ETSU President Brian Noland says changes coming to DEI services.
CONTRIBUTED/ETSU
In the midst of the many changes and uncertainties facing the educational landscape, ETSU President Brian Noland is remaining optimistic.
Just days after President Donald Trump initiated the process of closing the Department of Education, Noland met with editorial board members from Six Rivers Media to share his thoughts on the situation.
“This university has been here a long time and we will weather anything that comes our way,†Noland said.
When faced with today’s uncertainties, Noland finds reassurance in ETSU’s proven ability to survive. Established in 1911, ETSU has sustained throughout world wars, the Great Depression and other detrimental occurrences.
ETSU’s commitment to improving the lives of those in the region and beyond is another element that reassures Noland.
“I don’t see the federal government stepping away from its investment in rural education,†he said.
The complete closure of the Department of Education would have an unavoidable impact on many different aspects in the education realm, as it provides funding for public K–12 schools, college loans, education research and more, as well as plays a key role in education policy.
In 2024, the Department of Education distributed $33.9 billion in grant funding to 6.3 million college students and $85.8 billion in loans to 6.7 million college students, according to the Pew Research Center.
As a university where the majority of students are first-generation or lower income, Noland is watching closely to see how federal loans and grants will be impacted. In his talks with other higher education officials from throughout the nation, he said he and his colleagues don’t anticipate massive changes.
“The student loan structure may change, but (it won’t) go away,†Noland said. “...My advice to students right now is to stay the course.â€
Research funding was also on Noland’s mind, as ETSU had a record year for research in fiscal year 2024, with over $71 million dollars awarded to the university in sponsored projects and $21.3 million in federal awards.
Noland did not express concern that research funding would diminish, particularly because of ETSU’s commitment to uphold its mission in its research–meaning the bulk of ETSU research is health-related, targeting many areas of relevance to the Appalachian region.
“I remain confident that our federal government will continue to invest in research,†he said.
