Amid our recent celebratory events—such as Latinx Heritage Month and AANAPISI Week—the U.S. Department of Education announced it will withdraw $350 million in grant funding for Fiscal Year 2025. This funding supports many Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs), including Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs), Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), Predominantly Black Institutions (PBIs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-Serving Institutions (ANNHSIs), Native American-Serving Nontribal Institutions (NASNTIs), and others.
On September 10, 2025, along with other programs nationwide, Irvine Valley College received a “Notice of Discontinuance of Certain Title III and V Programs,” informing us that the Department of Education will cease funding and operations for MSI programs. This decision directly affects continued funding for IVC’s AANAPISI grant, which supports our ELEVATE AAPI program.
In response, the Campaign for College Opportunity issued the following statement:
For more than a century, America’s MSIs have served Latinx, Black, Asian American, Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, and American Indian/Alaska Native students—creating models of cultural competence, tailored support, and welcoming campus environments. These institutions empower historically minoritized students to harness the transformative power of a college degree. Supporting a diverse student body strengthens our communities, bolsters our economy, and secures livelihoods. Higher education remains our nation’s greatest equalizer.
While deeply disappointing, this decision challenges us to reflect on our core values and reaffirm our commitment. During the 2023–2024 academic year, the former President’s Advisory Council on DEIA engaged in a year-long inquiry and action using Transforming Hispanic-Serving Institutions for Equity and Justice by Dr. Gina Ann Garcia. Through intentional design and critical dialogue grounded in Garcia’s framework, the council reimagined what “servingness” could mean for IVC.
Regardless of federal designation or funding, our commitment to a “servingness” framework remains rooted in our mission and values. We are actively exploring funding models—including categorical, grant, and general funds—to sustain the work of ELEVATE AAPI. We are dedicated to preserving permanent positions and maintaining, at minimum, baseline programming to ensure the progress of the past three years endures.
As an AANAPISI-serving institution for the past decade, we unequivocally reaffirm our commitment to eliminating barriers and expanding opportunities for all students—especially those who depend on these vital programs. This is not just a promise; it is a call to action, a declaration of purpose, and a reflection of who we are as Irvine Valley College.
Best,
John