A new report by the Institute for the Study of Global Antisemitism and Policy (ISGAP) has allegedly uncovered alarming discrepancies in Yale University's reporting of foreign funds, particularly from Qatar. The findings, released Wednesday, suggest a pattern of non-compliance with US federal reporting laws, sparking concerns about transparency in higher education.
According to the report, titled "The Ongoing Failure to Report: Yale University, Qatar, and Undisclosed Foreign Funding, Volume Two," Yale received approximately $15.9 million from Qatar over a decade beginning in 2012. However, the university reported only $284,668 during this period, a significant underreporting that violates Section 117 of the Higher Education Act of 1965.
Qatar's US Embassy put out an official statement denying both any financial or ideological influence on US campuses.
Qatar has reportedly contributed $4.7B to dozens of academic institutions in the USA between 2001-2021.
They have donated more than any country in the world… pic.twitter.com/U5rzylZIXh
— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) June 14, 2024
The ISGAP report, part of its "Follow the Money" project examining foreign funding of US universities since 2012, suggests that Qatar's financial contributions may be part of a broader strategy to exert influence and promote the interests of the Qatari regime. The collaboration between Yale and Qatar allegedly involves numerous undisclosed transactions that do not appear in Yale's financial statements or the US Department of Education's reporting system.
Dr. Charles Asher Small, ISGAP's Executive Director, expressed concern over the implications of these funding practices. "The persistent non-disclosure of substantial foreign funds, as well as contracts, MOUs, and agreements with foreign foundations and government agencies, not only undermines transparency and accountability but also poses significant risks to the integrity of higher education," he said. Small added that "Despite prior investigations and warnings, Yale and other universities continue to engage in practices that violate federal law."
The report also highlights a potential link between foreign funding and antisemitic incidents on US campuses. ISGAP's previous research has shown that antisemitic incidents are more prevalent at universities receiving Qatari funding. "The omission of substantial Qatari grants in Yale University's financial statements raises questions about academic integrity and foreign influence," Small noted. "There is concern that the same is happening at Yale, which has seen a sharp rise in antisemitism on campus since the October 7 attacks in Israel."
To address these issues, ISGAP has proposed several policy recommendations aimed at enhancing transparency and accountability in university funding. These include stricter enforcement of existing disclosure laws, increased scrutiny of foreign donations, and measures to protect academic freedom and institutional autonomy from foreign influence. The organization is calling on the US Department of Education to intensify its oversight to ensure full compliance with federal funding disclosure laws across all universities.
This latest report follows Volume One, released in 2023, which previously exposed non-disclosure practices at several institutions, including Yale. Those findings led to federal investigations in 2019.
