Scrutiny for UConn Sale of Campus to Chinese Company

A Chinese company has offered $12.6 million to purchase a University of Connecticut satellite campus with the aim of converting it into a private high school for international students, but the university “is hardly a disinterested seller,” The Boston Globe reported. The Globe reported that UConn’s Neag School of Education is in discussions to develop a teacher training program in cooperation with the company, Weiming Education Group, which last month spent $46,000 to bring seven university officials to China. UConn’s spokeswoman said that the sale of the property is separate from the Neag School’s negotiations.

The Globe reported that the proposed sale of the campus in West Hartford to Weiming is attracting growing concern in the community, as local officials have learned that a similar program the company runs in Michigan is under investigation by the Department of Homeland Security for its handling of student visas.