Arizona students demand education protections from the Trump administration

Shayna Stevens is a Pell Grant recipient who worked multiple jobs to stay afloat while attending Northern Arizona University (NAU). Now an organizer with the Arizona Students Association (ASA), an advocacy group fighting for higher education, she previously struggled to find her way in a system that she called “underfunded, under-resourced, and too often unjust.”

Like many students, she racked up thousands of dollars in loan debt to put herself through college. Often hungry or facing housing insecurity, what should have been the best four years of her life instead became a daily fight for survival.

That’s why Stevens, along with other students and activists, rallied at the Arizona Capitol on Monday to demand that lawmakers protect students and invest in education for all Arizonans.

The rally came at a time when the Trump administration has faced criticism for policies seen as targeting higher education.

“ Education is the greatest equalizer,” said Stevens. “It is one of the few things that has the power to break cycles of poverty, not just for individuals but for entire communities.”

Activists stressed the importance of protecting Pell Grants—a federal program designed to assist lower-income undergraduate students in paying for college—which have been at the forefront of Republican-led attacks. 

Just this week, the Trump administration announced plans to lower the maximum amount that can be awarded for federal Pell Grants in order to counter a $2.7 billion shortfall in the program. Congressional Republicans have also suggested other cuts to the Pell Grant program.

During the 2022-2023 school year, 34% of Arizona undergraduate students received Pell Grants to help finance their education, according to the National Center for Education Statistics, a federal agency that tracks education data.

State Sen. Lauren Kuby (D-Tempe) emphasized the importance of funding higher education and highlighted the Arizona Promise Program—a scholarship initiative for eligible Arizona residents that covers all tuition and fees at the state’s public universities.

Last year, the Republican legislature cut $11 million from the program, which caused Arizona State University (ASU) to add a $350 surcharge for full-time on-campus students in spring 2025 to make up for the loss of funds.

The funding cuts also led to the closure of the Lake Havasu campus, a drop in enrollment in the Arizona Teachers Academy—a teacher preparation program—and, according to ASU estimates, had the potential to cost 2,600 their financial aid.

Kuby also criticized Republican lawmakers for voting against funding higher education while supporting the Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESAs) program, which provides public funds for parents to send their children to private schools of their choice.

The voucher program has been rife with fraud. One Colorado couple is accused of creating dozens of fake kids to receive $110,000 in ESA funds from the state. Other families have used the money from ESAs to buy golfing equipment, sewing machines and ski trips.

Activists argue that the ESA program drains resources from public schools while disproportionately benefiting Arizona’s wealthiest families. A ProPublica investigation found that families in higher-income ZIP codes take advantage of the program the most.

“Cuts to higher education must be viewed in the context of the legislature continuing to expand private school vouchers. The reason we see cuts in public education is because the state prioritizes spending for private schools, rodeos and tax cuts,” said Kuby.

Rallying students also urged universities to take a stronger stance in defense of Arizona’s undocumented communities. They highlighted an incident earlier this year when a far-right group at Arizona State University, the College Republicans United (CRU) held a tabling event encouraging students to report undocumented classmates to US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The event drew hundreds of counter-protesters, but activists criticized ASU for its reluctance to shut it down.

Martín Quezada, a former state senator and current civil rights director for the Arizona chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) emphasized the need to protect international students from Trump administration policies as well.

“ This is about humanity. When institutions allow events like this to go unchecked, it sends the chilling message that we are not welcome here. That fear only grows. ICE has no place in a learning environment,” added Maria Blandon, a member of ASA.