Colleges in California's North Bay are preparing for significant program changes after the federal government announced the termination of a grant program for Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs). The decision affects Santa Rosa Junior College, Sonoma State University, and Napa Valley College, which will collectively lose millions of dollars in funding designated to support student success initiatives.
The U.S. Department of Education, under the Trump administration, is ending the 30-year-old HSI grant program, citing concerns that it constitutes an unconstitutional use of racial quotas. The funds will be revoked by September of next year, forcing local institutions to accelerate plans and find alternative ways to sustain vital student services.
Key Takeaways
- Three North Bay colleges—SRJC, SSU, and Napa Valley College—will lose millions in federal HSI grant funding.
- The Trump administration is canceling the nationwide program, affecting over 600 institutions.
- Santa Rosa Junior College will lose over $10.5 million, impacting three specific student support programs.
- Sonoma State University must end its PUERTA initiative, a program designed for students in health and teaching pathways.
- Napa Valley College faces a $10.8 million loss from HSI grants on top of other recent federal funding cuts.
A 30-Year Program Comes to an End
The U.S. Department of Education announced on September 10 its decision to cancel the HSI grant program, which has been in place since 1995. The department stated the program was based on "racial quotas" and was therefore "discriminatory" against students who are not Hispanic.
The funds, amounting to tens of millions of dollars nationwide, are slated to be redirected to historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and tribal schools. This move has drawn criticism from state officials and education leaders.
What is a Hispanic-Serving Institution?
A college or university earns the federal designation of a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) when at least 25% of its full-time undergraduate student population identifies as Hispanic or Latino. This designation makes the institution eligible for specific federal grants aimed at improving facilities and educational opportunities for all students.
State Senator Christopher Cabaldon, who represents parts of Sonoma and Napa counties, called the decision "abhorrent." He argued that the reallocation of funds was a "very cynical" attempt to create division between different communities.
"This is really about a network the federal government has helped curate and advance, to improve Latino student achievement," Cabaldon said, explaining that the grants help institutions learn what works best for serving their students.
Impact on Santa Rosa Junior College
Santa Rosa Junior College (SRJC), where 41% of students identify as Hispanic or Latino, is set to lose more than $10.5 million. This funding supported three key initiatives aimed at improving student completion rates and academic success.
SRJC Programs Affected
- Lazamiento ($2.8 million): Focused on helping students transfer to four-year universities.
- Avanzando ($4.7 million): Supported students in STEM and health sciences programs.
- Transformando ($3 million): Aimed to improve online learning and ethnic studies support.
SRJC President Dr. Angélica Garcia stated that the college had already been working to integrate the services from the Lazamiento and Avanzando grants into the broader campus curriculum. However, the work of the Transformando grant will now need to be accelerated.
Dr. Garcia also addressed a common misunderstanding about the funding. "One of the misconceptions that happens around HSIs is that those dollars are only for students who are Hispanic," she explained. "That could not be further from the truth. The federal grant dollars support access and student success and completion and those programs are available to all students."
Despite the setback, Garcia affirmed the college's commitment. "While I am incredibly disheartened... the work does not stop — we will not be distracted by this," she said.
Napa Valley College Faces Multiple Funding Losses
At Napa Valley College, where approximately half of the student body is Latino, the cuts amount to $10.8 million across three separate HSI grants. While two of these grants were nearing their scheduled end, a third, the $2.9 million Circulo program, was intended to run through 2027.
The Circulo program provides crucial support for distance education, technology infrastructure, and peer mentoring for Hispanic and first-generation students.
This loss is compounded by another recent funding issue. The college's TRIO Student Support Services grant, which provided over $300,000 annually to support 130 low-income, first-generation, and disabled students, was not renewed after its expiration on August 31.
Superintendent Torence Powell issued a statement acknowledging the challenge. "Because of the constantly evolving federal funding landscape, we are in the process of evaluating the impacts that cuts to HSI funding may have and how to address those shortfalls," he said.
Sonoma State University to Shutter PUERTA Initiative
Sonoma State University (SSU) will also feel the impact of the federal cuts. The university will lose funding for its PUERTA initiative, a program that received a nearly $3 million five-year grant to increase the number of Hispanic students in demanding fields like pre-professional health, nursing, and teaching.
The loss comes at a difficult time for SSU, which has been dealing with a significant budget deficit and recent leadership changes. Gerald Jones, SSU's vice president of student affairs, explained that the university received a no-cost extension through next August, which will allow for a gradual phasing out of the program's services.
"It means we now have less resources to expand mentoring, advising and career programs which support those served by PUERTA – first-generation, low-income, Latino students," Jones stated. "And it slows our progress toward our equity goals."
The California State University system chancellor, Mildred Garcia, emphasized the broader damage of the HSI program's termination. "Without this funding, students will lose the critical support they need to succeed in the classroom, complete their degrees on time, and achieve social mobility for themselves and their families," she said in a statement. The CSU system includes 21 of California's 167 HSIs.
Community leaders also expressed concern. Stephanie Manieri, executive director of Latino Service Providers, noted that these programs offer essential resources. "Without these resources," she said, "many students are going to struggle to navigate higher education alone."