A commuter college thought it could avoid Trump’s education crackdown. Here’s what happened

AP News ^ | Updated 9:41 AM CDT, August 23, 2025 | BYRON TAU

[E. Pluribus Unum]

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) — Administrators at the state university’s campus in Colorado Springs thought they stood a solid chance of dodging the Trump administration’s offensive on higher education.

Located on a picturesque bluff with a stunning view of Pikes Peak, the school is far removed from the Ivy League colleges that have drawn President Donald Trump’s ire. Most of its students are commuters, getting degrees while holding down full-time jobs. Students and faculty alike describe the university, which is in a conservative part of a blue state, as politically subdued, if not apolitical.

That optimism was misplaced.

An Associated Press review of thousands of pages of emails from school officials, as well as interviews with students and professors, reveals that school leaders, teachers and students soon found themselves in the Republican administration’s crosshairs, forcing them to navigate what they described as an unprecedented and haphazard degree of change.

Whether Washington has downsized government departments, clawed back or launched investigations into diversity programs or campus antisemitism, the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs has confronted many of the same challenges as elite universities across the nation.

The school lost three major federal grants and found itself under investigation by the Trump’s Education Department. In the hopes of avoiding that scrutiny, the university renamed websites and job titles, all while dealing with pressure from students, faculty and staff who wanted the school to take a more combative stance.

“Uncertainty is compounding,” the school’s chancellor told faculty at a February meeting, according to minutes of the session. “And the speed of which orders are coming has been a bit of a shock.”

The college declined to make any administrators available to be interviewed. A spokesman asked the AP to make clear that any professors or students interviewed in this story were speaking for themselves...

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TOPICS: Education; Local News
KEYWORDS: colorado; dei; education

[E. Pluribus Unum]

The school lost three major federal grants and found itself under investigation by the Trump’s Education Department. In the hopes of avoiding that scrutiny, the university renamed websites and job titles...

The article is clear as mud, but my guess is they tried to maintain their DEI garbage by changing what they called it.

[BenLurkin]

I believe it is intentionally vague.

Were we to know the details, it would probably give the lie to the article’s assertion that that the school is “politically subdued, if not apolitical.”

[NonValueAdded]

I do believe PDJT was clear about not re-titling positions to hide the continued DEI.

[kiryandil]

I’m glad propagandist Byron Tau of the AssPress is on the job letting us know how bad Orange Man is.

It must have been a good 4 years sleep when AutoPen Joe was sniffing little girls and cr@pping his pants.

[Bernard]

he university renamed websites and job titles,

Shady characters trying to pull a gast one. Somebody at the school should be going to jail; probably multiple somebodys.

[Bernard]

fast one. Sometimes the enter key works too well.

[Brian Griffin]

“The grants...cultural preservation and boosting women in technology fields.”

[Rummyfan]

Do you think the AP might tell us what grants were lost and why?!

[SuperLuminal]

Promises made... Promises kept...

Tiresome but enjoyable...

All these stinking communists need to: “Embrace the suck!”

[Brian Griffin]

A country that’s $37 trillion in debt shouldn’t be handing out grants.

Colleges like Harvard have billions in their endowment.

If the research doesn’t seem likely to pay off better than Wall Street, place the plan in the circular file.

[ransomnote]

>Answer with AI

  

Trump Cuts Colorado Funding

President Trump's administration cut funding to Colorado universities as part of broader efforts to reduce federal spending and refocus priorities within federal agencies. A significant factor was the administration's move to drastically reduce "indirect costs" associated with federal research grants, limiting them from an average of 28% to just 15% for both existing and future grants. These indirect costs cover essential research infrastructure such as facilities, equipment, maintenance, and administrative support, which universities argue are vital for conducting research. The National Institutes of Health (NIH), under the Trump administration, justified the cuts by stating the need to direct more funds toward direct scientific research rather than administrative overhead and to align federal funding practices with those of private donors.

Additionally, the administration targeted programs related to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), threatening to withdraw federal funding from institutions that continued certain DEI initiatives. This led to investigations and the loss of major federal grants for some institutions, such as the University of Colorado Colorado Springs, which lost three significant grants and faced scrutiny from the Department of Education. The administration also canceled or paused various education-related grants, including those supporting mental health services and K-12 programs, citing the need to ensure taxpayer funds align with presidential priorities.

These actions created widespread uncertainty and financial strain across Colorado’s higher education sector, with institutions like the University of Colorado and Colorado State University losing tens of millions in federal funding. University leaders expressed concern that these cuts would hinder research, delay medical advancements, reduce job opportunities, and discourage international students due to revoked visas.

AI-generated answer. Please verify critical facts.

colorado.gov

Trump Administration Freezes $71 Million in Education Grants for Colorado, Hurting Students, Teachers, and the Economy | Colorado Governor Jared Polis

coloradonewsline.com

Trump withholds $70 million in Colorado school funding, leaving program futures uncertain | Colorado Newsline

colorado.gov

Governor Polis, Colorado Education Leaders: Trump’s Cuts to Education Funding Hurts Colorado Students, Teachers, and Future Workforce | Colorado Governor Jared Polis

cpr.org

How President Trump’s first 100 days in office are being felt in Colorado’s classrooms and universities

apnews.com

A Colorado campus tried to navigate Trump's scrutiny on colleges | AP News

[READINABLUESTATE]

“elections have consequences”

Barack Obama-January 2009

[Dr. Sivana]

dodging the Trump administration’s offensive on higher education.

Hardly the "offensive" is against DEI so that higher education can take place.

[Tell It Right]

Agreed. Get rid of federal money for colleges, universities, and trade schools. If states want to pay for public colleges that's their business. If the federal govt got out of it, the price of tuition and books would go waaayyyy down to intrinsic levels. That means college would cost what it's worth. If the degree is little better than toilet paper, students will pay little for it.

But if it's a good major in a good college (at least if the college is good for that major), then students and parents and maybe employers will still pay decent money for it. No govt money would mean prices would be based on supply and demand.

[MinorityRepublican]

No govt money would mean prices would be based on supply and demand.

Yep. By getting rid of fed money in higher education.

[Windcatcher]

I smell leftist propaganda. “See how bad the Trump administration is? They’re like a bull in a china shop, destroying even schools that have done nothing wrong!”

[stars & stripes forever]

[I do believe PDJT was clear about not re-titling positions to hide the continued DEI...]

DEI in Illinois public schools are alive and well.

[iamgalt]

Trump administration’s offensive on higher education. “

AP - read no further.

[DouglasKC]

Politically subdued looks like it means you have leftist ideas and practices about dei but don’t anyone to know about it.

[dljordan]

“Trump administration’s ‘offensive’ on higher education”

Please.