10-10-2019 EducationDepartment says it will fund Middle East studies program after all - Laura Meckler WashingtonPost

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/education-department-says-it-will-fund-middle-east-studies-program-after-all/2019/10/10/ca1f787e-eb89-11e9-9c6d-436a0df4f31d_story.html?nid=menu_nav_accessibilityforscreenreader&outputType=accessibility

 

The Education Department said Thursday it will continue funding a Middle East studies program that it accused of advancing an ideological agenda. But in the face of critics, the agency sent a warning that it would not back off its oversight of similar programs.  In August, the department ordered the Duke-UNC Consortium for Middle East Studies to revise its offerings or risk losing a $235,000 federal grant. It accused the program of promoting a positive view of Islam while virtually ignoring Judaism, Christianity and other religions.  Conservatives have long accused universities of harboring anti-Semitic bias and have called for investigations into course offerings. The agency's August letter was seen as a move to put other universities on notice that such alleged bias would not be tolerated…In a formal response to the Education Department, the University of North Carolina defended the program. It did not offer to change its programs but said it would enhance oversight of the consortium and better record how spending matches the law's requirements…


Posted by Judith Ferster, AIME member


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