Rep. Stewart Urges Department of Education to Restore Funding to Fort Lewis College

DURANGO, CO – Representative Katie Stewart today released a statement urging the U.S. Department of Education to restore federal funding to Fort Lewis College in Durango after it announced funding cuts that will hurt the college.

Representative Katie Stewart, D-Durango: 

“It’s unacceptable that the Department of Education is cutting millions of dollars in funding for Fort Lewis College (FLC). FLC prioritizes local students, sustains good-paying jobs in Southwest Colorado, and serves as a strong economic driver for our community. 

“As the only Native American-Serving Nontribal Institution in our state, FLC plays an important role in Colorado’s higher education system and for tribal members across the nation. Many of FLC’s students are from Southwest Colorado, and 43-percent are first-generation college students. 

“This action hurts students and our community, and I strongly urge the Department of Education to restore the funding to Fort Lewis College.”

Fort Lewis College was designated as one of six Native American-serving, non-tribal colleges by the U.S. Department of Education in 2008. According to reporting by Chalkbeat, the college will be unable “to spend the remaining $2.27 million over the final two years of a five-year grant.”