Updates on Federal Actions

CSU closely monitors federal policy changes and administrative actions. Changes to CSU activities are based on thoughtful consideration and analysis of the best information available and specific guidance. 

CSU is committed to supporting our community and complying with local, state and federal laws. CSU is steadfast in its foundational mission as Colorado’s land grant university to provide access to a world-class education to anyone with the ability and desire to earn a degree – regardless of race, gender, religious beliefs or class.

University Messages

CSU focuses on communicating directly with impacted constituents. Monitor this webpage for information about immediate and long-term impacts.

Message Archive

Latest update

Aug. 13: Preparing for FY 26-27: Strategic Planning, Financial Headwinds, and Shared Resilience

Government shutdown

What is a government "shutdown"?

When there is a lapse in appropriations because Congress and the president did not reach an agreement about government funding, the government “shuts down.”  A continuing resolution or “CR” is a temporary agreement to keep the government open. The government will “reopen” when a continuing resolution or annual appropriations bills are passed. 

During a shutdown, federal agencies that have had a lapse in funding are partially or fully closed, and employees who are deemed non-essential are furloughed. Activities that have mandatory funding or other ongoing appropriations continue during a shutdown.   

Each agency is required to create its own contingency plan, although many agencies have not released updated plans for this year. COGR provides a landing page with links to agency plans.  

During a shutdown: 

  • Investigators should continue to work on research and other sponsored activity with obligated funds unless notified by an agency official to stop work. Please send any stop work notices to [email protected].
  • Expect delays in research grant awards, collaboration with federal partners, and communication. 
  • Most federal research facilities will be closed.
  • Agencies will not process extensions, supplemental funding, amendments, or make new awards.
  • Projects that have been selected for funding but awarded will be delayed. 

Researchers and others with federal funding should: 

  • Continue to work on sponsored projects with obligated funds, unless told to stop work by an agency official.
  • Meet all deadlines as outlined in awards.
  • Submit all project reports by the deadline.
  • Submit grant proposals by the deadline.
  • Forward all agency communications regarding stop work orders, attestations, or similar requests to [email protected] and your OSP team members.

Student loans and financial aid 

  • Processing of FAFSA applications will continue.
  • Student aid, including Pell Grants and Direct Student Loans, continues to be disbursed. 
  • Borrowers must still make loan payments.
  • Federal student loans are serviced.

Veterans’ benefits 

Visas and related services

  • Most visa processing, visa status changes, and applications for other immigration adjustments will continue to be processed during the shutdown but may be slower.
  • Some application processing is shut down, such as H-1B applications and PERM-based Green Cards.
  • Please check with the Office of International Programs for specific information about visa services.

UNIVERSITY RESOURCES AND GUIDANCE

This section updated Feb. 20.

Certain executive orders issued by the new administration contain directives surrounding or related to diversity, equity and inclusion. Some of those directives are currently under challenge in federal courts and CSU will continue to monitor these cases and other federal action.

CSU President Amy Parsons shared a message on Feb. 18, following the Department of Education’s “Dear Colleague” letter sent Feb. 14. The Department of Education followed up with FAQs about the letter.

An additional message about student Cultural Resource Centers was sent on Feb. 20, outlining that no substantial changes will be made to the centers at this time.

CSU has been and will continue to monitor and assess the impact of executive orders and other federal agency actions and guidance. CSU will provide updates as we know more information.

See Frequently Asked Questions for more information.

This section updated Feb. 8.

The Office of the Vice President for Research in collaboration with the Office of the Provost and Executive Vice President and other CSU leadership is reviewing and monitoring federal policy changes to evaluate impact and provide guidance for the CSU community.  

The Office of the Vice President for Research will communicate directly with principal investigators and project leads as we receive notifications from funding agencies about the need to modify or stop certain activities related to specific grants and contracts.

The Office Vice President for Research communicates directly with principal investigators and project leads, and has a website dedicated to federal funding updates. 

Questions about research can be emailed to the Office of the Vice President for Research at [email protected]. 

 

This section updated Feb. 8.

Currently, federal financial aid and grants for students that are distributed directly to a student, such as loans or Pell grants, are continuing to be funded, along with federal work study programs.

The Office of Financial Aid can provide more information and assist with questions or concerns.

 

This guidance outlines steps for CSU faculty, staff and students to follow if Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Department of Homeland Security (DHS), or other federal law enforcement come to campus. This guidance is meant to ensure legal compliance while protecting the rights and privacy of students, staff and faculty.   

Members of the law enforcement community are valued partners in protecting our campus communities. In all interactions with any law enforcement officer regarding university business, CSU employees are expected to be professional and courteous. 

As a public university, CSU welcomes members of the public to a significant portion of our campuses. However, access is restricted or limited to certain areas on our campuses due to operational, privacy, safety, and security purposes. Federal law enforcement officers are subject to these access restrictions and must adhere to university protocols when entering areas that are not generally open to the public.

It is important to note that ICE or DHS officials may be on campus for reasons unrelated to enforcement actions, such as career recruitment events and guest lectures. Additionally, due to our international programs, the university must report certain information about students with F-1 or J-1 visa status to ICE. This reporting is routine, and the university must comply with onsite visits to review records when requested.

Access Categories

Description

Examples of spaces, include, but are not limited to:

Public Access Areas

Areas open to the general public during  business hours (which may vary by building), where entry is not restricted or limited. These spaces are freely accessible to the public and may include outdoor and common-use areas. 

Common areas, reception desks, and lobbies in university buildings; hallways generally used by the public, public restrooms, dining areas open to the public, most  outdoor spaces, including, sidewalks.

Limited Access Areas

Spaces that are generally unlocked during business hours but that are not considered public due to their function. Access to these areas may require special permission or key cards.

Employee offices, classrooms in session, laboratories, locker rooms, kitchens, food preparation areas, maintenance areas, storage rooms and other operational facilities.

Restricted Access Areas

Areas that require a key card or key, locked doors, or monitored entryways for access are protected to maintain safety and privacy.

Student rooms in residence halls, locked classrooms, administrative offices and restricted research laboratories.

This section updated Feb. 24.

Requests for Student or Employee Information:

Personally identifiable educational records of students are protected by the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). University health records of students and employees are protected by the Health Insurance Privacy and Accountability Act (HIPAA). All CSU employees are required to maintain the confidentiality of these records.

Generally, the university is not obligated to comply with requests for student or employee records without a subpoena or warrant. Under FERPA, a valid subpoena, warrant, or court order is typically required for access to student records, subject to limited exceptions. Various legal frameworks also protect certain employee records, including personnel documents and files.

If you receive a written request from a federal agency for student or employee information (including, but not limited to, a subpoena, warrant, or court order), please refer such request immediately to the Office of the General Counsel for a response. If the request for information is delivered in person, please advise the person presenting the document that only the Office of the General Counsel is authorized to accept service on behalf of CSU. The Office of the General Counsel can be reached at (970) 491-6270.  Please email written requests not delivered in person to [email protected] and copied to [email protected].

Visits by federal law enforcement:

University leadership will designate employees in their divisions and colleges to be the main point of contact for any engagement with ICE, DHS, or other federal law enforcement. Further guidance will be provided directly to these employees. A list of designated employees and their contact information will be forthcoming. In the meantime, contact the Office of the General Counsel at (970) 491-6270 or CSU Police Department non-emergency number at (970) 491-6425 should federal law enforcement be on campus.

Members of law enforcement are permitted in public access areas of campus.

If you are in a public area that is not your usual workplace and are approached by a federal law enforcement official on campus:

  • Stay calm; be professional and courteous.
  • Do not give consent to enter or provide physical access to limited or restricted access areas.
  • Do not provide information, including personally identifiable information, about any member of the CSU campus community.
  • If the law enforcement official needs assistance, please refer them to the Office of the General Counsel (basement of the Administration Building, (970) 491-6270) or the CSU Police Department (Green Hall (970) 491-6425).

If you work in a space that is considered a public access area (e.g., reception) and you are approached by a federal law enforcement official during normal business hours:

  • Stay calm; be professional and courteous.
  • Do not give consent to enter or provide physical access to limited or restricted access areas.
  • Do not provide information, including personally identifiable information, about any member of the CSU campus community.
  • Inform the law enforcement official that, pursuant to university protocols, you are consulting with the appropriate university personnel who will try to assist them and that you are not trying to obstruct their process.
  • Contact the Office of the General Counsel at (970) 491-6270 or CSU Police Department non-emergency number at (970) 491-6425.

Members of law enforcement may not enter limited access or restricted access areas of campus without a warrant or court order. If you are approached by a law enforcement official who seeks entry into a limited access or restricted access area, immediately contact the Office of the General Counsel at (970) 491-6270 or CSU Police Department at (970) 491-6425.

Students who need legal assistance with immigration questions or concerns should contact Student Legal Services (SLS) at (970) 491-1482. Student Legal Services is funded by student fees and there is no additional charge for students to use this valuable resource.  

This section updated April 24.

We are aware that some CSU international students have been impacted by visa revocations issued by the U.S. Department of State. Affected students are advised to immediately contact the embassy of their home country and the CSU Office of International Programs at (970) 491-5917 or [email protected]. We are working with our state and federal elected officials to ensure that our students are informed of all their options.

For other questions about visas, travel and immigration please contact the CSU Office of International Programs.

For information about scams targeting international students, please see the visas, travel and immigration page on International Programs.

This section updated Feb. 8.

To date, no executive order has implemented a travel ban.

However, executive orders such as “Protecting the US from Foreign Terrorists and other National Security and Public Safety Threats” do implement actions related to travel. For example, citizens of other countries may be subject to a full or partial ban on entering the United States for any reason.

 

This section updated Feb. 8.

The attorneys at CSU Student Legal Services are ready to assist students with immigration questions or concerns. Student Legal Services is funded by student fees and there is no additional charge for students to use this valuable resource.  

 

CSU offers resources to support the well-being of all university students and employees.

This section updated Feb. 8.

Additional guidance following a Jan. 20 executive order on gender identity, including that order’s impact on federal regulations governing sex- and gender-based discrimination and harassment, including Title IX, is not expected until March. Meanwhile, a Feb. 5 executive order changing Title IX interpretation to bar transgender athletes from competing on girls’ and women’s K-12 and college sports teams was followed on Feb. 6 by a change in NCAA policy to align with that order.

A Jan. 28 executive order barring certain gender-affirming care for individuals under age 19 will also be followed by additional federal regulatory actions and guidance.

Visit the CSU Office of Title IX Programs and Gender Equity. 

See Frequently Asked Questions for more information.

  • CSU filed formal support against cuts to academic research. Colorado State University is one of 24 leading research universities to formally support Harvard’s arguments in its legal challenge against the federal government. On June 9, CSU and other universities filed an amicus brief arguing that federal government cuts to academic research comes at a great cost to public welfare, American leadership in research and innovation, economic growth and prosperity, and the mission of universities to expand learning and understanding.
  • CSU signed American Association of Colleges and Universities statement. On April 24, CSU joined hundreds of universities in signing a April 22 statement from the American Association of Colleges and Universities, “speaking in one voice against the unprecedented government overreach and political interference now endangering American higher education.”

FEDERAL GUIDANCE

EXTERNAL INFORMATION SOURCES

QUESTIONS?

Federally funded grants, agreements and contracts [email protected]

Other federal changes and impacts  [email protected]