September 11, 2025
CSU Pueblo Community,
As a regional comprehensive university, Colorado State University Pueblo remains committed in its mission to provide accessible, affordable, and high-quality education to the students of southern Colorado and beyond. This mission has long served as a guiding principle and now, more than ever, it grounds us in a time of uncertainty.
CSU Pueblo is proud to have been a federally designated Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) since 2007, located in the heart of a culturally rich and diverse community. Many of our students are the first in their families to attend college. Many come from Spanish-speaking households or contribute to their family’s income. These students don’t just attend college; they transform their futures and the futures of generations that follow.
Through HSI federal funding support, we’ve expanded our ability to meet the needs of students from every background. These federal investments have allowed us to strengthen academic services, support systems, and facilities that improve the lives of all our students and uplift the region we serve.
Yesterday, the U.S. Department of Education issued a statement ending the consideration of race or ethnicity in certain discretionary grant programs. You can read the full announcement here.
While the long-term implications of this decision remain uncertain, one thing remains clear, CSU Pueblo will continue to educate and empower the people of southern Colorado. We will continue to offer academic programs aligned with workforce needs. We will continue to support students with the tools and services they need to persist and succeed.
We are actively working with the CSU System, our state and federal partners, and national higher education associations to assess what this decision means for our institution and for other HSIs and Minority Serving Institutions nationwide.
In uncertain times, it is natural to have questions and concerns. But I encourage you to stay focused. Stay focused on our students, our mission, and the transformational work we do every day.
We will continue to share updates through campus email and our Federal Actions Updates webpage as more information becomes available.
D. Rico Munn
Interim President, Office of the President