Introduction to the Crisis
It’s not only big-name institutions that are feeling the effects of President Donald Trump’s attacks on higher education. The administration’s decision to freeze nearly $800 million in funding for Northwestern University has gotten a lot of attention. But on the other side of Chicago, in the Far South Side neighborhood of Roseland, Chicago State University has been hit by federal cuts as well.
The Impact on Chicago State University
The public college is the only one in the state with a predominantly Black student body, and it has far less money than a place like Northwestern with which to support them. So far, the school has lost about $5 million in federal grants. Chicago State President Zaldwynaka “Z” Scott spoke with WBEZ about what that means for her university and its students.
Effects of Federal Cuts
The impact on us is real and unimaginable. We have lost five grants that had the capacity to make real changes in the lives of our students. The National Science Foundation had been funding the Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation in STEM for more than 20 years. We were the grant holder for our region, and we supported research and activities for students in about 10 to 12 community colleges and colleges in our area. That grant has been lost.
Job Loss and Program Cuts
That means the group of students that we train to support our faculty in teaching, called learning assistants — that program is now not funded. Research assistants in our faculty labs — that program is no longer funded, because it was funded through that grant we lost. We will lose about four staff members who were supporting that grant. So, there’s real, true job loss in that too. The faculty member who supported our students in being learning assistants and research assistants — he no longer has that funding for his work. So, it’s just devastating to us as an institution.
The Gap Left by Federal Funding Challenges
Because of our student population and the fact that we are so strong in the sciences, we graduate students who move on to Ph.D. programs. We’re living in a world where minority Ph.D.s only comprise about 1% to 3% of all Ph.D.s in the country. So, if that pathway closes coming out of Chicago State, it will indeed have an impact on science. It will impact innovation, and it will also impact diversity in science. Everyone knows diversity in any field, any business, creates more innovation.
Challenges and Competitions
Chicago State has had challenges that predate the Trump administration, most notably a large decline in state funding. State lawmakers are considering a higher education funding formula that proponents say would stabilize and make funding for Illinois’ public universities more equitable. Our biggest competitor is nowhere. So, we’re not competing against the University of Chicago or University of Illinois Chicago, we’re competing against not going to college at all.
Hope for the Future
There are people who have been very vocal about the challenges. There are policy organizations that are working the phones. We’ve seen our citizens take to the streets, and we’ve seen our public officials engage with institutions to determine the extent of the harm. So, that gives me hope. I think if you don’t have hope, you don’t have anything. So, I will continue to hope that good people will continue to rise and continue to engage.
Conclusion
The situation at Chicago State University due to federal cuts is indeed devastating, affecting not just the students but also the staff and the potential for innovation and diversity in science. However, with ongoing support from the community and efforts to stabilize funding, there is hope for a better future.
FAQs
- Q: How much has Chicago State University lost in federal grants?
A: Chicago State University has lost about $5 million in federal grants. - Q: What is the impact of the lost grants on the students and staff?
A: The lost grants affect programs such as learning assistants and research assistants, leading to job losses and reduced opportunities for students. - Q: What is being done to address the challenges faced by Chicago State University?
A: State lawmakers are considering a higher education funding formula to stabilize and make funding for Illinois’ public universities more equitable. Community and policy organizations are also working to address the challenges. - Q: What gives hope for the future of Chicago State University?
A: The vocal support from the community, the work of policy organizations, and the engagement of public officials give hope for a better future.
