Dear Colleagues and Students,
Like every college and university, UConn is contending with directives and new information arriving from the federal government at a rapid pace, which we need time to evaluate and react to. We are best served by thoroughly and methodically determining the facts and then what steps we must take going forward so that we can give our faculty, staff, and students clear and accurate information, guidance, and support.
To that end, the university is actively reviewing the various executive orders and other actions being taken by the new administration in Washington and assessing their potential impact on higher education and UConn specifically. Some of these actions are straightforward, while others are not and require more intensive analysis, at times aided by external guidance, before their potential meaning and impact can be fully understood.
Leadership offices around the university are understandably receiving questions about this from members of our community, particularly around immigration and related issues. In response to the most frequent questions being asked on this subject, the university can share the following:
The effort to end birthright citizenship (which is protected by the U.S. Constitution) has been stalled in the courts. However, even if it were enforced, it would not impact or in any way apply to individuals who currently have U.S. citizenship even if such citizenship was pursuant to birthright citizenship.
The Department of Homeland Security revoked its "sensitive locations" protocol, which had meant that immigration authorities were not prioritizing college and university campuses or hospitals for immigration enforcement. Homeland Security has not yet issued new protocols. It is unknown how future protocols may impact higher education or healthcare institutions.
Please refer to the guidance previously issued by the university and the protocols in effect at UConn around this issue, which note, in part:
- UConn Police will not ask individuals about immigration status.
- UConn Police will not detain a person solely on the belief they are in the country illegally.
- UConn Police will not detain or make arrests solely pursuant to an ICE detainer.
- UConn, including the UConn PD, is legally required to adhere to arrest warrants or other orders authorized by a judge.
The university has also received questions and requests for guidance with respect to potential immigration enforcement on our campuses, such as authorities coming to a classroom seeking a specific student. While this is not likely to happen, in part because pursuant to federal law UConn is prohibited from and would not provide information about a student’s class schedule or classroom location, in the event it does, we encourage faculty or staff to contact the UConn Police Department and/or the Office of the General Counsel.
UConn is a federal contractor and a recipient of Title IV funding. Therefore, while the executive orders around DEI/DEIA initiatives certainly will have some impact on us, the extent of this is not yet fully understood. For example, the executive order text directs an end to “discriminatory and illegal” preferences and policies or practices and to enforce federal civil rights laws, such as Title VII, Title IX, and Title VI – all of which prohibit discrimination. However, compliance with these civil rights laws is not a new obligation because the university has always been required to comply with these laws. The executive orders contain other language that require further analysis before any potential impact on UConn can be determined. As we move forward, UConn will continue to support and value every member of our community.
With respect to research, university leaders, including the Vice President for Research, are analyzing the executive orders and other federal directives that will or may impact research and expect more guidance from the federal government in the coming days.
It is also important to remember that we are a public institution with a clear mission and values that are unchanging. We know what our priorities are and continue to be, including the success of our students, the impact of our research, providing exceptional patient care, and bringing value to our state and the world at large.
We are a university with more than 140 years of history behind us and unlimited time ahead of us. We will address the challenges and changing circumstances of today with an eye on both the present and the future.
The university will continually work to answer or address the frequently asked questions from our community regarding executive orders or other federal actions whenever possible.
Please note there will almost always be a lag in between a directive or action being issued by the federal government and any communication from the university administration about it. This is because the university must take the time to ensure information is thoroughly analyzed and understood before any communications about it are shared with the community.
As always, we appreciate your understanding and patience.
President Radenka Maric
Provost Anne D’Alleva
