Dear UC Santa Cruz Community,
On September 10, 2025, the U.S. Department of Education announced it would discontinue funding for seven federal grant programs that support higher education Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs). At UC Santa Cruz, this impacted two Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) programs and an Asian American, Native American, and Pacific Islander-Serving Institution (AANAPISI) program. While our federal designations remain in place, the grants associated with these programs were no longer available to institutions after September 30, 2025.
Thanks to the prompt work of our HSI Initiatives team, a carry-forward request was submitted and approved by the Department of Education, allowing us to continue offering services this academic year despite the loss of previously awarded federal funding.
UCSC currently holds four active grants supporting 15 initiatives. The two grants most affected by the defunding are CULTURA and Cultivamos Excelencia, totaling a $3.6 million loss. Ending these federal programs impacts not only current efforts but also the future of how federal funds would support our ability to expand education opportunities for Latiné and other underrepresented populations.
Despite this news, UCSC’s commitment to serving Latiné and all students remains unshaken. We are leaning into student-centered programs, practices, and decision-making, guided by our commitment to educational access and student success. Our HSI Initiatives team, HSI Leadership Committee, and grant leadership committees are working with collaborators, including students, administrators, staff, and faculty, to engage in four strategies moving forward:
- Identify and prioritize continuation of programs and practices that have evidence of impact for student success
- Apply to new external funding programs
- Work with our campus community, including but not limited to the departments currently and previously funded with HSI grants, the Student Union Assembly, and campus leadership
- Advocate in partnership with UCSC and UC Office of the President federal and community relations efforts.
We know our campus community has questions, and we encourage you to explore the Frequently Asked Questions section on this page for additional details and ongoing updates.
In community,
Charis Herzon
charish@ucsc.edu
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
How can I learn more and/or get involved?
- Share your story with us! If you have participated in one or more HSI-funded programs or services, let us know how you have personally benefited.
- Contact your local representatives.
- Find your local representatives.
- Letter from Congress to the Department of Education
- Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU)
- Share your HSI Story with HACU
- HACU will defend HSI National Lawsuit: Tennessee and Students for Fair Admissions (SFFA) v. Department of Education
- Excelencia in Education Call to Action
- Aside from HSI grants, UC research funding is also at risk. Click here to learn more: Stand Up for UC.
Students interested in advocating for UCSC?
Connect with or join Lobby Corps, the Student Union Assembly committee that develops and leads local, state, and federal advocacy on behalf of UCSC undergraduates.
Contact: SUA Vice Chair of External Affairs: suavcea@ucsc.edu or Lobby Corps Director: sualcd@ucsc.edu Fill out the interest form to get involved!
What has been the impact of HSI funding since UCSC received the first grants in 2015?
Our campus was recognized as an HSI and as an AANAPISI in 2014. For more than 10 years, the HSI Initiatives team has led the charge on applying for and receiving nine federal 5-year grants, partnering with over 45 departments. As of March 2025, HSI grant-funded programs have served over 16,400 students.
These collaborations have enhanced our campus capacity by expanding our partners’ resources to house and implement programs and services that support undergraduate and graduate students through a range of educational opportunities, including but not limited to research and professional internships, redesigned courses, advising, transfer programs, and graduate student support. The programs funded by these grants were intentionally designed to improve retention and graduation rates, as well as career, transfer, and graduate pathways for Latiné students, and are open to all students.
Through grant evaluations, we have consistently seen improved grades and pass rates in redesigned courses, increased enrollment from transfer students at partner community colleges, a greater sense of belonging, higher retention among STEM majors, career readiness, and community cultural wealth among students in HSI funding programs.
While HSI grant funding has enabled us to explore new practices for increased impact, our campus partners have been serving and meeting Latiné students’ needs well before UCSC was designated as an HSI. These collective efforts have enabled our campus to receive the Seal of Excelencia certification from 2022 to 2025, and the recertification from 2025 to 2028.
What units and departments are still receiving HSI grant funding to lead programs and services this year?
HSI Initiatives Office, Learning Support Services, Career Success, Merrill College, ABC Student Success, Writing Center, Service to Transfer and Resilient Scholars (STARRS), El Centro, Psychology Department, Education Department, and the Global and Community Health Program.
What will happen to currently funded programs after this year?
While we currently do not know what the future holds for the sustainability of all current HSI-grant-funded programs, which are also influenced by campus-wide core budget challenges, we will prioritize the implementation and continuation of programs that best serve our students’ needs. We will seek external funding resources, collaborate with campus units to strengthen our Educational Ecosystem, and continue to advocate for the reinstatement of the HSI programs at the Federal level.
A message from University of California President James Milliken illuminates that the broad federal defunding is a significant loss and a call to action to come together as a community in support of our students. Additionally, Chancellor Larive asserted our commitment to supporting all students. Our recent Seal of Excelencia Recertification provides evidence that we will continue to be intentional in campus-wide efforts to serve Latiné and all students.