February 13th 2025.
According to a recent report by KARE 11, aspiring special education teachers at the University of St. Thomas have been notified that they are no longer eligible for federal grants. These grants, which were previously allocated to the university and amounted to a generous $6.8 million, were intended to cover student tuition fees. Unfortunately, due to the efforts of the Trump administration to cut diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, the university has lost access to this funding.
University President Rob Vischer expressed his surprise and disappointment at this unexpected turn of events in an interview with Kare 11. He shared that the university was hopeful that the grant's parameters could be adjusted to meet federal requirements. While the initial purpose of the grant was to increase diversity representation in the field of education, Vischer clarified that diversity is not a mandatory criterion for receiving these funds.
Under the Biden administration, grant applicants were required to explain how their use of the funds could promote diversity in the teaching profession, which the university did. "The core of the grant, in our opinion, remains a crucial priority. We still have a shortage of special education and elementary teachers, and this grant was meant to address that issue. Therefore, we are hopeful that we will be given an opportunity to demonstrate how our grant aligns with the new requirements and priorities," Vischer stated.
The legality of this decision by the federal government is being questioned, much like many other initiatives taken by the Trump administration. Senator Tina Smith has pointed out that these funds were approved by Congress during the Biden administration, making them untouchable. However, the university plans to appeal the ruling and explore alternative options to ensure that its current students can continue their studies without the support of the grant.
"Regardless of the outcome of our appeal, we are committed to ensuring that our students can complete the spring semester without any interruptions," Vischer reassured. He also expressed concern for other students who receive federal grants, as the university's programs were designed to promote diversity. "During the Biden administration, we were consistently asked to explain how our funding could also contribute to advancing diversity. Now, the efforts we put into creating a successful grant application have resulted in the cancellation of these grants," Vischer shared.
At present, the university's website lists five federal grants, and if the Trump administration decides to prioritize diversity, these could also be affected. This recent development has raised concerns about the future of diversity training programs, as highlighted by the Education Department's decision to place employees on administrative leave for attending such sessions. It is a challenging time for the university and its students, but they remain determined to overcome these obstacles and continue their mission of promoting diversity and inclusivity in the field of education.
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