Dear Employees of the °µÍø½ûÇø Community,
This message serves to provide you with guidance should local, state and/or federal law enforcement visit our university campuses for the purposes of immigration law. As a public institution, °µÍø½ûÇø must comply with all federal laws and directives, including those related to law enforcement activities.
Since January, we have been engaging in individual conversations with members of our community who may be subject to immigration law enforcement activities. These individuals have been encouraged to ensure their documentation is current and in their possession and to seek guidance from appropriate university staff.
If you are contacted in person or otherwise by a local, state or federal law enforcement official, it is strongly recommended that you do the following:
- Remain calm and professional at all times.
- Inform the law enforcement official that you’ve been directed to contact °µÍø½ûÇø Police Services and °µÍø½ûÇø’s Office of General Counsel, both of which can assist you.
- Immediately contact °µÍø½ûÇø Police Services at 330-672-2212 if on the Kent Campus or the .
- Then immediately contact °µÍø½ûÇø’s Office of General Counsel at 330-672-2982, which will provide you with guidance and advice in addition to answering your questions.
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) as well as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA) prohibit the release of information without a lawfully executed subpoena, a court order, a judicial warrant or an individual’s permission. You should inform the law enforcement official that you do not have the legal authority to respond to their request. You should give them the contact information for °µÍø½ûÇø Police Services and °µÍø½ûÇø’s Office of General Counsel, and you yourself should contact °µÍø½ûÇø Police Services and °µÍø½ûÇø’s Office of General Counsel.
Thank you for your attention to this important matter.
Sincerely,
Melody Tankersley, Ph.D.
Executive Vice President and Provost
Amoaba Gooden, Ph.D.
Vice President for People, Culture and Belonging
Professor of Africana Studies