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DENVER, CO – General Assembly Democrats today sent a letter to Colorado’s congressional delegation, calling on them to ensure that funds already appropriated by Congress for Minority-Serving Institution (MSI) programs are awarded as intended.
In the letter, the General Assembly Democrats wrote:
“We are writing with deep concern regarding the U.S. Department of Education’s September 10 decision to discontinue discretionary funding for several Minority-Serving Institution (MSI) programs. We urge you to take immediate action to ensure that funds already appropriated by Congress for the 2025 fiscal year are awarded as intended.”
“Cancelling these program funds, which benefit all students and provide a boost to these critical institutions, would greatly harm Colorado’s students, higher education institutions, and future workforce and amount to a significant setback in our longstanding efforts to better prepare young people for career and life.”
“We, the undersigned Colorado State Legislators, urge you to take action to ensure that previously appropriated funding for MSI programs is delivered to our colleges and universities without delay.”
The full text of the letter is below:
Esteemed Colorado Congressional Delegation Members:
We are writing with deep concern regarding the U.S. Department of Education’s September 10 decision to discontinue discretionary funding for several Minority-Serving Institution (MSI) programs. We urge you to take immediate action to ensure that funds already appropriated by Congress for the 2025 fiscal year are awarded as intended.
The Colorado Community College System (CCCS) has reported significant uncertainty and disruption for institutions and students across the state as a result of this announcement.
CCCS is the largest higher education system in Colorado, with 13 unique colleges and more than 35 locations across the state. CCCS educates over 124,000 students every year, offering low- to no-cost education and career training. Their programs focus on high-demand career paths that power Colorado’s economy and fill workforce shortages in essential industries like behavioral health care and early childhood education.
As of today, four CCCS colleges have received official notices of discontinuation, including three of seven Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) designated colleges and Arapahoe Community College, which is not HSI-designated but holds a Title III grant that is also being discontinued.
If this decision holds, Morgan Community College will lose $1.6 million for a grant to support the creation of a career and transfer center, a new campus-wide advising system with added technology support, and assistance for English as a Second Language students. Planned initiatives will go unrealized and the Grant Director position will be eliminated.
Lamar Community College will lose $3 million for a grant that funds five full-time positions dedicated to serving first-generation, low-income, and Latino students.
Pueblo Community College will lose almost $600,000 for a grant to support the college’s Onboarding initiative, designed to provide a more in-depth and personal approach to helping new students transition to college. Funded activities include learning cohorts and mentoring, a laptop lending program, a financial literacy component, and professional development for faculty and staff.
Arapahoe Community College (ACC) received notice that its Title III block grant is being discontinued, a loss of over $400,000. This would be the final year of a five-year block grant that supports increasing student retention by strengthening advising, tutoring, closing achievement gaps, and expanding data analytics. The early loss of funds will directly affect four full-time staff positions.
CCCS is still awaiting clarity on whether the other HSI-designated colleges, including Community College of Aurora, Community College of Denver, Otero College, and Trinidad State College, will receive similar notices, which would push the total financial effect beyond the more than $5.6 million identified to date. Additionally, the two largest institutions within CCCS, Front Range Community College and Pikes Peak State College, are emerging Hispanic-Serving Institutions preparing for future eligibility for these same federal supports.
We are also monitoring the status of federal TRIO programs such as Talent Search, Upward Bound, and Student Support Services. While Colorado’s TRIO programs have not yet been affected, institutions across the country are reporting uncertainty and disruptions. Any reductions or delays in TRIO funding would jeopardize critical support services that help students from low-income backgrounds, first-generation and under-resourced students, and students with disabilities.
As lawmakers who represent these institutions and who are committed to the success of all Colorado students, regardless of their income or background, we urge you to ensure that funds appropriated by Congress for MSI programs in the current 2025 fiscal year are awarded as intended.
Cancelling these program funds, which benefit all students and provide a boost to these critical institutions, would greatly harm Colorado’s students, higher education institutions, and future workforce and amount to a significant setback in our longstanding efforts to better prepare young people for career and life.
We, the undersigned Colorado State Legislators, urge you to take action to ensure that previously appropriated funding for MSI programs is delivered to our colleges and universities without delay.
Thank you for your ongoing dedication to supporting Colorado’s students and protecting access to affordable, high-quality education for all.
Senator James Coleman
President of the Senate
Representative Julie McCluskie
Speaker of the Colorado House of Representatives
Senator Robert Rodriguez
Majority Leader of the Senate
Representative Monica Duran
Majority Leader of the Colorado House of Representatives
Senator Chris Kolker
Senator Cathy Kipp
Senator Dafna Michaelson Jenet
Senate President Pro Tempore
Senator Dylan Roberts
Majority Caucus Chair
Senator Faith Winter
Senator Iman Jodeh
Senator Janice Marchman
Senator Jeff Bridges
Joint Budget Committee Chair
Senator Jessie Danielson
Senator Judy Amabile
Joint Budget Committee Member
Senator Julie Gonzales
Senator Katie Wallace
Senator Kyle Mullica
Senator Lindsey Daugherty
Senator Lisa Cutter
Senator Marc Snyder
Senator Matt Ball
Senator Mike Weissman
Senator Nick Hinrichsen
Majority Caucus Whip
Senator Tom Sullivan
Senator Tony Exum, Sr.
Representative Andy Boesenecker
Speaker Pro Tempore
Representative Brianna Titone
Representative Cecelia Espenoza
Representative Chad Clifford
Representative Elizabeth Velasco
Majority Caucus Co-Whip
Representative Emily Sirota
Joint Budget Committee Member
Representative Gretchen Rydin
Representative Jacque Phillips
Representative Jamie Jackson
Representative Javier Mabrey
Representative Jennifer Bacon
Assistant Majority Leader
Representative Junie Joseph
Majority Caucus Co-Chair
Representative Karen McCormick
Representative Katie Stewart
Representative Kyle Brown
Representative Lorena Garcia
Representative Mandy Lindsay
Majority Caucus Co-Chair
Representative Matthew Martinez
Majority Caucus Co-Whip
Representative Meg Froelich
Representative Meghan Lukens
Representative Naquetta Ricks
Representative Sean Camacho
Representative Sheila Lieder
Representative Steven Woodrow
Representative Tammy Story
Representative Tisha Mauro