The proposal of establishing a Confucius Institute at the University of Memphis in part­nership with Hubei University in Wuhan, China, was submitted to and approved by the Confucius Institute Headquarters on May 29, 2007. Both the University of Memphis and Hubei University jointly agreed to declare and sign an agreement to establish a Confucius Institute.
On August 13, 2007, the Confucius Institute at the University of Memphis (here­inafter CIUM) was officially inaugurated. It is the first Confucius Institute in Tennessee as well as the Mid-South, and the 24th of such Institute in the United States.
Confucius Institute at the University of Memphis (CIUM) is home to the Asian Studies and International Trade (ASIT) degree program. It is the first such academic program affiliated with any Confucius Institute in the world. Dr. Hsiang-te Kung, a 75th direct descendant of Confucius and a tenured professor at the University of Memphis, has been serving as the Director since 2007. Dan Ye has been serving as the current Associate Director since 2017.
The mission of the CIUM is to build a bridge between the Mid-South region and China and East Asia, providing additional opportunities and resources to teach, promote, and provide Chinese language and cultural programs and classes as well as programs related to China and East Asia.
CIUM has been recognized as one of the best Confucius Institutes of the Year in 2011 and 2013 by the CI Headquarters (HANBAN). The Tennessee State Government passed resolutions to recognize the contributions and accomplishments of the CIUM in 2008, 2010 and 2013.
Official Website of CIUM：https://www.memphis.edu/cium/
