MATC students, alumni, faculty, and staff want answers about the elimination of the Multicultural Services office and the four staff members who lost their jobs. While the decision to replace the office with the Office of Community Impact was announced in a Wednesday, Aug. 20 email, it wasn’t clear that it meant four staff members were being fired. Over the next couple of days, the situation became clearer as information spread inside and outside of the college.
The staff members were given a 30-day notice, which sparked confusion and concern across MATC’s campuses. A petition QR code was circulated at the Downtown Campus, providing information about the action and asking people to sign a digital document to keep the staff members. On Aug. 27, students participated in a silent protest outside MATC President Anthony Cruz’s office to support the staff members. Members of the MATC community also spoke at a District Board meeting to voice their objections to the decision.
MATC vs. the Department of Education
With tensions rising, everyone on campus is wondering why this decision was made. President Anthony Cruz wants to make it clear that in February, there were no discussions about closing the office. “While other colleges and universities made immediate changes following federal guidance, MATC chose to wait for additional clarification before making a final decision about our organizational structure,” he said. He further explained that in March, additional guidelines were issued, which prompted several months of careful evaluation of existing programs and services. According to Cruz, balancing the commitment to the community while complying with the new guidance from the U.S. Department of Education has been challenging. “That guidance prohibits positions with duties that provide services exclusively to students based on race or ethnicity,” he said.
Between February and August 2025, What Happened?
Between February and August, the school sent out statements indicating that it has been working on following the guidelines issued by the U.S. Department of Education. The statements also said that universities and colleges could face investigation and a loss of federal funding, such as financial aid, if they employ “race-conscious” practices in hiring, promotion, and compensation. Still, staff and students are upset, confused, and demanding answers. “We understand the difficulty in keeping up with and understanding the various directives coming from the U.S. Department of Education,” he stated. Most of the college changes are driven by the directive. According to Cruz, the guidance prohibits positions with duties that provide services exclusively to students based on race or ethnicity. “As such, throughout the year, we have been working to adhere to that guidance while continuing to serve all students at the same level,” he said.
Will This Affect Other Departments, Organizations?
In the midst of talks about the closure of the Multicultural Services office, concerns have surfaced regarding the future of other student clubs and organizations. According to Cruz, those groups will not be affected. “We do not anticipate that this restructuring will negatively affect other departments.” As for tuition, financial aid, and V.A. benefits, they also will not be affected.
It’s Not About Money, It’s About Rules
Cruz emphasized that the college’s discussions focused on identifying alternative arrangements, preserving what could remain unchanged, and determining necessary modifications to ensure compliance while continuing to serve all students effectively. “This decision was based on regulatory compliance requirements, not budget considerations,” Cruz added. “Throughout this process, our priority has been maintaining support for student success while adapting our approach to meet new federal guidance,” he said. He wants to make it clear that the institution is financially solid; MATC reports its finances to the District Board of Directors.
What is MATC without a Multicultural Office?
MATC is all about community and diversity, but without the Multicultural Services office, what is the institution’s identity? “MATC is very proud of the diversity of students and staff, and we proudly serve as one of the most diverse two-year institutions in the Midwest,” Cruz stated. He goes on to say that all students, regardless of race, ethnicity, or disability, are provided with educational support and resources to help them succeed.
The 30-day notice
Many staff members from the multicultural office received a 30-day notice just as the school year was beginning. Why now? “The 30-day notice period follows our established employee handbook policy,” Cruz stated. He explained that the timeframe is consistent with standard layoff procedures. “We offered affected employees the flexibility to use their 30-day notice period as paid time away from work, allowing them to focus entirely on preparing for future opportunities both within and outside the college,” Cruz said. With this option, he explained that this provides the former employees with the time and resources needed to do job searches, update credentials, or pursue professional development during the transition period.
Former Employee Files Lawsuit
This wouldn’t be the first time MATC has faced serious tension. Former Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer Eva Martinez Powless filed a federal lawsuit against the college. She was hired in 2021 as the college’s first DEI officer, promoted in September 2023, and fired in April 2024. She claimed her firing was due to speaking out against race and disability discrimination. Martinez Powless claimed she told her supervisor and the school’s president about the discrimination multiple times. She also complained about comments that were allegedly made about an employee and other Black employees. When Cruz was asked about the lawsuit, he did not wish to publicly comment on personnel matters. These actions happened prior to him being hired as the college president.
(Additional coverage of the elimination of MATC’s Multicultural Services office can be seen here.)
