Dear Faculty and Staff,
Thank you to the many faculty and staff who have met with us, participated in discussions like the recent President’s Dialogue Series, and reached out with your concerns. You are showing incredible care for our DePaul community at this moment. We share your concerns about the uncertainty around changes in federal policy and know they continue to cause stress for many.
We continue to work proactively with our state and federal leaders to assess the impact that federal policy changes will have on our community. We are evaluating the impact of recent freezes to federal research grants and are working directly with the affected faculty. We remain committed to our Catholic, Vincentian mission, ensuring that our academic and operational priorities continue as planned while we closely monitor potential policy changes.
Our
shared expectations and commitments to our university community remain unchanged. We are committed to being a university that is
steadfastly devoted to academic freedom. We will continue to advocate for the value of the liberal arts, as we recognize our unique position to do so. Above all else, we remain a
mission-centered university that is dedicated to upholding the dignity of all people. We encourage our university community to do the same and look to our shared governance groups to sustain and strengthen these commitments.
In moments of uncertainty, we take comfort in the wisdom and guidance of Pope Francis, who, in his
recent letter to U.S. bishops [press.vatican.va], reaffirmed our collective moral responsibility to care for those on the margins—particularly immigrants and those seeking refuge.
His words serve as a profound reminder of our Catholic and Vincentian mission, calling us to remain steadfast in our commitment to justice, dignity, and belonging. As we navigate the challenges ahead, we hold his message close to heart, ensuring that our work continues to reflect these core values.
Again, thank you to the faculty and staff who participated in the first session of the President’s Dialogue Series on Jan. 28. The session
focused on immigration policy and featured a discussion with Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul. We’re especially grateful to the Dialogue Collaborative for facilitating small group discussions among
approximately 200 faculty and staff. These conversations provided our community with an important space to express concerns and identify strategies for moving forward.
Following the session, faculty and staff provided 167 pieces of feedback, containing recommended actions on how we can continue to fulfill our mission. We have evaluated that feedback, identified key themes, and responded to each:
Communications
At the dialogue session, many faculty and staff requested regular university communications about changes in federal policy and online resources. We understand the importance of regular communications, especially in times of uncertainty. We will continue to keep our community informed when new information emerges about federal policy that has a direct impact on the university.
Please keep in mind that we are in a time of rapid change. We may need time to evaluate and thoughtfully consider the impact of federal policy changes before sending a university message. Discussions with community members directly affected by changes may be more urgent than a university-wide communication. Again, we pledge to communicate to the university when we have new knowledge or information to share.
To provide a summary, here are a few communications that we shared with the community recently:
Many of our communications are focused on constructive dialogue, which is why we strongly encourage you to attend the President’s Dialogue Series.
In addition, we are devoting significant time to work with the communities that are being directly affected by the changes in federal policy. Examples include:
- International Student Success shared recommendations with international students, which include: carry visa documents, carefully consider international travel, and familiarize yourself with your rights.
- Student Affairs is actively providing resources to students that they may share with their families.
- Housing is training resident advisors and front-desk student workers in residence halls to call Public Safety and their staff supervisor if a law enforcement officer, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement, were to arrive on campus.
- The Office of Research Services is providing updates and guidance to principal investigators whose grants are being affected by executive orders or policy changes.
Workshops and trainings
Dialogue participants also requested Know Your Rights training for faculty, staff and students and more dialogue sessions specifically focused on mental health and wellness.
Individual areas of the university are working directly with their specific population to provide guidance and encouraging them to review resources, such as this
Know Your Rights [illinoisattorneygeneral.gov, PDF] document from the Illinois Attorney General’s Office.
Frequently asked questions related to Immigration and Custom Enforcement Officers on DePaul’s campuses
can be found on this website. This information is periodically updated by the Office of the General Counsel, as needed. As such, individual colleges and units are urged to link to this page, instead of copying and pasting information.
We will note that DePaul is not a sanctuary campus, and we must comply with applicable local, state, and federal law. Colleges, schools or university organizations are welcome to organize Know Your Rights training sessions. For example, on Jan. 30, the College of Law in collaboration with the Center for Latino Research and DePaul Migration Collaborative sponsored a workshop with the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights.
As for future dialogue sessions, we will organize one centered around mental health and wellness. We heard this need during the first dialogue session, and we will begin that planning immediately.
As we prepare that session, please know the following resources are always available for the wellbeing of our community:
Collective actions
Feedback from faculty and staff at the dialogue session also focused on partnering with other regional Catholic and Chicago universities to share resources and collaborating with neighborhood groups and alumni.
Specifically, the Office of the President is working with university presidents in our local area to explore opportunities for collaboration with institutions in other states. We are looking at ways to encourage local financial institutions to expand student loan and grant options. We are also working with peer institutions to establish clear pathways for directing students to the appropriate experts for guidance and support.
Additionally, we are actively working with policymakers in Washington, D.C. We pledge to continue advocating for policies that prioritize student needs, especially the continuation of critical aid programs that allow everyone access to higher education, no matter their financial situation.
We are grateful that many departments and individual faculty and staff continue to maintain vital partnerships with affected community organizations.
Legal support
Dialogue participants recommended allocating resources to legal faculty at DePaul to share expertise with the DePaul community.
The best way to get accurate and appropriate legal advice for anyone who is affected by the changes in federal policy, including immigration or financial loss, is to connect directly with the legal aid groups that are available to address these questions. Legal resources, services, and clinics include:
Faculty and staff also asked to make the Office of the General Counsel available to students. The Office of the General Counsel cannot give legal advice to students or their parents. If a student has legal questions regarding their immigration status, obligations to comply with ICE officers in light of their immigration status, or any other legal matter, the OGC recommends that the student retain their own legal counsel.
The Illinois Coalition of Immigrant and Refugee Rights shared the following resources that provide free or low-cost assistance:
- A list [icirr.org, PDF] of local non-profit agencies providing free or low-cost assistance with immigration matters
- A list [docs.google.com] of organizations that assist in multiple languages with Public Benefits, State Resource Centers, Food Pantries, Emergency Assistance, Financial Assistance, Housing, Utilities, and more.
- A list [docs.google.com] of nonprofit organizations that can assist with citizenship and DACA renewals.
Staffing
At the dialogue session, faculty and staff requested centralizing support for undocumented and international students. We understand this need and will continue to work toward stronger coordination across the university for more robust support services.
The International Student Success team and the International Students and Scholars Office will continue actively expanding their services to support international students from pre-arrival all the way to career choices, in collaboration with other areas of the university.
Next dialogue session
We hope you will join us at the next session in the President’s Dialogue Series, titled Building Belonging, which will take place on Thursday, Feb. 27 from 9 - 11 a.m. on the Lincoln Park Campus. An invitation will be shared with faculty and staff soon.
Thank you for the continued care and support you provide for all members of our DePaul community. Take care of yourself. Take care of each other. Take care DePaul.
Sincerely,
Robert L. Manuel
President
Salma Ghanem
Provost
Sherri Sidler
Executive Vice President and CFO