Spotlight Forum discusses importance of MSIs and funding supporting all students

Representatives for Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities were among those participating in a livestreamed spotlight forum highlighting the importance of Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs) on February 26, 2026. A panel comprised of university faculty and students, policy experts, and legal analysts who understand firsthand the devastating impacts of defunding these programs were among the speakers.

U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono led the forum highlighting the U.S. Department of Education's (ED) efforts to eliminate funding for MSIs. In September, ED announced that $350 million in federal funding would be redirected from MSIs to other programs, followed by an announcement in December that MSI programs would be "winding down," moving forward.

The forum focused on the critical role MSIs play in promoting access to higher education for more than 5 million students across 800 institutions nationwide. Ending MSI funding threatens the ability of these institutions to adequately serve all the students they enroll regardless of their background.

Representing Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) and HACU was Salem State University President John Keenan, LatinoJustice President and General Counsel Lourdes M. Rosado, and Diana Castro, a student at HACU-member institution University of California Santa Cruz. Salem State University is classified as an emerging HSI and was scheduled to apply for HSI status this year before the current administration stated it would no longer defend the designation.

The spotlight forum was livestreamed on Senator Hirono's YouTube channel.

Additional photos from the event can be viewed here.