After a series of town hall meetings and listening sessions to give campus community members opportunities to ask questions related to federal government actions and Brown's response, we are writing to provide students, faculty and staff with information about some of the recurring questions we have received. We also know there are both new and persisting concerns prompted by news media reports about potential actions the government may be preparing to implement.

 

Some of the most common questions we have received recently deal with the government's enforcement actions related to the autonomy of universities to govern their academic operations; revocation and termination of research funding; immigration and citizenship status; diversity and inclusion initiatives; and the transgender community. In addition, we have received questions regarding whether student conduct records could play a role in federal actions; how security footage is retained at Brown; and principles related to protest and demonstration. This letter provides information that we have shared in various town halls and campus meetings, understanding that many in our community may not have been able to attend.

 

First and foremost, we want to reiterate that we are unwavering in our diligence in monitoring and assessing all new and evolving federal guidance and announcements to identify the most effective ways to protect Brown’s mission and support members of our community related to these and other questions. We remain acutely aware of the anxiety that some members of our community are feeling. At the same time, we hope to build some shared understanding that there are many questions that Brown, and institutions of higher education in general, do not have the information to answer. It would be a true disservice to our community to provide guidance or offer any assurances based on assumptions or predictions, which in turn might prompt members of our community to make decisions or engage in activities based on what are truly unknowns. This continues to be a time of tremendous uncertainty, and the guidance we provide and our compliance with the law aligns directly with our commitment to support the safety and well-being of our community within the bounds of an evolving legal and policy landscape. 

Government actions to impose conditions on peer universities in return for reversing cuts in federal funding are contributing to ongoing questions about Brown's commitment to safeguarding academic freedom. These are the most common questions we continue to receive. Some are asking detailed questions about protecting courses and scholarly study on specific topics at Brown.

 

President Paxson in her message to the community on March 20 directly addressed the University’s commitment to defend freedom of expression and academic freedom. She assured the community that the institution would be compelled to exercise our legal rights vigorously if faced with government encroachment on the autonomy necessary for Brown to perform essential academic and operational functions to advance our academic mission. While faculty, staff and students continue to share concerns related to specific course titles or areas of disciplinary study, the University cannot predict or speculate about future government actions. However, in every town hall, forum and communication to the community, we continue to reiterate that Brown is committed to defending the ability of faculty and students to study and learn freely and without fear of censorship in advancement of our institutional mission. This commitment to protecting academic freedom applies both for the University as an institution and for individual members of our community of scholars and learners.

The research community at Brown continues to have deep concerns about a small but growing number of terminations of federal research grants, which was reported widely by news media last week. While initial questions from Brown faculty, graduate students and research staff in our town halls and other settings focused on grant approvals, we are hearing new uncertainty related to the potential for terminations of existing grants, as well as program revisions resulting from executive orders and new priorities of the current federal administration.

 

While any number is significant, currently Brown has seen the termination of about 1 percent of existing research grants, including those for which Brown was the primary award recipient and others for which Brown was a subgrantee. While the bases for the terminations are not consistently clear, they relate to grants from agencies including the National Institutes of Health, Office of Naval Research, the State Department and NASA, all for research that seems to include considerations of gender, race, or diversity, equity and inclusion. According to the Association of American Universities and the Council on Governmental Relations, two associations focused on research institutions, grants could also be terminated in the coming months based on the rationale that they support projects focusing on anthropogenic climate change and links between climate and health.

 

Teams in Brown's Division of Research (DOR), Office of Government Relations (OGR) and Office of General Counsel (OGC) are working closely and extensively with the leadership of Brown's academic units to understand the impact of these unprecedented revocations of existing research grants, including exploring options for appeal and potential legal action. However, we are encouraged that Brown continues to receive funds from both new and continuing grants, and researchers are continuing to submit proposals at a rate similar to or slightly above 2024 levels.

 

Faculty and staff are seeking highly individualized information, and we are committed to being responsive to their questions. Faculty or staff with concerns about specific research proposals and their relationship or exposure to federal actions should continue to contact DOR via the email established for questions about federal actions: fed2025admintransition@brown.edu. Teams in DOR and OGC remain deeply committed to supporting our research community. Faculty also are being encouraged to contact their program officers to discuss the impact of federal actions on research proposals, and to share directly with DOR any pertinent information you receive regarding the current state of affairs with your funding agency. This information can help inform the University's understanding of rapidly evolving government actions.

 

Most important, DOR encourages members of our research community to continue submitting research proposals. Beyond supporting Brown's research enterprise, maintaining a high volume of submissions to federal funding agencies makes an important statement for the national research community. Any decrease in proposal submissions could negatively influence future federal budgets.

 

The University continues to provide guidance and resources supporting the pursuit of federal research funding. During the month of April, DOR is coordinating a series of events in support of faculty's research funding needs. These include a panel of faculty discussing their experiences in securing industry sponsored research; a proposal-writing workshop co-led by the Council on Federal Relations focused on funding opportunities in public health; and a webinar presentation on funding priorities in the government's Fiscal Year 2026 budget. In addition, DOR’s Research Strategy and Development team is available for strategic consultation on a range of strategies, including how to optimize funding searches using Brown's university-wide funding opportunity database.

Members of our community naturally continue to ask whether Brown has more information about travel bans or restrictions affecting individuals from various countries. Since our last update to the Brown community on federal immigration actions, no new or renewed travel restrictions or bans have been announced by the government. The University generally does not receive advance notice of any such restrictions or information about the list of countries or timing of future actions, though we continue to monitor developments closely.

 

The Office of Global Engagement (OGE), in partnership with the Global Brown Center, has launched new educational resources and expanded advising hours to support international students and scholars. In addition to a "Know Your Rights" webinar series led by immigration attorneys and the Department of Public Safety in March, multiple sessions throughout April will address a range of topics. In addition, OGE continues to maintain the Status Inquiry FAQ webpage, which shares these resources while also providing guidance for students, staff and faculty. This resource is continuously updated as new information becomes available, such as the international travel guidance shared with the campus prior to the Spring Recess.

 

Beyond these community-wide initiatives, the Office of International Student and Scholar Services (OISSS) also provides targeted outreach to individual members of affected communities. The office regularly communicates with international students and scholars who may be impacted by federal regulations, sending reminders and information about relevant resources. Some of these communications are also available on the OISSS announcements page. 

 

Some members of our community are aware that, on March 12, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced a forthcoming rule that will require all non-citizens aged 14 and older who stay in the U.S. for more than 30 days to register, submit fingerprints and report any address changes to DHS. Non-compliance will result in penalties. This rule is set to take effect on April 11, 2025, and while we understand that this has prompted deep concerns, we regret we do not have information about how the government might use this registration information related to travel or otherwise.

 

Under the new rule, U.S. lawful permanent residents (green card holders), all U.S. visa holders, individuals granted parole (such as Humanitarian Parole), DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival) and TPS (Temporary Protected Status) recipients, and refugees are considered already registered under existing immigration processes. The Association for American Universities, the Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and our other professional associations have submitted formal comments and feedback on this proposed rule. We will continue to monitor the situation closely as the April 11 deadline approaches. Please refer to the OGE website for ongoing updates, particularly if you believe you might be affected by the new rule.

We continue to receive detailed questions about how the University would respond to government requests regarding citizenship or immigration status, as well as any potential for government immigration enforcement on campus. The assurance we continue to give is that Brown is fully committed to supporting members of the Brown community within the law, and the University will work directly with any student, faculty or staff member in need of assistance and support in a manner commensurate with this commitment and appropriate to the facts and circumstances of any individual situation. 

 

Brown's Department of Public Safety is our community's resource for remaining knowledgeable about government protocols related to immigration enforcement. However, DPS does not inquire about or act on information related to immigration status and does not partner with federal or state agencies to do so. If government agents were to arrive on or off campus for an unannounced site visit, we are directing faculty, students and staff to call DPS at 401-863-4111, and staff in the DPS communications center will notify the appropriate university officials. As noted above, we continue to direct international students, faculty and staff to the guidance currently available on the webpage offering FAQs and resources on the OGE website. This ongoing resource explains that Brown will only share information with law enforcement regarding the immigration status of community members under a valid subpoena.

 

That being said, it is important that all faculty, students and staff understand that federal enforcement officers, like state and local law enforcement officers, have jurisdiction on campus, including the Brown University campus (as do police for Providence and the State of Rhode Island). Federal law officers can carry out their statutory duties where they have lawful jurisdiction and authority to do so. Neither Brown nor any other organization has discretion or authority to stop them from doing so. As Brown complies with the law, DPS is prepared to respond to any on-campus interactions with federal or other officers and provide support as appropriate to members of the Brown community.

 

While some members of our community have asked what the University would do in response to a valid subpoena, it would not be responsible or appropriate to make commitments or predictions. The facts and circumstances of any individual situation can be infinitely variable, and we are sensitive to the implications of providing information that might be taken as an assurance or legal guidance in an ever-changing policy landscape. What we can say is that the University remains steadfast in following the law precisely because of, not in spite of, a commitment to safeguard the ongoing security and well-being of members of our community. This includes maintaining the privacy of records in line with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), which is described in detail in the University’s FERPA policy (including provisions governing disclosure of education records with and without consent).

 

We understand that some members of our community have asked the University to predict outcomes or speculate about potential University actions if individuals faced situations described in media reports as the government's response to "support for terrorism." While we understand the anxiety that these situations create, there is no responsible way to make a blanket commitment in response to circumstances that are widely variable. As President Paxson shared in her March 20 campus communication, Brown has a long track record of working with our Congressional delegation, as well as our alumni networks of experts and professionals across a strong extended Brown community, to resolve visa and immigration issues with sensitivity and with respect for individual privacy.

We continue to assess the implications of federal directives relating to diversity and inclusion, many of which are currently being challenged in court. The common question we have received concerns whether government actions will prompt Brown to take steps reported at some other institutions to end diversity and inclusion programs and initiatives. This adds to the fears referenced earlier in this letter about threats to federal grants for any research that has elements related diversity and inclusion.

 

Brown remains committed to efforts to foster a strong academic community through programs that are open to all and through initiatives that aim to help all faculty, students and staff thrive, feel welcome and participate fully in the life of the University. President Paxson in February named Matthew Guterl, a professor of Africana studies and American studies at Brown, as the University’s new vice president for diversity and inclusion, which reflects an unwavering commitment to diversity and inclusion at Brown as grounded in and central to our academic mission. As a leading research institution dedicated to strong student-centered education, Brown continues to recognize the critical importance of bringing diverse perspectives, knowledge and experiences to confront and solve the most complex challenges of the 21st century. This includes safeguarding the freedom to teach and study on issues related to diverse identities, viewpoints and geopolitical issues. This is part of our commitment to defending academic freedom, which we discussed earlier in this communication. The Office of Diversity and Inclusion is working closely to reassure colleagues and campus partners about the enduring value of Brown's work in diversity and inclusion.

Reports about significant federal funding being revoked from one of our peer institutions related to allowing a transgender athlete to compete some years ago has prompted questions on our own campus specifically about whether these actions have influenced Brown's policies on gender-affirming care. The University has made no changes to care, treatment or support provided for gender-affirming care.

 

Some of the questions we have received touch on the personal and individual circumstances of members of our community, and as with several of the topics discussed in this communication, we would not speculate about responses to potential laws or regulations that may or may not be enacted. It remains important not to offer guidance based on hypothetical situations. We are and remain fully committed to supporting all Brown students in a manner consistent with our long-established policy of nondiscrimination, which includes sex, gender identity and gender expression.

 

The LGBTQ Center, Student Health & Wellness Services, and other offices in the Division of Campus Life, as well as the Warren Alpert Medical School, the College, the Graduate School, Office of Diversity and Inclusion and many other offices across campus, continue to be partners in providing resources to meet the needs of our community.

Some members of our community have asked who beyond Brown might gain or have access to student conduct records. In addition, with media reports about a focus on protests related to government actions, we have received questions about the purpose and ongoing use of cameras that capture campus activity at Brown. With regard to maintaining the privacy of such records, it is important to reiterate that the University complies with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). Details about Brown's policies and procedures regarding student conduct records are outlined in the Student Conduct Procedures in the section explaining “Reporting and Record Retention" (section 9). Brown maintains the integrity of these records, and would alter or expunge them only in very rare instances when we are required to do so in alignment with FERPA.

 

Regarding secure video footage, the University's security cameras have been and continue to be a critical element of our campus safety and security environment, and it is essential to maintain our community’s safety persistently and routinely. Our policies and procedures guide the use and retention of data from cameras, or any other safety and security infrastructure, with the goal of safeguarding our community’s security. Under DPS policy, recordings from surveillance and security cameras owned and operated by the University reside on a secure network. Camera footage is stored temporarily, normally for no longer than 30 days, and then is recorded over automatically, unless the footage is evidence in an administrative, employment or court action. Brown typically will not disclose such records to outside agencies absent a valid subpoena or court order or statutory or regulatory authority.   

 

It is important to remember that activities in any location visible to the public — whether on or off campus — are subject to being recorded given the widespread prevalence of recording devices in individual phones, public and private security cameras, and through news media coverage. The privacy protections Brown provides for its use of secure video footage do not apply to recordings made by others, which may be amplified through independent media coverage or posted by various parties on social media. 

 

As members of our community continue to raise concerns about different forms of online harassment, including reports of trolling sites targeting faculty and staff at colleges and universities nationally based on their views, we want to direct you to the guidance on the Managing Online and Social Media Harassment webpage. This resource previously shared by the Office of University Communications and Office of Information Technology offers proactive steps that members of the Brown community can take to help prevent and respond to instances of trolling, cyberbullying and doxxing.

Reports of federal actions against student protestors at other institutions has prompted questions at town halls with students and others about Brown's protest policies. As we have noted, fundamental to advancing Brown's academic mission is the commitment to academic freedom and freedom of expression. Protest is an acceptable means of this expression within our community, and Brown's policy for protests aligns with the principle that “members of the community shall enjoy full freedom in their teaching, learning, and research.” This has not changed.

 

Protest becomes unacceptable when it obstructs the free exchange of ideas, and this also has not changed. The University’s Nondiscrimination and Anti-Harassment Policy clearly defines what constitutes prohibited conduct and further states that the policy does not inhibit nor restrict free expression or exchange of ideas, including the expression of beliefs. In September of last year, Executive Vice President Russell Carey shared two letters with the campus community further explaining this policy and providing examples of behaviors that could constitute discrimination or harassment. This guidance is readily accessible online alongside other Campus Life messages sent to our community. It is important that all students, faculty and staff remain knowledgeable about the policy, and we encourage you to familiarize yourself with the previous communications. When revisions and updates are made to these existing policies, we communicate broadly to the campus community.

We want to reiterate that we appreciate and understand the concerns, anxiety and confusion that many Brown community members are experiencing as a result of federal orders, agency directives and government actions. Ongoing court challenges and other legal actions contribute to uncertainty about shifts in policy and the law.

 

We know there will continue to be new questions about research funding, immigration, federal actions related to university governance, and the other issues we have discussed in this letter, as well as other emerging topics. A working group that brings together expertise at Brown in government relations, research, support for international issues, public policy, the law and other areas will continue to address the implications of federal actions on an ongoing basis. In addition, offices across the University continue to engage directly with various communities affected by evolving policies to provide support.

 

Sincerely,

Francis J. Doyle III, Provost

Russell C. Carey, Executive Vice President for Planning & Policy; Interim Vice President for Campus Life