Updated Oct. 8, 2025
Last week, a complaint and motion for preliminary injunction were filed in federal court by the Council for Opportunity in Education in response to the U.S. Department of Education’s discontinuation of federal funding for TRIO programs.
Federal TRIO Programs are a set of federally funded outreach and student support services designed to help low-income individuals, first-generation students and individuals with disabilities progress through the academic pipeline from middle school to post-baccalaureate programs.
“The U.S. Department of Education has taken aim at thousands of low-income, first-generation college students and 60-year-old grant programs designed to help this group of students that are so frequently left behind,” the complaint states. “The department elected not to continue dozens of grants that were not scheduled to expire until 2026 or later, and it did so without regard for the law, Congress’s intent for the grant programs, the grantees’ settled reliance interests, or the real-world consequences of ending their individual grant projects that are a lifeline of critical academic and support services to so many.”
On Sept. 22, Marquette was notified by the Department of Education that federal funding for the university’s Federal TRIO Programs Grant Award supporting the Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program would be discontinued at the end of September. Marquette appealed this decision; the appeal was denied.
The McNair Program, which prepares eligible students for graduate school, is one of the university’s five programs that motivate and support low-income and first-generation college students to enter and succeed in higher education. The Federal TRIO Programs Grant provided funding for stipends for experiences that prepare students for graduate school; this discontinuation does not impact scholarship funds.
Update from Sept. 22, 2025
Marquette University was notified by the United States Department of Education that federal funding for the university’s Federal TRIO Programs Grant Award supporting the Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program will be discontinued at the end of September. In 2022, the Educational Opportunity Program at Marquette was awarded a grant totaling $324,726 per year to support the project from Oct. 1, 2022, until Sept. 30, 2027.
The McNair Program, which prepares eligible students for graduate school, is one of the university’s five programs that motivate and support low-income and first-generation college students to enter and succeed in higher education. The Federal TRIO Programs Grant provided funding for stipends for experiences that prepare students for graduate school; this discontinuation does not impact scholarship funds.
Marquette’s grant was among $51.7 million awarded by the Department of Education to 189 McNair programs across the United States and Puerto Rico.
Marquette University is appealing the decision. Updates will be shared in Marquette Today, if necessary.
Sept. 9, 2025, update
DOJ sides with plaintiffs in Hispanic-serving Institution lawsuit, putting HSI future at risk
According to an Aug. 26 Inside Higher Ed piece, the Department of Justice won’t defend the nearly 600 Hispanic-Serving Institutions in the U.S. from a recent lawsuit, putting the future of HSIs at risk. The article states that “the lawsuit — filed by the state of Tennessee and the group Students for Fair Admissions — deemed the HSI program ‘unconstitutional’ and ‘discriminatory’ for requiring institutions to enroll at least 25 percent Hispanic students to qualify for specific federal grants.”
Given the uncertainty in the wake of this news and Marquette’s own work toward becoming an HSI, Marquette supports the mission of the HSI initiative, which aligns with our Catholic, Jesuit mission to keep a Marquette education accessible to all. The HSI efforts represent a commitment to serving one of the fastest-growing segments of the population and, as of the completion of the last undergraduate student census in fall 2024, about 16% of our undergraduate students identified as Hispanic/Latino. This represents a significant increase since the HSI efforts first began.
Like all colleges and universities, Marquette is monitoring changes in the higher education landscape and the resources available to help the students we serve. One thing that will not change is Marquette’s commitment to its mission and supporting our community — students, faculty and staff, and Milwaukee — with our guiding values at the heart of everything we do.
The HSI Advisory Committee will be convening soon with a focus on ways to better support our Hispanic and Latino students already on campus. The committee comprises faculty, student-facing staff and members of the Jesuit community.
May 15, 2025, update
The American Jewish Committee (AJC), the Association of American Universities (AAU), and the American Council on Education (ACE), earlier this week released a joint statement, affirming the seriousness of antisemitism on campus and a pledge from these organizations, representing the full breadth of American higher educational institutions, to “continuing consequential reform and transparent action.” The statement also notes that, “[i]n the name of combating antisemitism, the federal government has recently taken steps that endanger the research grants, academic freedom, and institutional autonomy of America’s higher education sector.”
The statement was co-signed by the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU), American Association of Community Colleges (AACC), National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (NAICU), and American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU). Marquette University is a NAICU member.
Read the full joint statement on the AAU website.
April 25, 2025, update
Judges temporarily block U.S. Department of Education from cutting funding from schools that do not cease DEI initiatives, as outlined in DOE Dear Colleague letter
On April 24, federal judges in Maryland, New Hampshire and Washington, D.C., ruled in three separate cases that the U.S. Department of Education cannot enforce against or cut funding to K-12 schools and universities that did not cease DEI initiatives as outlined in the February 14 “Dear Colleague” letter issued by the Department of Education.
These rulings are not final decisions on the merits of the lawsuits, but they block the enforcement as each case awaits further rulings.
Given the fluidity of the situation, staff and faculty are asked to refrain from making updates to any web pages or other disclosures unless provided guidance to do so by the Office of General Counsel or the Office and Marketing and Communication.
March 3, 2025, update
U.S. Department of Education releases FAQ regarding ‘Dear Colleague’ letter
The Office for Civil Rights of the U.S. Department of Education released frequently asked questions on Saturday, March 1, regarding its Feb. 14 “Dear Colleague” Letter. The Dear Colleague Letter set forth the nondiscrimination obligations of schools, colleges, universities and other entities that receive federal funds.
FAQ are consistent with the Dear Colleague Letter but expand on them by providing some specific examples
Notably, the FAQ clarifies that educational, cultural and historical observances and programs focused on interests of cultures, heritages and areas of the world are permissible if they are open to all students.
The FAQ reiterates that intentional segregation or exclusion based on race remains legally indefensible, unless programming, graduation ceremonies, housing or other aspects of campus life are open to all, which aligns with Marquette’s current, inclusive approach.
Marquette leaders have been monitoring the situation since the “Dear Colleague” letter was issued. A working group representing areas across campus is meeting regularly and discussing what – if any – changes to policies or procedures need to be made based on this updated guidance.
As a Catholic, Jesuit institution, Marquette remains steadfast in its commitment to serve all as a welcoming learning community that is open to people from a wide variety of backgrounds and perspectives. This commitment means working with students, faculty and staff to navigate these changes and ensuring all in our community know they are valued and supported. With heightened concerns about immigration, identity, processes and culture, Marquette reminds students, faculty and staff about existing policies and resources in place to support those in our community who are feeling especially stressed and anxious.
Members of the Marquette community should continue to follow the university’s campus resources and guidance related to federal actions, which will be updated as necessary.
Feb. 26, 2025, update
National higher education groups call on Department of Education to rescind recent “Dear Colleague” letter
The American Council on Education yesterday sent a letter co-signed by 68 higher education organizations to the Department of Education, calling on the agency to rescind its recent “Dear Colleague” letter that was meant to clarify its position on diversity, equity, and inclusion practices and programs in higher education. Marquette leaders have been monitoring the situation since the “Dear Colleague” letter was issued on Feb. 14.
ACE and its cosignatories, including the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities, the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities, and the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, explained how the “Dear Colleague” letter “has only led to confusion on campuses about their compliance responsibilities.” This confusion arises from the fact that “efforts to build inclusive and diverse campus communities are neither discriminatory nor illegal.” Indeed, U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts explicitly noted in the admissions practices case referenced above that diversity-related goals in higher education are both “commendable” and “plainly worthy.”
The Office of Civil Rights’ threats of enforcement actions to begin by Feb. 28 — with no guidance on how the OCR views the values noted above, or how the OCR understands all affected institutions’ First Amendment speech and free exercise of religion protections, along with their Fifth Amendment due process protections — puts our nation’s colleges and universities in an impossible position.
Accordingly, the higher education leaders asked Acting Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Craig Trainor to provide their institutions with the clarity that law and basic fairness requires. Until that clarity occurs, the higher education leaders stated, Trainor should rescind the “Dear Colleague” letter.
As a Catholic, Jesuit institution, Marquette University — a member of the AJCU, ACCU and WAICU — remains steadfast in its commitment to serve all as a welcoming learning community that is open to people from a wide variety of backgrounds and perspectives. This commitment means working with students, faculty and staff to navigate these changes and ensuring all in our community know they are valued and supported. With heightened concerns about immigration, identity, processes and culture, Marquette University reminds students, faculty and staff about existing policies and resources in place to support those in our community who are feeling especially stressed and anxious.
Members of the Marquette community should continue to follow the university’s campus resources and guidance related to federal actions, which will be updated as necessary.
Watch Marquette Today for updates.
