Colorado Responds to Federal Cuts That Threaten College Equity

This story was published in the Oct. 28, 2025 edition of El Comercio de Colorado and features an interview with Yesenia Silva Estrada, CMC's vice president of planning and chief of staff.

The recent decision to cancel the $350 million in discretionary funds from Title V, parts A and B, was prompted by a court proceeding initiated on June 11 of this year. The State of Tennessee and the organization Students for Fair Admissions, INC sued the U.S. Department of Education arguing that the distribution of federal funds prioritizing certain ethnic communities is unconstitutional. The plaintiffs claim that Minority-Serving Institutions (MSI) and Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSI) have "discriminatory criteria," and "do not pursue the common welfare."

Federal Title V funds are essential for programs to support first-generation, socioeconomically disadvantaged, single mothers, and low-income youth. Melanie, a first-generation student at Metro State University (MSU Denver) who is studying nursing and languages, highlights the support of programs such as Immigrant Services, which has helped her with specialists to get scholarships and different opportunities.

Melanie, who arrived in Colorado at the age of two from her native Mexico, says that "you don't know what you have or what there is until you don't have it anymore." Melanie has the dream of completing her two careers in four years. "I aspire to be a nurse in maternity wards and to be able to move to other cities and hospitals where I am needed." At this time, it is not clear which of the support services this student has had will be left standing. However, only her tenacity will allow her to achieve her professional goal.

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