Last month, the Trump administration announced that it will no longer fund a variety of programs, including Developing Hispanic-Serving Institutions. PNW earned its official designation as a Hispanic Serving Institution from the Department of Education during the summer of 2024, making PNW the largest HSI in Indiana.
That designation made PNW eligible for grants that would fund tutoring programs, academic support services and financial aid initiatives.
The federal decision will redirect $350 million that had been earmarked for institutions that meet racial or ethnic quotas. The decision followed a U.S. Solicitor General’s opinion that the Hispanic-Serving Institutions programs “violate the equal-protection component of the Fifth Amendment’s Due Process Clause,” effectively ruling the programs unconstitutional.
Many students voiced frustration that the Trump Administration decided to abandon HSI funding suddenly – with no advance notice.
“I think that will pull the carpet from under people,” said Ian Bussey, a sophomore Mechatronics Engineering Technology major. “Someone I know will get hurt by this decision. … Changing the rules so abruptly is unfair.”
Kira Ishii, a senior Psychology major, agrees.
“I don’t think it’s fair to cancel funding, especially without warning,” she said. “If they were going to cancel the funding, a proper warning should have been given – or even offer an alternative route for those in need of the funding.”
Grace Tafolla, a junior Environmental Science and Policy major, said the government should have warned the public.
“It is not fair for them to change the policy without warning, especially when the school was already budgeting that bonus for aiding students’ education,” she said. “I am worried about many people I know, and myself.”
More than 500 U.S. colleges and universities are official Hispanic Serving Institutions, a designation created by Congress in 1992. Federal funding to support these schools began flowing in 1995. When PNW became an HSI last year, administrators said HSI funds would be used to improve educational opportunity for all students on both campuses.
Though the Trump Administration has not announced specific plans for federal support of minority college students, Izza Aftab worries that the decision to not defend Hispanic Serving Institutions foreshadows cuts to other programs.
“I often worry about potential harm from lost funding,” said Aftab, a sophomore Computer Science major. “If funding is cut, then that means certain scholarships and support programs that are meant to help Hispanic and other underrepresented students will become limited. This makes it harder for students to get bilingual instruction, personalized tutoring, mentoring and other academic resources.”
Alyssa Martinez, a sophomore Criminal Justice major, said federal assistance is critical for many students who cannot afford to pay for college.
“Students rely and depend immensely on this funding,” she said. “Without this funding, the process of making it through college becomes difficult. Making it through college will become an obstacle. T
“This decision feels like an attack on the Hispanic community, making it impossible to get a higher education,” Martinez said. “Indeed, many students currently enrolled at PNW may not be able to finish their education because of this reckless decision made by the current administration, which will take years to recover from.”
