FOIA Request: Records Related to Section 117 Enforcement and the University of Pennsylvania’s Biden Center for Diplomacy and Global Engagement
| Agency | Department of Education |
|---|---|
| Type | FOIA Request |
| Issue | Center for Diplomacy and Global EngagementForeign Gifts |
| Tracking | DFI FOIA No. 100-3-22 |
| Date | Feb 7, 2022 |
The U.S. Department of Education has made significant changes to its enforcement of Section 117 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. § 1011f). Section 117 requires colleges and universities to report foreign source gifts and contracts with an annual value of $250,000 or more. The University of Pennsylvania received vast amounts of foreign source gifts and contracts following its establishment of the Biden Center in 2017. Various higher education interest groups which oppose stringent Section 117 reporting requirements have advocated for less enforcement by the Department. Since January 20, 2021, the Department has lessened its enforcement efforts. DFI’s FOIA request is for records of communications from and with those interest groups to senior Department officials.
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