Montgomery County Community College in Blue Bell has had its federal funding discontinued for the Upward Bound program aimed at helping low-income and first-generation college students, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported today.

The funding came from the TRIO program, which refers to federal funds distributed to postsecondary institutions and public/private organizations through a competitive grant process to support outreach and student services for individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds. TRIO programs received $1.19 billion in federal funding in the most recent fiscal year.

In May, the U.S. Department of Education notified MCCC that its funding for Upward Bound was being cut. The school lost about $650,000, the remainder of the $1.6 million five-year grant that it received in 2022, The Inquirer said.

The department did not respond to The Inquirer‘s questions regarding the reason for the funding termination, but said in a letter to MCCC that it was among programs that conflict with the administration’s policies in that they “violate the letter or purpose of Federal civil rights law; conflict with the Department’s policy of prioritizing merit, fairness, and excellence in education; undermine the well-being of the students these programs are intended to help; or constitute an inappropriate use of federal funds.”

A college official said reconsideration has been requested, according to The Inquirer.