Strategic Response Team
Since February, Oakland University’s Strategic Response Team (SRT) has monitored and responded to directives from the President of the United States, the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Civil Rights (OCR), and other federal authorities related to federal directives and executive branch policy changes pertaining to higher education.
Federal courts have upheld the principle of academic freedom and the First Amendment while admonishing the federal government for its attempts to overreach its lawful authority. Nonetheless, the pressure to conform or face the consequences of losing funding and being subjected to an OCR probe have required a strategic response based on Oakland’s best interests. In that regard, the following are some of the actions that the SRT has taken through December 2025:
- An ongoing review of policies, programs and practices to ensure that Oakland remains inclusive and non-exclusionary while complying with applicable law.
- Ensuring there are no restrictions on the principles of academic freedom in the classroom.
- A comprehensive evaluation of Oakland’s scholarship, endowment and grant awards in light of the applicable legal requirements.
- Elimination of the requirement of Diversity Statements in faculty searches.
- Following the death of our esteemed colleague Glenn McIntosh, the position of Chief Diversity Officer has not been replaced, but the mission of fostering a welcoming campus has continued under the efforts co-chaired by Omar Brown-El and Tomoko Wakabayashi.
- Ongoing monitoring of the federal budget and reforms to the Department of Education that impact Oakland’s operations, including student financial aid loan servicing.
- Reviews of requirements from the National Institute of Health, e.g. the capping of indirect costs recovery.
- Support for President Pescovitz’s endorsement (in April) of the American Association of Colleges & Universities’ statement that cited “unprecedented government overreach and political interference (now) endangering American higher education.” (In April, the list included 150 schools. To-date, more than 500 university presidents have signed the appeal.)
Federal action on travel and visa restrictions
The Trump administration issued a proclamation expanding U.S. travel restrictions to 39 countries, applying a mix of full and partial limitations on future visa issuance. Importantly, the policy is prospective and does not revoke visas already issued prior to the effective date.
Currently, there is no immediate impact to currently enrolled international students, scholars, or employees who hold valid visas. There may be implications for future international enrollment and hiring pipelines, which we will need to continue to monitor closely.
We will continue to track federal guidance and provide updates if circumstances change or if institutional action becomes necessary. International Students and Scholars Office remains the primary resource for individual student visa questions.
Key points:
- Visas issued prior to the effective date remain valid and are not being revoked.
- It appears that students currently abroad for winter break with valid visas should be able to return as planned.
- New visa issuance for affected countries is restricted unless applicants meet narrow exemption criteria.
- Lawful permanent residents, dual citizens, diplomats, certain students, and other defined groups remain exempt.
- The restrictions primarily affect future visa processing, not individuals currently enrolled or employed in the U.S. with valid status.
- The administration has indicated the list of affected countries may change over time.
International Students and Scholars page
One of our top priorities at Oakland University is to help maintain a safe and welcoming campus environment for all Golden Grizzlies while complying with all applicable laws. In keeping with this priority, University leadership is continuously monitoring developments related to federal immigration enforcement efforts.
If you are approached by federal immigration officers conducting enforcement actions on campus:
- Remain calm and respectful and ask for the immigration officers’ credentials.
- Inform the immigration officers that you are not authorized to act on Oakland University’s behalf, you are required to contact the Office of Legal Affairs (OLA) and Oakland University Police Department (OUPD), and OLA and OUPD will respond and address their concerns. One or both offices will send a representative to your location to manage the interactions with the immigration officers.
OUPD: (248) 370-3331
OLA: (248) 370-3110 - Do not impede, obstruct, or interfere with the immigration officers in any way even if they insist upon engaging in their enforcement actions without waiting for OLA or OUPD.
The following FAQs provide general guidance on what to do, and who at the University you should notify, if you are approached by federal immigration officers on campus. Federal immigration officers include representatives from the Department of Homeland Security and its agencies, such as Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, and Customs and Border Protection, as well as the U.S. Department of Justice and U.S. Marshals Service.
As of February 9, 2026, the University has not received any reports of immigration officers on campus, but we would like the campus community to be prepared if immigration officers do appear on campus.
However, immigration officers might be on campus for reasons other than arrests or detentions such as conducting routine I-9 audits or making routine administrative visits related to the University’s F-1 and J-1 program compliance. In any of these situations, you should still immediately contact the Office of Legal Affairs (OLA) and Oakland University Police Department (OUPD), and they will direct immigration officers to the appropriate University representatives.
These FAQs are not intended to provide legal advice to those individuals who may be subject to immigration enforcement actions, but are intended to help the University’s faculty, students and staff interact safely with immigration officers.
In all circumstances, even if immigration officers are not acting consistent with this guidance or they are refusing to wait for OLA or OUPD to arrive, it is important that you do not:
- Impede, obstruct, or interfere with immigration officers in any way
- Refuse to comply with directives from immigration officers
- Hide evidence
- Conceal individuals who are the targets of immigration enforcement actions
- Interfere with an arrest
- Lie or provide false information
- Destroy or hide documents
- Assist others hiding from immigration officers
- Run from immigration officers or encourage others to leave
Any of these actions may subject you to arrest and criminal prosecution. The immigration officers’ justifications for taking such actions may later be challenged in a legal or administrative proceeding.
While DEI has become politically polarizing, Oakland does not make decisions based on political expediency or partisan pressure. In accordance with Proposition 2 (approved by Michigan voters in 2006), Oakland does not discriminate against or grant preferential treatment to any individual or group based on race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin in the operation of public employment, public education, or public contracting.
The SRT’s work is anchored in a clear set of shared principles that shape decision making and campus guidance:
- Compliance with the law.
- Commitment to fairness and openness in promoting a non-discriminating campus where there is an appreciation for a range of ideas, people, cultures and lifestyles.
- Unequivocal support for academic freedom, free speech, unimpeded scientific research, and open discussion.
- No tolerance policy for discrimination or illegal harassment.
- Allegiance with universities across the country to maintain administrative and operational autonomy.
- The full SRT meets monthly to review developments, emerging issues and institutional impacts.
- Subcommittees meet as needed based on specialized expertise of timely matters requiring attention.
- We are committed to remaining vigilant and responsive to current challenges and prepared for the uncertainties ahead.
- Daniel Aloi, Professor, Electrical/Computer Engineering, SECS
- Greg Bartley, Asst. Professor, SEHS
- Rochelle Black, VP, Government & Community Relations
- Nicole Boelk, Director, Financial Aid & Scholarships
- Mark Burnham, President, The Burnham Group
- Chris Pilsner, Chief Marketing Officer
- Joi Cunningham, VP, Human Resources
- Dawn Aubry, VP, Enrollment Management
- David Stone, VP, Research
- Boyd Farnam, VP, Legal Affairs/General Counsel
- Steve Mackey, VP, Finance & Administration
- Gerard Madlambayan, Professor, Biological Sciences, College of Arts & Sciences
- Maureen Watson-Bolger, Consultant, McAlvey Merchant Associates
- John Young, VP, Communications
- Co-chairs are Amy Thompson, Provost/Executive VP, Academic Affairs; and Frank Provenzano, Office of the President.
NOTE: The team was led by Glenn McIntosh until mid-September.
- Remain calm and respectfully ask for their credentials (names, badge or identification numbers and agency affiliations).
- Tell the immigration officers that you are required to contact the University’s legal office and police department when immigration officers appear on campus and then contact OLA and OUPD at the numbers below. OUPD will contact OLA if the immigration officers appear on campus outside of regular business hours. One or both offices will send a representative to your location to manage the interactions with the immigration officers.
Office of Legal Affairs: (248) 370-3110
Oakland University Police Department: (248) 370-3331 - Document the interaction with immigration officers while maintaining a safe distance. Note such details as what they asked for, who was/may have been questioned, detained, or arrested, what documents were accessed and/or removed, how the immigration officers were dressed and their names, if possible. Any such documentation should be provided to OLA as soon as possible.
The University cannot instruct you to refuse to speak with immigration officers, but you are not required to speak with them, answer their questions or volunteer information. If you are approached by immigration officers, you may choose to say the following:
“I am not authorized to provide personally identifiable information about our students, faculty or staff. I also cannot grant access to non-public areas or accept legal documents. Instead, you will need to speak with the University’s legal office and police, and I will contact them now.”
Yes. Oakland University is a public institution, and immigration officers may enter areas on campus that are open to the public without consent or a search warrant or arrest warrant.
The University considers areas such as the following to be public: unlocked spaces and buildings that are accessible to the public; outdoor areas; parking lots; the Oakland Center; the Kresge Library; and hallways, lobbies, reception, and other areas that are not locked, not monitored or do not require a University-issued card for access.
Absent exigent circumstances (see above), immigration officers may not enter non-public areas on campus without consent or a search warrant or arrest warrant.
The University considers areas such as the following to be non-public: faculty offices; administrative offices; areas that are locked, monitored, limited access, or require a University-issued card for entry; locker rooms; laboratories; classrooms while they are in use; and private rooms in residence halls or apartments.
- Do not accept any search warrant, arrest warrant or subpoena if it is directed to the University or a person other than yourself.
- Tell the immigration officers that you are not authorized to accept legal documents like search warrants, arrest warrants or subpoenas on the University’s behalf.
- Tell the immigration officers that you are required to contact OLA and OUPD. Contact OLA and OUPD at the numbers above. OLA and OUPD will respond on the University’s behalf.
- If immigration officers are requesting access to non-public areas that are not covered by a search warrant or arrest warrant, advise the immigration officers that you are not authorized to consent to the additional access. If the immigration officers insist upon entering the non-public area without waiting for OLA or OUPD, do not impede, obstruct, or interfere with the immigration officers in any way.
- Advise the immigration officers that you are not authorized to consent to entry into a non-public area or provide the requested information of documents on the University’s behalf.
- Tell the immigration officers that you are required to contact OLA and OUPD. Contact OLA and OUPD at the numbers above. OLA and OUPD will respond on the University’s behalf.
- If the immigration officers insist upon entering the non-public area without waiting for OLA or OUPD, do not impede, obstruct, or interfere with the immigration officers in any way.
- Immigration officers may enter non-public areas in emergency or urgent situations requiring immediate action (exigent circumstances). If immigration officers insist upon entering a non-public space due to exigent circumstances, you are not responsible for determining whether exigent circumstances exist.
FERPA is a federal law designed to protect the personally identifiable information about students that the University maintains in its education records. FERPA generally prohibits the University from disclosing a student’s personally identifiable information, without the student’s prior written consent, except in limited circumstances.
There are some limited exceptions to FERPA, for example, that may require the University to disclose a student’s personally identifiable information to immigration officers pursuant to the terms of the Student Exchange Visitor Program. It is important to note that you are not responsible for determining whether or not a FERPA exception applies to the immigration officers’ request – OLA and OUPD will make that determination.
- Do not provide any FERPA-protected information about a student.
- Tell the immigration officers that you are not authorized to disclose FERPA-protected information.
- Tell the immigration officers that you are required to contact OLA and OUPD and that OLA and OUPD will respond on the University’s behalf.
Office of the President
371 Wilson Boulevard
Rochester, MI 48309-4486
(location map)
[email protected]
Office of the President
371 Wilson Boulevard
Rochester, MI 48309-4486
(location map)
[email protected]
