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Federal transition guidance

Editor’s Note: For timely updates, please visit the federal transition webpage.

With the transition to new leadership in Washington D.C. this January, many members of our campus community have questions about changes to federal regulations, funding, and enforcement practices.

University of Utah leaders, the Office of General Counsel, Government Relations, and the Vice President for Research are monitoring presidential executive orders, funding directives, legislative action, and court rulings. We also are reviewing guidance from higher education thought leaders and our peers at the Association of American Universities (AAU) and the Association of Public and Land Grant Universities (APLU).

In this rapidly evolving environment, we will update campus stakeholder groups when policy changes and their implications are clear and/or imminent. The Office of the Vice President for Research has ongoing updates for federal grant funding, and the Office of Sponsored Projects has an Executive Actions and Federal Agency Updates resource. University of Utah Health leaders are communicating with patients and heath care providers.

We ask deans, department chairs, and auxiliary unit leaders to share these updates with your communities as they are released.

Most immediately, members of our community have asked questions about the impact of this week’s executive orders governing immigration enforcement. The new administration has pledged to stringently enforce existing law and deport large numbers of undocumented immigrants, and the Department of Homeland Security has revoked its “sensitive locations” protocol, which had meant that immigration authorities were not prioritizing college and university campuses or hospitals for immigration enforcement. However, Homeland Security has not yet issued new protocols, and, to date, nothing has changed in the law regarding enforcement of federal immigration. If and when changes are made that will impact our campus, we will keep you informed.

At this time, there is no indication that universities will be the focus of Homeland Security’s immigration enforcement efforts. To the extent that immigration officers interact with the university, we will expect them to comply with the same standards as any other external law enforcement agency (e.g., to present warrants, subpoenas or other court orders).

The U is home to many immigrant and international students, staff, faculty, and patients. University leaders encourage them to stay in contact with their campus advocates, mentors, and care providers:

    • Undocumented students covered by the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program can contact the Office of the Dean of Students for the latest updates and guidance.
    • International students, post-docs, and visitors can reach out to International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) to discuss visas and international travel. Email international@utah.edu or call 801-581-8876.
    • International faculty and staff can reach out to their supervisors, who can help them connect with the Office of General Counsel if necessary to discuss visas and international travel.
    • U of U Health is committed to protecting patient privacy, and that of employees and students in hospitals and clinics. Patient information remains protected under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Send questions to askadmin@hsc.utah.edu.
    • The University of Utah will protect students’ privacy, regardless of their immigration status or the status of their family members. Student information remains protected under FERPA.

University leaders urge every member of the campus community to reach out to the many offices providing support for mental health and well-being, including those dedicated to serving faculty and staff and those for students.

Follow announcements in @theU and direct email messages from the president and senior vice presidents. Please don’t hesitate to reach out with specific questions or concerns to president@umc.utah.edu. Staff will answer them as more information becomes available.