With billions of dollars being withheld by the federal government from universities across the country, a chilling question comes to mind that more and more Americans, and now Madison College students too, can’t help but ask: can it happen here?
On Jan. 27 of this year, the Trump Administration announced a federal funding freeze through the Office of Management and Budget. Though a federal judge blocked the motion and forced the White House to rescind the memo, the executive branch has continued to withhold federal funding from various entities with increasing frequency and along political lines.
Some of the Trump administration’s primary targets have been individual schools like The University of Pennsylvania and Columbia and Harvard Universities.
Even the University of Wisconsin-Madison has been affected, as $12.6 million in coronavirus vaccine research funding was withheld, causing the university to sue in response.
In order to seek clarity on how these events have been and might still affect life here at Madison College, the Clarion reached out to the college’s Executive Vice President, Sylvia Ramirez, whose focus is Finance and Administration. Ramirez has been tracking how federal issues might impact the institution and has been coordinating planning and responses accordingly.
“Approximately 11-12% of our funding comes from the federal government,” she said. “However, much of that is federal financial aid, which we pass directly to students – we receive only the money we give directly to students. Of our operating revenue, only about 3% comes from federal funds; however, that funding includes critical services that matter a lot to our students, employees, and partners.”
In regards to whether that money is currently in jeopardy, “As far as we are aware, no,” Ramirez said.
“But Congress and the executive branch can change federal policies and procedures at any time. Madison College leadership is tracking and will review potential changes to… prepare for any possible implications for our students, staff, and faculty. We’re continually engaged with our legal counsel, higher education associations, and the Wisconsin Technical College System to inform our understanding of policy announcements and notify students of potential changes and impacts to the Madison College community.”
One area in which that federal funding is particularly vital is for those students benefiting from the Student Support Services program through TRiO, a program that serves and assists low-income individuals, first-generation college students, and individuals with disabilities, among others. Here at Madison College, we have almost 250 such students who benefit from an allocation of $574,000 for the current grant year.
“At Madison College, our priority is to be student-centered,” Ramirez affirmed, “ensuring that every student who walks through our doors has the necessary resources, support, and sense of belonging to succeed and thrive. The college’s commitment to serving all in our communities is central to our mission and rooted in recognizing and responding to their evolving needs and the evolving needs of employers.”
The Clarion also reached out to U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan about the role of Congress in protecting education funding, to which he responded, “the difficulty right now is they’re destroying the Department of Education, and you’re losing some of the protections we have and the people to put the protections in place. With a $330 billion cut… 45% of their budget, we expect things like Pell Grants could very likely be cut … That’s why we’re trying to put the pressure on those Republican members: Are you going to cut Pell Grants? Are you going to cut IDA funds? And then we can actually make them have to do something.”
Pocan went on to paint a more troubling picture regarding the fear and inability of his Republican colleagues to step out of line, even when they’re conscience may guide them to do so.
“I hope you’re going to say something about that,” an unnamed conservative representative confided to Pocan, in reference to the detention and subsequent visa termination of Tufts doctorial student Rumeysa Ozturk last March without charges.
“I’m like, we are, but you could too, right?” Pocan quipped. “But they’re too afraid right now. Donald Trump has enormous power in primaries…, and they’re more worried …about their jobs than what they’re doing in their jobs.”
And so in an effort to cling to power, even moderate Republicans who are doubtful of the Trump administration’s increasingly aggressive tactics will fall in line, and thus no substantial resistance — at least at the congressional level — is even plausible.
When it comes down to the future of higher education in America, or even here in Madison, whether that be funds or protecting basic first amendment rights, it certainly appears no assurances can or are being made.