University Of St. Thomas Loses Another Teacher-Training Grant Due To Trump DEI Cuts

University Of St. Thomas Loses Another Teacher-Training Grant Due To Trump DEI Cuts

It comes just over a week after 185 students had grants cut by the Trump administration.

The University of St. Thomas has lost another federal grant designed to aid teachers in training, another victim of wide-ranging cuts by the Trump administration on previously approved federal funding.

A spokesperson for the university tells Bring Me The News, that in addition to the $6.8 million SEED grant canceled by the U.S. Department of Education, a $2.8 million Teacher Quality Partnership (TQP) grant was also canceled.

The $6.8 million grant cancelation affected 185 St. Thomas students who were studying to become special education and elementary teachers. The TQP grant cancelation impacts 20 students.

"This grant was designed to remove financial barriers for aspiring teachers by providing living wage stipends to approximately 20 students per year, while they complete the internships required for licensure," the spokesperson said.

The university said the grant aid came to an end during its second semester of the final year of its five-year funding.

The spokesperson adds that the university is working individually with partner schools and the final cohort of students receiving the grant to address the impacts of the termination.

It relates to the continued war on "DEI" initiatives by the Trump administration, since President Donald Trump returned to office office. The administration has been accused of illegality, defying court orders by continuing to freeze or pull funding that has previously been appropriated by Congress.

St. Thomas President Rob Vischer told the Star Tribune in an email DEI initiatives continue "to be under enormous scrutiny."

“We are monitoring guidance from the relevant agencies and courts closely and will make sure that we are in compliance with applicable law," he said.

Other programs impacted by the Trump administration's actions includes The Food Group, an anti-hunger nonprofit that has been locked out of federal funding since early this month.

A number of arts groups in the Twin Cities have also been threatened with grant funding withdrawals unless they scrapped diversity initiatives.

SOURCE: Bring Me The News