Federal Activity and Rutgers' Mission

January 24, 2025

Members of the Administrative Council,

In recent days, the executive branch of the federal government has released a series of executive orders that have led to understandable questions, confusion, and concern from many in our community. These orders have included direction on immigration enforcement, federal funding, sex and gender definitions, and activities related to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

In all we do, Rutgers is guided by its public mission of teaching, research, and service. It is imperative as we work to understand the reach, legality, and impact of new federal rules that we as the university leadership stay focused on our core mission, that we support our students’ educational journey, and that we work together with open lines of communication.

We currently have no information that federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is or will be on campus, nor do we have an expectation that we will receive advance notice if enforcement actions take place on or near campus. Rutgers protects the privacy of all our students and their records. We do not share student records unless required by law. Further, the Rutgers University Police Department does not ask for or document the immigration status of students or other persons unless a serious crime has been committed.

Rutgers is committed to ensuring that any federal enforcement actions on campus adhere to due process, including the requirement of a warrant when necessary. To support this, we encourage members of our community to contact RUPD if they become aware of any activity on campus.

In addition, we are working with our research community to assess the impact that federal agency pauses, including the pause on meetings, communications, and travel at the National Institutes of Health, may have on the research efforts underway at Rutgers. We will provide appropriate guidance to our research faculty and support staff as we learn more details.

Several offices at the university have reported receiving stop work orders for activities funded by federal grants that have been deemed to relate to diversity, equity, and inclusion. If you know of or receive such orders directly, please share them immediately with federal-tracking@rutgers.edu and notify your chancellor’s office or the cabinet officer in your area. 

As we seek to understand the evolving impact of the executive orders that target diversity, equity, and inclusion policies and programs, know we remain committed to building an inclusive community.

Finally, I want to emphasize that we have resources available to our community. Through our law school, we have the Rutgers Immigrant Community Assistance Project (RICAP), which offers free, confidential legal consultations. Through Deans of Students offices on each campus, students can find resources and confidential guidance on questions related to immigration and more. In addition, students who are troubled or anxious about these federal directives have access to counseling professionals at the student health services locations on all our campuses.

With awareness that many constituencies at the university are navigating uncertainty around these executive orders, please share this message as you think appropriate.

Sincerely,

Jonathan Holloway

President and University Professor