This FAQ is not legal advice but provides guiding principles to ensure Pitt State faculty and staff understand their rights and responsibilities when interacting with immigration enforcement officers while protecting the privacy and safety of our campus community.
For assistance, contact:
Jamie Brooksher, General Counsel
📞 620-235-4136 | ✉️ jbrooksher@pittstate.edu
Police and Public Safety
📞 620-235-4624
Can I prohibit access to federal immigration officers in support of our undocumented community?
No. Pitt State cannot prohibit federal immigration enforcement officers from coming on campus to enforce federal law. However, you must immediately alert:
Am I obligated to provide access to federal immigration officers?
Steps to follow:
If I am teaching in my classroom, am I obligated to allow immigration enforcement officers to enter?
Am I obligated to provide access to residence hall floors or rooms?
Steps to follow:
Can a student refuse to allow an officer to enter their residence hall room?
Am I obligated to provide student information to immigration enforcement officers?
If approached by an immigration officer requesting student information:
FERPA: Additional details can be found on the Registrar's web page.
If an immigration officer requests personal information about an employee, am I obligated to provide it?
Steps to follow:
Can faculty discuss immigration enforcement in class?
Pitt State endorses the AAUP Academic Freedom and Tenure Statement, which states:
For more guidance, contact the Provost's office at 620-235-6170.
General FAQ for Employees
We do not track immigration status as part of our application and attendance practices, except for international students who are here legally on student visas issued by the federal government. Undocumented students can legally attend universities, and students do not need to prove citizenship to enroll in higher education. Since students are not required to disclose their immigration status, we cannot provide an exact number.
Undocumented students are legally allowed to attend universities. As policies shift, we will review and update our own policies and processes as needed to remain compliant with federal and state laws.
To the best of our knowledge, no. Pitt State requires that all employees, including student workers, be legally authorized to work in the United States. We comply with all federal and state laws regarding work authorization.
We have provided campus-wide communication to connect students with resources to navigate their situation. Any undocumented student should be prepared for an ICE encounter and seek guidance from trusted immigration law sources. Pitt State faculty and staff should not give legal advice but can direct students to the following resources:
No. Pitt State Police and Public Safety officers will assist ICE in navigating campus as needed, but they are not federal agents and are not authorized to act on ICE’s behalf.
Yes, as long as you adhere to the Kansas Board of Regents (KBOR) social media policy, do not create the impression that you speak on behalf of the university, and do so on your own time.
No. Pitt State international students are in the U.S. on official student visas issued by the federal government.
Unlike K-12 public schools, Pitt State is an open campus. However, certain areas, such as private residence hall rooms, are not open to the public and require a valid warrant for access.
General FAQ for Students
We strongly encourage you to be prepared and know your rights. If you have questions, seek guidance from trusted immigration law sources. For additional support, visit the Office of Inclusion and Belonging in the lower level of the Overman Student Center.
Helpful resources include:
Yes. Our campus is a safe place, but we encourage you to be prepared for potential encounters with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), regardless of where you are.
Stay in close communication with your instructors and discuss options with each one directly.
If you have questions, we recommend seeking legal guidance from trusted sources. Helpful organizations include:
Pitt State cannot prohibit federal immigration enforcement officers from enforcing federal law on campus. However, we have provided guideance above to our employees on how to interact with ICE, and we strongly encourage students to know their rights.
It depends. A residential hall room is considered a limited access area and cannot be legally accessed by immigration enforcement officers without a valid criminal warrant or the voluntary consent of the occupant. You generally need not allow entry to any law enforcement officer who is not in possession of a criminal warrant, regardless of what that officer might say.
Report the incident using Maxient at pittstate.edu/gethelp. If it’s an emergency, call 911.
File a report in Maxient at pittstate.edu/gethelp.
Contact the Bryant Student Health Center at 620-235-4452 to schedule an in-person appointment, or download the Telus Health App for 24/7 online mental health support. If you are in crisis, call 911. Visit the health center web page.