Federal Policy, Order and Directive Updates
Beginning in mid-January 2025, new federal executive and legislative leaders issued dozens of orders, memos and guidelines related to the operation of numerous federal agencies. Although most of these actions have focused on required changes at the federal level, there have been questions about how these orders can or will affect higher education and institutions like CMU. This webpage was created to provide the CMU community with updates and information related to executive orders and actions. We will post factual, verified information and updates to this page as often as possible, and we invite CMU students, faculty and staff to check back often.
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Executive orders and actions
What is happening with executive orders and actions?
In less than one month, the new federal administration has issued more than 80 executive orders, rescinded more than 90 previous executive orders, and reinstated several orders from prior administrations. In addition to the rapid release of these orders, several orders have been subject to legal challenges and temporary judicial stop orders, and some have been pulled back altogether.
The implications of these orders – not only for CMU but for all institutions of higher education – remain unclear. Numerous higher education advocacy and policy groups, including the Association of American Universities and the American Council on Education, are also involved in reviewing and interpreting these orders.
We respectfully ask the university community for patience as we carefully review and analyze the orders to determine how they may apply to CMU.
How is CMU affected by the executive orders?
To date, most of the executive orders have focused on actions required at federal agencies. Very little guidance or direction has been provided by these agencies specific to public institutions of higher education.
On Feb.5, President Trump signed an executive order banning transgender athletes from participating in girl’s and women’s sports. The order authorizes the Education Department to penalize entities that allow transgender athletes to compete. The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the Mid-American Conference (MAC) have advised member institutions, including CMU, that they will be reaching out with guidance on this new order.
Beyond the scope of this new order, CMU is not required to make any other immediate changes to comply with the executive orders. There is currently no need to cancel previously planned programs and activities, nor to make changes to our curriculum. We are moving forward with planned classes, activities, events, and programs.
And, while we cannot speculate on the impact of any potential future orders, please know that we will notify the university community should any future orders require action from CMU. We will communicate any changes via this webpage and through university-wide email messaging.
What is CMU doing about the executive orders?
CMU is waiting on guidance from the NCAA and MAC to understand how the recent ban on transgender athletes will affect our university. Beyond this most recent order, issued Feb. 5, 2025, CMU is not yet required to make any immediate changes to comply with other executive orders. There is currently no need to cancel previously planned programs and activities, nor to make changes to curriculum. We are moving forward with planned classes, activities, events, and programs.
CMU administrators are carefully reviewing the new orders to ensure we understand what they legally require, including any areas that may overlap or conflict with state laws. We are also working with our peer institutions and educational consultants to interpret and prepare for what may be required in the future. A team of university leaders meets weekly to discuss changes to orders and how they may impact our campus and community. In addition, they meet regularly with their professional associations, including the National Association of College and University Attorneys, to discuss the orders and their implications for our institutions.
While we cannot speculate on the impact of any potential future orders, please know that we will notify the university community should any future orders require action from CMU. We will communicate any changes via this webpage and through university-wide email messaging.
What CMU is doing now
Is CMU going to communicate about this more often?
President Neil MacKinnon and Interim Provost Paula Lancaster will be sharing weekly updates with the university community, and we will keep this webpage as up to date as possible with factual information.
In addition, a committee is forming now to host a “Campus Changes” series that will bring students, faculty, and staff together to discuss social and political changes that affect our university community. We hope to have more information to share with you about these programs soon.
Some of the orders target DEI programs, offices and activity specifically. What is CMU doing to address those orders?
To date, most of the executive orders and actions have focused on federal agencies, not public institutions of higher education.
CMU is waiting on guidance from the NCAA and MAC to understand how the recent ban on transgender athletes will affect our university. Beyond this most recent order, issued Feb. 5, 2025, CMU is not yet required to make any immediate changes to comply with other executive orders. There is currently no need to cancel previously planned programs and activities, nor to make changes to curriculum.
We will do what is best for our university community and that is to continue offering educational opportunities that advance our academic mission and provide services that support our students. Currently, we have not received any specific guidance requiring CMU to alter our activities or the infrastructure of our academic enterprise. Further, changes to executive orders do not change our commitment to our students, faculty and staff, nor to our mission, vision, and values. We will continue to do what we do best: Preparing scholars and leaders for a lifetime of success, positively impacting the communities we serve, and contributing to the health, well-being, and prosperity of all people.
While we cannot speculate on the impact of any potential future orders, please know that we will notify the university community should any future orders require action from CMU. We will communicate any changes via this webpage and through university-wide email messaging.
What about executive actions related to federal funding?
On January 29, The Office of Management and Budget rescinded its pause on federal loans, grants and financial assistance programs. Even before the memo was rescinded, the U.S. Department of Education clarified that the pause would not have impacted federal student loans and Pell grants.
If you have questions about whether your scholarly activity may be impacted by executive orders, request a consultation using the online form on the workshop opportunities webpage.
Faculty researchers: Unless you receive a direct notification from your research sponsor to discontinue your research activity, you may continue your work. Please reach out to the Office of Research and Graduate Studies if you have a question about your federal grant.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)
What do we need to know about changes to guidance for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement?
On January 21, 2025, the Acting United States Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security changed guidance related to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activities on university campuses and other “sensitive” and “protected” locations. Under the new guidance, ICE agents may now engage in enforcement activities on or near university campuses.
As of February 6, 2025, there have been no verified reports of ICE activity on CMU’s campus or in the surrounding Mount Pleasant community.
Is U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) allowed on CMU’s campus?
CMU is a public university that receives state and federal funding. Therefore, many places on the university’s campus are considered public spaces and are open to the general public, including law enforcement and government officials, without a warrant. However, to achieve its academic mission, CMU has designated certain spaces on campus as private/non-public spaces, including, but not limited to:
- Residence hall hallways requiring key-card access
- Individual students' residence hall rooms
- Faculty/staff/other offices
- Classroom/lab spaces when being used for their educational purposes, including when students are assembling for or leaving classes.
CMU has an obligation to provide a safe and secure living and learning environment for students, faculty and staff. To meet this obligation, CMU has restricted access to these academic, residential and administrative spaces. ICE must provide an appropriate judicial warrant to enter these restricted spaces. With an appropriate judicial warrant, ICE agents also have the authority to enter non-public spaces on campus to detain or arrest individuals named in the warrant.
ICE agents do not need a judicial warrant to enter CMU’s public spaces. ICE agents can therefore detain and arrest individuals within their federal law enforcement authority in those public spaces.
CMU General Counsel will determine if the presented warrants/orders are appropriate and might require action from CMU community members.
What to do if an ICE agent asks to enter a non-public space or requests FERPA-protected or personal information about a student, faculty or staff member:
Only certain designated university officials can give ICE agents permission to enter non-public spaces, determine whether the university can provide Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) protected information under a FERPA exception, and/or decide when providing FERPA-protected or personally identifiable information about a CMU student, faculty or staff member is appropriate.
If you are asked to provide entrance to a non-public space or to provide FERPA-protected or personally identifiable information about a student, faculty or staff member:
- Remain calm. Do not physically obstruct or interfere with law enforcement activity.
- Say: I am not authorized to grant access to non-public spaces at the university, nor to provide any personally identifiable information about our students, faculty and staff. I am also not authorized to accept documentation on behalf of the university.
- Notify the agent that you are required to involve CMU’s General Counsel before taking any action.
- Call CMU General Counsel at 989-774-3971 to request guidance. If the interaction occurs outside regular business hours (Monday-Friday between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.), please call CMU Dispatch at 989-774-3081 to request assistance from CMU Police.
- Notify CMU Police that ICE is on campus by calling 989-774-3081.
- Do not provide any information nor access to any private spaces until advised to do so by CMU General Counsel.
- Ask the agent to wait in a public space, such as a lobby or waiting area, until General Counsel arrives.
- You also may direct the agent to visit the Office of the General Counsel in Warriner Hall, Room 103.
- Let the agent know you need to take down details of the interaction to share with General Counsel.
- Note the time, place and location of the interaction. If possible, note the agent’s name and ask them for a business card.
- Provide these details to General Counsel, either when they arrive on scene or via email at lehne1km@cmich.edu.
- If the ICE agent insists on carrying out activity before General Counsel or CMU Police arrive: Do not physically obstruct or interfere with ICE activity.
- Document the interaction with as much detail as possible.
- Note that it is possible for agents to believe there are “exigent circumstances” that allow them to enter CMU facilities without a warrant; these decisions may be open to legal challenges later.
Where to get support
Even though few of the executive orders directly impact CMU’s academic operations, they may deeply affect members of our university community. You and/or your friends, colleagues, classmates and neighbors may be feeling upset, confused and even afraid – these are valid, understandable emotions. In our campus updates, we will do our best to provide up-to-date, factual information about what is happening and what, if anything, is required of CMU. We also encourage you to take advantage of resources that can help you care for your emotional and mental well-being.
The CMU Counseling Center offers group activities that offer a chance to unplug, engage with others and practice self-care. You can find a list of those activities on the Counseling Center webpage. The Counseling Center also offers individual appointments and a list of 24/7 resources.
University Recreation and the Student Activity Center provide group opportunities to engage in fitness and other healthy lifestyle activities that support stress reduction, personal health and fitness and social engagement.
The CMU Employee Assistance program offers programs and services for faculty and staff. You can learn more about those offerings by visiting the HealthAdvocate webpage.
If a student, faculty or staff member you know is struggling and needs help, we encourage you to complete a CMU CARES report using the online forms found on the CMU CARES webpage. A member of the CMU Cares team will reach out to the individual to offer support.