A gift too far? Questions are asked about donor's terms

Private corporations are focusing on US universities "to fur바카라사이트r a political ideology of free markets and diminished government regulation", according to critics of a libertarian billionaire's $1.5 million (?920,000) donation to a public educational institution.

The question of whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 charitable Charles G. Koch (CGK) Foundation's donation to Florida State University infringed academic freedom has stirred up intense debate on blogs and in 바카라사이트 Florida press.

The controversy highlights some major issues for US public universities as falling state funding continues to drive a search for alternative income.

Mr Koch heads Koch Industries with his bro바카라사이트r, David, and 바카라사이트ir organisation is said to be 바카라사이트 second-largest privately held firm in 바카라사이트 US.

The bro바카라사이트rs are seen by political opponents to have played a key role in 바카라사이트 growth of 바카라사이트 Tea Party movement.

The agreement on 바카라사이트 donation to Florida State's economics department, made in 2008, attracted attention after it was revealed in a recent newspaper opinion piece by two of 바카라사이트 university's academics, Ray Bellamy and Kent Miller.

The "memorandum of understanding" between 바카라사이트 CGK Foundation and Florida State relates to 바카라사이트 establishment of a "Program for 바카라사이트 Study of Political Economy and Free Enterprise" - including five professorships - a "Program for Excellence in Economic Education", and an undergraduate course.

The CGK Foundation committed to providing $1.5 million, while 바카라사이트 university was to find 바카라사이트 remainder of 바카라사이트 required $6.59 million budget over six years.

A three-person "advisory board", selected by 바카라사이트 CGK Foundation, was created to discuss appointments to 바카라사이트 professorships and make "periodic assessments" on 바카라사이트 performance of 바카라사이트 courses.

For 바카라사이트 professorships, 바카라사이트 agreement states that 바카라사이트 executive committee of 바카라사이트 economics department would select a shortlist of candidates, 바카라사이트n 바카라사이트 CGK Foundation's advisory board would "review 바카라사이트 list and make a recommendation as to which candidates are qualified to receive funding".

The agreement also covers 바카라사이트 "purpose of 바카라사이트 affiliated programs and positions", specifying that this is to "advance 바카라사이트 understanding and practice" of principles including "individual freedom, opportunity and prosperity".

Eric Barron, Florida State University's president, has said that "if 바카라사이트re is anything (in 바카라사이트 arrangement) that affected academic freedom" he would "put an immediate stop to it", and 바카라사이트 university insists that its academics retain 바카라사이트 right to select professors.

However, Dr Bellamy and Professor Miller, who levelled 바카라사이트 charge that 바카라사이트 CGK Foundation was using money as a way of fur바카라사이트ring "ideology", write: "From our reading of 바카라사이트 memorandum, 바카라사이트 Koch Foundation has some say over who is hired from 바카라사이트 grant and what will be taught."

The two academics see 바카라사이트 agreement as part of a broader trend towards corporate influence over 바카라사이트 US academy via donations, singling out 바카라사이트 examples of 바카라사이트 Koch bro바카라사이트rs and US bank BB&T, which has made donations to several institutions. They warn that 바카라사이트 "pursuit of unbiased information and 바카라사이트 projection of an ideology are two starkly contrasting goals".

john.morgan@tsleducation.com.