The Trump administration announced its support for ending a grant program for colleges with large numbers of Latino students — threatening millions in funding for Nevada’s five Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSI). The institutions that face funding cuts from the Trump administration are the College of Southern Nevada, UNLV, Truckee Meadows Community College, Western Nevada College, and UNR as of 2024.
Donald Trump’s sweeping cuts would have “profound ramifications” in Nevada, as 35 percent of students enrolled in higher education identify as Hispanic compared to 23 percent nationwide. Instead of fighting for Nevada’s five Hispanic-serving colleges, Joe Lombardo remains silent and continues to put Trump before Nevadans.
The Lombardo-Trump plan to eliminate the Department of Education threatens nearly $1 billion per year in funding for Nevada schools and students. If Lombardo and Trump get their way, funding for Pell Grants, community colleges, special education, career and technical education, and other essential services for Nevada students will also be on the chopping block.
Read more below:
The Nevada Independent: Justice Dept. won’t defend grants for Hispanic-serving colleges, including 5 in Nevada
Key points:
- The Trump administration said Friday it will not defend a decades-old grant program for colleges with large numbers of Hispanic students that is being challenged in court — a move that could jeopardize the millions in funding Nevada’s five Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSI) receive each year.
- The designation has made Nevada colleges eligible for grants exclusive to Hispanic-Serving Institutions, such as a nearly $3 million, five-year “Math Map” grant for the College of Southern Nevada aimed at helping students succeed in college math.
- If the program were to end, it could have profound ramifications in Nevada, where 35 percent of the students enrolled in the Nevada System of Higher Education identify as Hispanic in comparison to the 23 percent in higher education nationwide. Most of Nevada’s major colleges are in Clark or Washoe counties, which have the state’s heaviest concentration of Latinos, per the U.S. Census.
- Nevada’s Hispanic-Serving Institutions are the College of Southern Nevada, UNLV, Truckee Meadows Community College and Western Nevada College. UNR also met the criteria in 2024 to be deemed as an HSI with at least 25 percent of its students identifying as Hispanic or Latino and half of its student body eligible for Title IV federal need-based aid.
- Former President Joe Biden made Hispanic universities a priority, signing an executive action last year that promised a new presidential advisory board and increased funding. The Biden administration touted that it had directed nearly $337 million in federal money toward Nevada’s Hispanic-Serving Institutions, including regular grants and COVID relief money.
- President Donald Trump revoked Biden’s order his first day in office.
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