The International Studies in Higher Education Act is creating a stir among national education advocacy organizations and university faculties because it includes the creation of a controversial International Advisory Board, said Paul Hassen, spokesman for the American Council on Education.
The act, which is now being considered by the Senate, passed the House of Representatives in October.
The board would evaluate, monitor and be able to give recommendations to the federal government regarding foreign language and international studies programs supported by Title VI of the Higher Education Act, according to the text of the bill.
Title VI funding is aimed at helping American students learn about and better understand foreign regions through government funding.
Some conservative scholars and think tanks across the country have complained that Title VI funding is being spent on academic studies programs that have anti-American bias. The House of Representatives acted on these concerns by creating the board to monitor this.
Stephen Kurtz, a research fellow at the Hoover Institution - a think tank at Stanford University - testified before the House of Representatives in support of the International Advisory Board.
Unless steps are taken to balance university faculties with members who both support and oppose American foreign policy
the very purpose of free speech and academic freedom will have been defeated Kurtz stated in House testimony.
But, organizations such as the National Education Association and the American Council on Education have expressed concern about the Advisory Board and its powers.
National Education Association spokeswoman Anjetta McQueen said the association supports
the creation of a well-structured Advisory Board for Title VI international education programs to promote new ideas for improvements in the program, but worries the board's creation may have unintended consequences.
The current legislation leaves open the possibility that the advisory board could intrude into the academic conduct and content of higher education and could impinge on institutional decisions about curriculum and activities she said.
The American Council on Education, a higher education lobby organization that represents more than 100 education organizations and 1,600 college campuses nationwide has expressed concerns about the bill to Congress.
As (the bill) is currently set up
it leaves many questions about things such as program development
faculty selection and curriculum development
Hassen said.
Some Ohio University professors also have expressed concern about the creation of an Advisory Board and the possibility that it is being supported to further a conservative ideological agenda, said Dr. Thomas Walker, a professor of political science and former director of Latin American Studies at OU.
I'm concerned not so much about the board
but the motive behind it
Walker said. Title VI funding has been non-partisan funding. It seems now that there would be an ideological agenda behind who gets these awards
and these awards should be made based on merit
not ideology.
