WKU officials noting a prorated penalty if it was shut down early). Students expressed concerns about Chinese government influence on an American college campus, and the student government disproved of the 50-year timeframe being public knowledge, and required the contract be reconsidered in summer 2015. Additionally, the $800,000 USD taken from the coal technology lab Institute for Combustion Science and Environmental Technology was noted as relevant as it was a partner of the Confucius Institute while the Chinese Government was targeting clean coal technology. In 2019, the WKU closed the Confucius Institute due to the passage of the National Defense Authorization Act of 2019 restricting the university's ability to both host a Confucius Institute and receive certain federal funding and terminated the Model Confucius Institute building contract. WKU had attempted to receive a waiver, but failed to do so. WKU argued it was a force majeure, allowing it to withdraw without repaying Hanban for the building's early loss, but offered $678,000 USD to it anyway, a "friendly negotiation" which Hanban declined and pressed for $1,883,000 USD, arguing WKU terminated the building contract for convenience. On December 20, 2021, the Center for Language Education and Cooperation (Hanban's successor) filed legal action against the university, seeking $3,224,720 USD as of June 6, 2021, with an additional penalty of $1,864 USD per day it was not paid, arguing that it was due by WKU to Hanban due 45 days after termination on June 6, 2019.