High school Chinese language courses are casualty of cuts to University of Iowa - Molly Duffy, the Gazette

State budget cuts the University of Iowa says are causing it to close some university centers could mean the end of Chinese language courses at Iowa City high schools. The Confucius Institute — which offers Chinese language classes at West High, City High and Liberty High — is set to shutter in July 2019. It’s one of seven centers the UI intends to close in response to funding cuts. The university hopes the closures, along with funding reductions to three other centers, will save $3.5 million. “It’s a very unfortunate decision that was made, considering this is a very good opportunity for high school students,” said Xi Ma, the Confucius Institute’s curriculum coordinator. “ ... Taking classes in high school or the early years in college equips them with the knowledge and skill that’s required to better serve people of various languages and cultural backgrounds.” https://www.thegazette.com/subject/news/education/high-school-chinese-language-courses-are-casualty-of-cuts-to-university-of-iowa-20180727