This academic year, the U.S. Department of Education cut more than $388,000 in Strengthening Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions, or AANAPISI, grants from UC Berkeley. These grants fund mentorship, academic and development opportunities, as well as research fellowships. Over the next three years, UC Berkeley was projected to receive over $1.1 million in these grants, all of which have been canceled, according to Elisa Diana Huerta, the principal investigator for UC Berkeley’s AANAPISI grant. According to Colleen Lye, the chair of the Asian American Research Center, she was notified of the Department of Education’s decision Sept. 10, the same day the department issued a press release. Huerta said they are exploring options for replacing this lost funding. The Asian American Research Center is using surplus funds to continue their fellowships and academic opportunities this year, though next year’s funding is uncertain, according to Lye. Read more ...