Representatives for the Undocumented Resource and Pride Centers spoke with Chancellor Greg Smith about the future of their respective programs at the first district-wide town hall held at Mesa College on Feb. 26, 2025.
Representatives of the resource centers were concerned about the state of their funding in light of the recent threats by the Trump administration to withhold federal grants for institutions that support diversity, equity and inclusion programs. Smith said that the district is committed to keeping programs running despite potential delays in receiving federal funds.
“We will not cut anything between now and June 30,” Smith said “We’ve already done the math.”
According to Smith, the Board of Trustees set aside six months worth of funds in case of a delay in receiving federal grants. Smith said they’re also prepared to run a deficit should the delays continue into the next year.
“We started back in the fall, running scenarios of what would happen if Donald Trump was elected and, in particular, started to implement the Project 2025 playbook,” Smith said.
While there are no plans to cut funding for these programs, the current budget still limits staffing, according to Magaly Corro Flores, City College’s full-time Undocumented/Intercultural Center Coordinator.
Flores, along with two part-time counseling faculty members, assist current and prospective undocumented and mixed immigration status students with academic, career and personal counseling. Because they need assistance navigating a wide range of issues, she believes it’s important that faculty and staff attend her UndocuAlly workshop.
“Be proud and show your allyship,” Flores said. “Have a monarch butterfly, a certificate of completion of attending these trainings displayed in your office.”
The workshop puts the experience of being a student with undocumented or mixed immigration status into perspective, guiding staff and faculty on better interacting with these students. After attending her workshop, she said the next step is to show visual support for these students.
Smith stated that the district will continue supporting students whose identities have been attacked by the current presidential administration.
“Know that the board is committed,” Smith said. “I’m committed and the Chancellor’s Cabinet is committed to continuing to do everything that we’re doing now and, to some of the advocacy that was raised here, expand where we need to be expanding.”
