Dominican University of California is facing a big change now that the Trump administration plans to end federal funding for Hispanic-Serving Institutions. This decision cuts off millions in grants that have powered programs supporting Latino and low-income students. Not just Dominican, but hundreds of colleges nationwide will feel the impact, since many count on these funds to boost academic support and help more students graduate.
The administration claims these programs create unconstitutional racial preferences. University leaders, on the other hand, warn this move will set back campuses that serve diverse student bodies. At Dominican, losing this funding could shrink resources that have helped first-generation students, improved faculty training, and opened up new opportunities in science and technology.
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Overview of the Trump Administration’s Decision
The Trump administration decided to restrict federal grants that went to Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs), including Dominican University of California. Leaders at the Department of Education described it as part of a bigger change in how higher education programs should get money and be evaluated.
Announcement and Timeline
The Department of Education made the announcement in early 2025 during a round of budget guidance updates. Officials said HSIs wouldn’t get funding renewed for the next fiscal year.
People had already been speculating for months, since earlier proposals from the administration hinted at cuts to higher education research and diversity programs. Universities like Dominican University of California, which rely on HSI grants, got only a short time to adjust their budgets.
The phase-out included multi-year grants, so schools with current funding would see support end when contracts ran out. New applications stopped after March 2025. This tight schedule left schools scrambling to plan for faculty hires, student services, and community programs that depended on these grants.
Scope of Funding Cuts
The decision targeted Title V grants, which go to colleges where at least 25% of students identify as Hispanic. These funds usually support tutoring, academic advising, and mentoring programs that help more students graduate.
For Dominican University of California, this meant losing funding that had helped expand bilingual counseling and build partnerships with local high schools. Other HSIs across the country raised similar concerns, like having to cut back on STEM initiatives and campus resource centers.
The Department of Education said they wouldn’t introduce a replacement program. Unlike other cuts that focused on research funding, this move hit student support services directly. Schools with small endowments or little state funding felt especially vulnerable, since they didn’t have extra resources to make up the difference.
Federal Rationale for Ending Grants
The Trump administration argued that HSI-specific grants duplicated other federal higher education programs. Officials insisted colleges should compete for general funding, not get targeted grants based on student demographics.
The Department of Education also pushed cost control. By cutting HSI grants, the administration said it could lower administrative overhead and put more money toward broader workforce development.
Critics pointed out that this reasoning matched other moves by the administration to pull back on diversity, equity, and inclusion programs. Federal lawyers in similar cases had argued that specialized grants drove up costs compared to private funding standards. This logic echoed arguments made in disputes over university research funding, where the administration tried to cap indirect costs.
Many institutions wondered if federal policy was shifting away from targeted support for minority-serving colleges altogether.
Impact on Dominican University of California and Other Hispanic-Serving Institutions
Ending federal support for Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) would hit institutional budgets and the students who depend on these programs. Dominican University of California and similar schools use these funds to increase access, improve retention, and offer fair opportunities for underrepresented students.
Role of HSIs in Higher Education
Hispanic-Serving Institutions help open up higher education for more people. The U.S. Department of Education defines them as colleges and universities where at least 25% of undergraduates identify as Hispanic or Latino.
Dominican University of California qualifies as an HSI and has also earned the Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institution designation. This shows just how diverse its student body is and highlights its mission to serve groups that have been left out historically.
HSI funding pays for tutoring, mentoring, and first-year experience programs. These efforts help more students graduate and move into careers. Without them, many colleges would struggle to offer the same support.
Effects on Latino and Hispanic Students
Latino and Hispanic students make up almost 30% of Dominican University of California’s undergrads. Many are the first in their families to go to college and really count on financial aid and academic support to make it through.
Federal HSI grants have brought millions to Dominican to expand opportunities for Hispanic students. For instance, the university received a five-year $3 million grant to strengthen academic programs and boost retention.
If this funding disappears, students might lose access to dedicated advising, bilingual resources, and culturally relevant programming. That could widen achievement gaps and make it harder for students to graduate or move forward in their careers.
California’s HSI Landscape
California has more HSIs than almost anywhere else, including community colleges and private schools. These institutions serve hundreds of thousands of Hispanic students every year.
Dominican University of California, though small with just over 1,100 students, fits into this bigger picture. Its HSI status connects it to a statewide network of colleges focused on equity.
Cuts to HSI funding wouldn’t just affect Dominican. Dozens of California community colleges and universities rely on these grants to keep programs for Hispanic students running. The effect would ripple across the state’s higher education system.
Legal and Political Challenges
The fight over federal funding for minority-serving institutions involves legal battles, shifting enforcement priorities, and ongoing debates over affirmative action. Courts, states, and federal agencies all play a part in deciding how universities can support underrepresented students while following the law.
Tennessee and Students for Fair Admissions Lawsuit
Tennessee has become a key player in recent lawsuits about higher education equity. After the Supreme Court’s 2023 decision in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard, which ended race-conscious admissions, Tennessee officials pushed for strict enforcement against universities with any race-based programs.
This lawsuit changed the national conversation. Tennessee argued that even practices that indirectly consider race violate Title VI of the Civil Rights Act and the Equal Protection Clause.
For places like Dominican University of California, which gets federal money as an HSI, these legal interpretations create a lot of uncertainty. Dominican doesn’t use race-based admissions, but federal agencies might still scrutinize scholarships, mentoring, or faculty recruitment programs that seem focused on certain ethnic groups.
Justice Department’s Position
The Justice Department under the Trump administration took a tough stance on diversity policies. It sent directives to universities, warning that federal funds could be pulled if they didn’t dismantle programs seen as discriminatory.
In reality, this means Hispanic-Serving Institutions face more review of how they spend resources. Programs designed to help Latino students might get examined to make sure they’re race-neutral and open to everyone.
The Department’s position fits with broader executive actions that limit diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. By teaming up with the Department of Education, the Justice Department has become a major force in redefining compliance standards for federally funded schools.
Constitutionality and Affirmative Action Debates
The constitutionality of affirmative action sits at the heart of these disputes. The Supreme Court’s decision in Students for Fair Admissions made it clear that race can’t factor into admissions, but left some gray areas around outreach and support programs.
Legal experts say universities can still pursue socioeconomic or geographic diversity, but any policy that openly favors a racial group risks a challenge. This puts Hispanic-Serving Institutions in a tough spot, since they’re recognized for serving student bodies that are at least 25% Hispanic.
Some lawmakers in Congress argue that even federal recognition of minority-serving institutions could face constitutional tests. Others say these designations are race-neutral, since they’re based on enrollment numbers, not admissions preferences.
The outcome of these debates will shape how universities like Dominican follow federal law while still serving their students.
Broader Implications for Minority-Serving Institutions
Pulling back from defending the Hispanic-Serving Institutions program could change how federal support reaches colleges that serve underrepresented groups. It also raises tough questions about what equity in higher education funding really means, and what role the government should play in keeping these institutions going.
Potential Consequences for Minority Students
Minority-serving institutions (MSIs) give access to students who might be the first in their families to go to college, come from low-income backgrounds, or work while studying. Without targeted funding, these students may lose out on academic resources and key support services.
For example, Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) use federal grants to expand tutoring, advising, and career readiness programs. Losing this money could make it harder for Hispanic students to stay in school and graduate.
The impact wouldn’t stop with Hispanic students. Many MSIs, like Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs) and Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), serve all kinds of students. A cut in one program could mean trouble for others, too.
Lack of financial support might also push tuition higher. Colleges that rely on federal aid to keep costs down could end up shifting more expenses onto students, making college even less affordable for those already struggling.
Future of Federal Support for Colleges
The federal government has usually supported MSIs through competitive grants and direct funding. Programs like the Developing Hispanic-Serving Institutions initiative were meant to make colleges more stable and open up new opportunities. If these legal challenges succeed, those programs might disappear or change a lot.
The lawsuit against HSIs claims the 25% enrollment threshold for Hispanic students isn’t constitutional. If courts agree, it could set a precedent affecting other MSI designations. That would put funding for HBCUs, Tribal Colleges, and AANAPISIs at risk, too.
Some experts think Congress might need to come up with new funding models based on economic need instead of student demographics. But those changes could take years, leaving colleges in limbo for now. This kind of uncertainty makes it tough for schools that count on federal support to plan for the future.
Responses from Educational Leaders
Educational leaders keep raising concerns about losing funding. A lot of them say this decision undercuts efforts to help students who already face tough barriers to higher education. Leaders at places like Dominican University of California call these programs essential for student success, and honestly, it’s hard to disagree with them.
The New York Times reported that administrators rely on these grants to give first-generation and low-income students a real shot. Without that money, colleges just can’t offer the same academic support or do as much outreach. It’s a tough situation.
National organizations, like the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities, warn that cutting HSI funding would hit hundreds of institutions across the country. These groups keep telling policymakers that these programs help everyone, not just students from specific backgrounds.
Some leaders want schools to work together and push for new funding sources. Others are already tweaking budgets and looking for private partners to fill the gaps. People have different ideas about what to do, but they’re all worried about how to keep serving students well if federal support dries up.
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