When
4:30 – 5:30 p.m., March 4, 2026
The Ad-Hoc Faculty Senate Committee invites members of the University community to participate in a listening session concerning the closure of the University’s joint B.A. and Law program with Ocean University in Qingdao, China. The Faculty Senate appointed the Ad-Hoc committee to explore whether or not University of Arizona administration followed Arizona Board of Regents and University rules and procedures in closing the program. The Ad-Hoc Committee wishes to hear from any interested community members. This will not be a q/a session, this public forum is intended to provide an opportunity for the university community to present their views on the impact of the closure. The session will be held virtually on March 4, 2026, from 4:30-5:30 pm. Persons wishing to speak or listen must register at: https://arizona.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_cTha0qd1SmSjNCmkH9sm3g.
For more information see below:
From 2015 until September 2025, the University of Arizona (U of A) and Ocean University China operated a joint B.A. in Law program in Qingdao, China. Students in China were able to obtain a bachelor’s degree in law from the U of A. The program was administered by the James E. Rogers College of Law. The program was taught, in part, by on-site Professors of Practice who were contracted employees of U of A. The program was highly successful and generated significant revenue for both the U of A and the College of Law.
On September 11, 2025, a Congressional Select Subcommittee issued a majority staff report raising concerns that the United States was exporting sensitive defense related technology to China through several American universities including the U of A. The report did not mention U of A’s joint law program but referenced “joint institutes” between the U of A and China presumably related to technology and scientific information. A copy of the report can be found at https://chinaselectcommittee.house.gov/media/reports/joint-institutes-divided-loyalties.
Even though the B.A. in Law joint program did not deal with sensitive technology, on September 17, 2025, the U of A administration shut down the B.A. in Law program. The U of A notified students one day before the semester was to begin. On September 22, 2025, the U of A gave the Professors of Practice written notice that their contracts would end on October 19, 2026. The University administration has dismissed requests to review the termination filed by the Professors of Practice.
This Ad-Hoc Committee was established by the Faculty Senate to explore whether or not appropriate procedures were followed by the U of A administration under both Board of Regents and University policies and rules – most specifically Board of Regents Policy 6-201(K). The ABOR policy can be found at this link: https://public.powerdms.com/ABOR/documents/1499253.
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