Several Connecticut universities and colleges are assessing the impact of a recent U.S. Department of Education decision to eliminate approximately $350 million in grant funding for Minority-Serving Institutions. The move jeopardizes multi-million dollar initiatives at the University of Connecticut and other state schools designed to support student retention and success.
The department announced on September 10 that it would end several discretionary grant programs, stating they were unconstitutional because they provided funds exclusively to institutions with high enrollments of minority students. This policy shift affects numerous programs across Connecticut focused on academic support, teacher recruitment, and mentorship.
Key Takeaways
- The U.S. Department of Education has cut roughly $350 million in funding for Minority-Serving Institutions (MSI) grant programs.
- The administration argues the grants are discriminatory because they are tied to racial or ethnic enrollment quotas.
- Multiple programs at the University of Connecticut, collectively worth over $7 million, are directly impacted by the funding cancellation.
- Connecticut State Colleges and Universities (CSCU) system leaders have expressed concern, emphasizing the role these grants play in student success.
- The eliminated funds are being redirected to other programs, including those for historically Black colleges and tribal colleges.
UConn Programs Lose Critical Federal Funding
The University of Connecticut, which has four campuses designated as Minority-Serving Institutions, is now facing significant financial challenges for several key student support initiatives. According to university spokeswoman Stephanie Reitz, UConn is actively working to determine the full scope of the impact on its programs and students.
At least three major grant-funded projects at UConn have been directly affected by the administration's decision, putting their futures in question.
TEAS Project at UConn Hartford
One of the most immediately impacted initiatives is the Transformation, Equity, Access, and Sense of Belonging (TEAS) project at UConn Hartford. The program was designed to support the campus's growing Asian American student population through academic services, mentorship, and mental health resources.
TEAS was in its third year of a five-year, $1.9 million grant when the funding was canceled. Jason Chang, director of the Asian and Asian American Studies Institute at UConn, described the news as devastating.
"We were devastated. ... We were just getting started," Chang stated. He explained that the grant funded essential staff, including a mental health clinician, a visiting assistant professor, and numerous student workers.
Chang noted that the project has enough rollover funds to continue its operations for the current academic year. The university is now exploring ways to sustain the program long-term.
Initiatives Supporting Hispanic Students
The decision also halts funding from the Developing Hispanic-Serving Institutions (DHSI) program, which supported two other major UConn initiatives. Both grants were valued at $2.8 million each over five years.
What Are Hispanic-Serving Institutions?
A Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) is a college or university where at least 25% of the undergraduate student body is Hispanic. This federal designation makes institutions eligible for specific grants aimed at improving academic programs and student services for all students.
The "Sueños Scholars" initiative, a partnership between UConn Stamford and the Neag School of Education, aimed to recruit and mentor Hispanic students into master's degree programs for teaching. The goal was to increase the number of teachers from underrepresented communities in Connecticut schools.
Another program, "Camima Conmigo" at UConn Waterbury, used its DHSI grant to provide career preparation, academic support, and engagement opportunities for Hispanic and other under-resourced students. These efforts were part of a broader university strategy to enhance student success across its regional campuses.
Impact on the Connecticut State College and University System
The funding cuts also have potential consequences for the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities (CSCU) system, where several campuses hold MSI designations. O. John Maduko, the interim chancellor of CSCU, highlighted the importance of these federal funds.
"Grant programs for minority-serving and Hispanic-serving institutions change lives. This funding lifts up all of our students and gives everyone the tools needed to succeed," Maduko said in a statement. "These grants are a direct investment in student success and outcomes."
Multiple CSCU community colleges are designated as Hispanic-Serving Institutions, including campuses for CT State Capital, Gateway, Housatonic, Naugatuck Valley, Norwalk, and Tunxis. However, only CT State Capital in Hartford had an active HSI grant, a $3 million award from 2020 that is now in its final year. A CSCU spokeswoman confirmed they have not received a notice of termination for that grant.
Connecticut's Hispanic-Serving Institutions
In addition to several community colleges, Western Connecticut State University in Danbury also recently earned the HSI designation in 2023. However, the university had not yet accessed any federal HSI funding before the programs were canceled.
Debate Over the Legality and Purpose of the Grants
The Department of Education's rationale for cutting the funds centers on the argument that the programs are discriminatory. In its September 10 announcement, the department claimed the grants "discriminate by conferring government benefits exclusively to institutions that meet racial or ethnic quotas."
This interpretation is disputed by many in higher education. Proponents argue that the grants are not based on quotas or affirmative action but are designed to support institutions that already serve a significant number of minority and low-income students. The funding is intended to improve resources and outcomes for the entire student body at these schools.
Jesse Bernal, President of Western Connecticut State University, addressed this point directly in a recent op-ed. "The HSI program is not affirmative action. It doesn’t change admissions decisions," Bernal wrote. "It directs federal support to colleges already serving large numbers of students from Hispanic and low-income families so they can succeed at the same rates as everyone else."
Jason Chang of UConn echoed this sentiment, calling the administration's reasoning a "manipulation of these facts" and arguing that the policy is a misguided attempt at colorblind politics that will ultimately harm underserved communities.
Redirected Funds and Future Outlook
Following the cuts, the Department of Education announced on September 15 that it would redirect nearly $500 million in federal funding. The reprogrammed funds are designated for historically Black colleges, tribal colleges, and charter schools.
In a statement, Education Secretary Linda McMahon said the department had "carefully scrutinized our federal grants, ensuring that taxpayers are not funding racially discriminatory programs, but those programs which promote merit and excellence in education."
For the affected programs in Connecticut, the future remains uncertain. University leaders are now tasked with finding alternative funding sources to continue the work of initiatives that they say have proven successful in improving access, retention, and graduation rates for all students. The long-term impact on student services and academic support at these institutions will become clearer in the coming months.
