Ten Arizona colleges and universities are facing steep losses after the Trump administration cut discretionary Education Department funding for Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs), a move expected to remove at least $13 million in grants statewide. Officials said the decision—framed as ending “racial and ethnic quotas”—will slash tutoring, advising, and mental health programs serving low-income and first-generation students.
The cuts affect multiple Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) and Native American-serving schools, including the University of Arizona, Northern Arizona University, Pima Community College, and the Maricopa Community College District. Programs like UA’s Project ADELANTE and NAU’s Comunidad, Cultura y Conexión will be scaled back or shut down, impacting thousands of students.
Education advocates warned the move will “devastate” student success efforts. UCLA’s Mike Hoa Nguyen called it “horrible and misguided,” while Rutgers University’s Marybeth Gasman said cutting support for institutions educating “over 50% of students of color” is “mind-blowing.”
Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs urged Education Secretary Linda McMahon to restore funds, calling the colleges “part of the fabric of Arizona’s higher education system.” Critics counter the grants were unconstitutional, arguing they unfairly prioritized race in funding allocation.
Originally published on NewsFactsNetwork.com
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