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Federal Updates

With evolving federal policy, CSCU is monitoring and preparing for potential impacts. CSCU remains committed to its values and mission of providing an accessible, innovative, and a high-quality education, and will share updates and resources as they become available.

H.R. 1 Higher Education Provisions and Related Impacts

On July 4, 2025, President Trump signed into law H.R. 1, a wide-ranging federal legislative package with significant implications for higher education, including revisions to and expansion of the Pell Grant program, student aid eligibility, student loan repayment, academic program accountability, and new policy and reporting requirements.

CSCU H.R.1 Committee

This committee includes representatives from across our colleges, universities, and the System Office. Together, they will leverage institutional expertise to prepare for federal changes, track implementation and related legal developments, and ensure CSCU can respond promptly.  The committee’s responsibilities include:

  • Coordinating systemwide planning and compliance for H.R. 1
  • Monitoring H.R. 1 implementation and related legal developments
  • Recommending systemwide approaches for financial aid, compliance, accountability, and workforce alignment
  • Elevating budgetary and legislative implications to the Interim Chancellor, the Presidents, and the Board of Regents

 

InstitutionMember
Central Connecticut State UniversityStacy Votto
University Counsel and Vice President of Regulatory Affairs
Central Connecticut State UniversityLisa Bucher
Chief Budget & Compliance Officer
Charter Oak State CollegeLarissa O. Urquilla
Financial Aid Counselor
CT State Community CollegeSteven McDowell
Associate Vice President, Financial Aid Services and Title IV Compliance
CT State Community CollegeTroy Miller
Vice President of Enrollment Management
Eastern Connecticut State UniversityDr. Benjamin Pauley
Interim Vice President for Student Success and Enrollment
Southern Connecticut State UniversityJason Callico
Director of Financial Aid
Southern Connecticut State UniversityGeorge Morgan Jr.
Presidential Assistant
Western Connecticut State UniversityMelissa Stephens
Associate Dean for Enrollment Management & Financial Aid
Western Connecticut State UniversityDr. Yaseen Hayajneh
Interim Dean of Graduate, International and Career Studies
System OfficeCameron Liston
Chief Compliance Officer
System OfficeDr. Tamara O’Day-Stevens
Interim Associate Vice President for Enrollment Management & Student Success
Resources

H1-B Visa Changes

On September 19, 2025, the President issued a proclamation titled, “Restriction on Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers”. The primary purpose of the proclamation, which went into effect on September 21, 2025, at 12:01 a.m. was to impose a $100,000 fee on any new H1-B visa applications or applications supplemented by the new fee. There remains uncertainty as to whether the fee applies to cap exempt employers such as higher education and “change of status” petitions. We are continuing to monitor developments.

The new fee does not apply to 1) current H1-B visa holders, 2) current H1-B holders seeking visa stamping or re-entry, and 3) does not apply to notices of approval or applications pending prior to September 21, 2025. 

Employees with H1-B visas who are traveling internationally should ensure that they have the appropriate documentation with them including their H1-B visa with the dates it is approved for (I-797 notice) and their passport.

We are closely monitoring developments regarding this Proclamation and other regulatory actions. On October 3, 2025 a lawsuit challenging the proclamation was filed in the Northern District of California Court. The suit, Global Nurse Force, et.al. v. Trump challenges the Proclamation on several grounds including, that the fee was imposed without notice or comment rulemaking required by the federal administrative procedures act. Additionally, the suit challenges the Proclamation on the grounds that its fees violate the Immigration and Nationality Act which requires that fees be related to the costs necessary with processing visa applications such as the H1-B. We will continue to monitor this case and any others that may be filed.

It should be noted there is also proposed changes to the H1-B process in the form of modifications to federal regulations, including “Reforming the H-1B Nonimmigrant Visa Classification Program” submitted by the Department of Homeland Security.

Please reach out to the Office of the General Counsel should you have any questions or are seeking guidance.

Dismantling the U.S. Department of Education

Executive Order: Closing the U.S. Department of Education

Civil Rights Compliance

The federal government issued multiple Executive Orders and other guidance related to civil rights compliance. The direct impact of many of these orders is on federal agencies, employees, and programs, but some indicate an impact on higher education more broadly. Most importantly, the Dear Colleague Letter issued by the Department of Education reaffirms that institutions must not engage in unlawful discrimination, harassment, or retaliation based on current civil rights law. The document also provides insight into the Department’s enforcement priorities. CSCU is confident that our Discriminatory Harassment, Nondiscrimination, and Title IX Policy (“Policy 4.13”) is consistent with both state and federal law. While we continue to monitor both federal and state action in this space, we do not anticipate needing to change any policy provisions.  

Affinity Groups, Centers, Spaces, and Events

Under Policy 4.13, CSCU institutions may sponsor and endorse affinity groups, centers, spaces, and events. Affinity groups, centers, spaces, and events may focus on shared interests; however, all groups are open to participation regardless of protected characteristics. Affinity groups, centers, spaces, and events may limit participation or access, consistent with CSCU policy, based on disruptive, harassing, or discriminatory behavior.  

Programming and Academic Freedom

For decades, academic freedom has been recognized as a constitutional right protected by the First Amendment. Academic freedom is expansive and government interference in speech is unlawful but for limited exceptions, such as unlawful harassment, inciting imminent violence, etc. Policy 4.13 does not prohibit any lawful programming or activity based on subject matter and CSCU community members should feel confident engaging in speech related to uncomfortable or politically unpopular subjects.  

Scholarships and Other Financial Awards

Scholarships and awards are essential to students’ access to CSCU. CSCU is committed to strategically offering scholarships to expand access to higher education. However, CSCU does not offer scholarships based on any protected characteristics, such as race or sex. Students may receive such scholarships from unaffiliated organizations. Scholarships and awards may be based on non-protected characteristics such as socio-economic status, first generation students, region, and more.  

Sanctions and Discipline

Policy 4.13 protects everyone in our community from unlawful discrimination, harassment, and retaliation. Ensuring our processes are free from bias and that our policy is applied fairly and objectively is paramount to the integrity of the process and individuals’ trust in the outcome. Individuals engaged in any civil rights enforcement process can expect an objective and fair response to allegations of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation free from bias.  

Hiring, Promotion, and Compensation

CSCU is committed to hiring the most qualified and talented individuals to serve our students and the state of Connecticut. As such, institutions, leadership, and hiring managers make all hiring, promotion, and compensation decisions based on merit. CSCU is an Equal Opportunity Employer and committed to fulfilling our responsibilities under CHRO Affirmative Action regulations, including extensive promotion of open positions to attract the most diverse and qualified talent pool. We believe it is not unlawful to recognize underutilized populations through tools such as our state Affirmative Action Plans. The purposes of the affirmative action plan are to ensure that all hirings are justified and to eliminate the risk of unlawful discrimination in CSCU hiring practices. Our processes never reject legitimately justified hiring or promotion decisions because they do not accomplish an affirmative action plan goal. 

Protocol with respect to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement on CSCU Campuses

Executive Order: U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement

OUR POSITION

The Connecticut State Colleges and Universities (CSCU) is strong because of its diversity. Our campuses thrive when people from different races, ages, religions, ethnicities, sexual orientations, gender expressions, nationalities, physical abilities and political perspectives have a forum for sharing their beliefs and ideas while learning together. This is a critical value of higher education. CSCU is committed to social justice, to celebrating our diversity, and fostering a climate of inclusion and respect for one another. CSCU will continue to comply with federal and state law, and we will remain focused on what is truly best for our students and institutions.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this protocol is to provide guidance to the Connecticut State Community College, Charter Oak and our 4 universities so that any students, staff or faculty impacted by the Presidential Executive Orders, including “Securing Our Borders,” will be treated with the utmost respect, dignity and care within the confines of CSCU obligations. It is the intention of CSCU to comply with legally mandated orders, warrants and judicial subpoenas, but beyond those legal mandates, it shall not further engage in the enforcement of federal immigration laws.

BACKGROUND

CSCU has deliberately refrained from using the term “sanctuary” as sanctuary is a concept that has a broad range of meanings. CSCU does not have the power or ability to declare any “sanctuary” that is exempt from federal or state law. It is not our intention to provide anyone with a false sense of security. Additionally, the Department of Homeland Security has rescinded the directive that exempted Connecticut State Community College, Charter Oak State College and our University campuses, from being the focus of enforcement actions as “sensitive locations”. Colleges and universities can no longer expect that immigration and enforcement actions will not occur on our campuses. ICE cannot enter non-public areas1 of the campus without being granted permission or without a valid warrant issued or signed by a judicial officer, unless exigent circumstances exist.

1 Non-public areas are those that are not accessible to the general public and require a key or swipe card access or where entry is granted, such as offices, dormitories, classrooms and dining halls.

FAMILY EDUCATIONAL RIGHTS AND PRIVACY ACT

Under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) all students are entitled to privacy regardless of immigration status. Education records, which are broadly defined as records related to a student and maintained by the institution, cannot generally be disclosed without a judicial warrant, subpoena, court order or student consent. CSCU institutions shall continue to uphold FERPA and deny requests for student information that are not accompanied with a judicial warrant, court ordered subpoena, or student consent.

If the institution has international students on VISA, note that compliance with the Student Exchange Visitor Information Service (SEVIS) is still required. https://www.ice.gov/sevis 

PROTOCOL
  1. If an ICE agent approaches a CSCU campus institution seeking student information or access to a student, faculty or staff, that agent should be referred directly and only to the President of the institution (or their designee.) In many cases the Chief of Police may be the President’s designee.  If it is after hours or urgent, it is recommended that the Chief of Police be notified in addition to the President.
  2. The President or their designee should request from the agent (a) the reason for the visit; (b) the agent’s name(s) badge or ID number(s), telephone number(s) and business card; (c) evidence of authorization, i.e. judicial subpoena; and (d) whether alternatives to action on campus have been considered.
  3. Upon acquiring the information, the President or the President’s designee should immediately contact CSCU General Counsel.
  4. No action, i.e. providing any information or providing access to the person in question, should be taken prior to consultation with CSCU General Counsel.
  5. If the ICE agent presents a warrant, the warrant must be provided to CSCU General Counsel for verification of the scope of the warrant.
  6. In any instance where ICE is physically present on campus or requests information, it should be reported to the campus President or the President’s designee, Chief of Police, and CSCU General Counsel.
  7. If CSCU General Counsel verifies the warrant, the President of the institution or their designee should be the only person responsible for providing information to the ICE agents.
  8. If the President of the institution intends to provide information to the ICE agents, the President must make reasonable effort to notify the subject student of the court order or subpoena before disclosing the records (unless ICE or other federal officials are investigating an act of terrorism). The President or the President’s designee shall keep detailed records of the disclosure as required by FERPA.
FOR CAMPUS SECURITY PERSONNEL
  1. CSCU Police officers (Special Police Forces) and security personnel will not inquire about a person’s immigration status, nor shall they inquire about the immigration status of crime victims, witnesses or others who approach the police officers and security personnel seeking assistance.
  2. No person will be detained by police officers or security personnel solely on the basis of immigration status or on the belief that the person is in the United States illegally.
  3. Information regarding a person’s immigration status contained within the records of CSCU Police Officers (Special Police Forces) or security personnel will be disclosed only as compelled by law.
  4. CSCU Police Officers and security personnel will follow the provisions of Section 54-192h of the Connecticut General Statutes and associated Accordingly, CSCU Police will not make arrests nor detain an individual based upon administrative warrants issued by ICE or other federal agencies including administrative immigration warrants except as provided by the CT Trust Act.

Resources & Community Partners

Helpful Resources
State of Connecticut Family Preparedness Plan
Know Your Rights Materials
Legal Services Resources
Community Partners with Resources for Immigrants