Higher education organizations sign letters to protect critical federal resources for Minority-Serving Institutions

The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities and a coalition of organizations that includes Asian Pacific Americans in Higher Education and National Coalition of Predominantly Black Institutions, joined in the signing of letters to House and Senate members urging action to protect critical federal resources for Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs). The letter follows an announcement made on September 15, 2025, by the U.S. Department of Education that it would rescind critical federal resources from Minority-Serving Institutions.

The loss of funding will affect large segments of the student population. Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions enroll over 40% of all Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander undergraduates, yet remain among the most underfunded MSIs. Primarily Black Institutions serve approximately 300,000 students, many of whom are African American, low income, or first-generation students. Hispanic-Serving Institutions serve over two-thirds of Latino undergraduates nationwide and serve more than 5.6 million students of all backgrounds.

The coalition called for action to reject the decision and protect MSI programs legislatively, ensure statutory funding streams for all MSIs are fully implemented and safeguarded, and expand federal support for these institutions.

The letters were sent to the chairs and ranking members of the Senate Committee on Appropriations and the House Committee on Appropriations, the Speaker of the House and House Minority Leader, the Senate Majority Leader and Senate Minority Leader, and the chair and ranking members of House Labor-HHS Subcommittee and Senate Labor-HHS Subcommittee.