Support for navigating federal updates
February 5, 2025 11:03 AM

Dear Students, Faculty and Staff, 

Across the country, institutions like ours are working to seek clarity on what the immediate future holds following a series of new federal directives.  

We write today to share that we have assembled a Federal Updates Steering Group that includes university leadership, federal relations staff, legal, civil rights and compliance experts, faculty and other subject matter experts who will concentrate on understanding and addressing the impacts of these new federal updates on our university. They will begin by focusing on four critical areas: 

• Immigration 
• Expanding access 
• Research funding 
• Impact to our workforce 

We have published a new federal updates website that will house information, resources and answers to frequently asked questions. This website will be updated as more information becomes available. Students, faculty and staff seeking additional resources or information are encouraged to send a message to federalupdates@illinois.edu. 

Throughout this work, we will hold fast to our core principles of safeguarding the university’s land-grant mission; adhering to relevant laws and regulations; and supporting the wellbeing and privacy of all members of our campus community. We remain unwavering in our commitment to our values. They are essential to our promise of fostering an accessible and supportive environment that strengthens our community and promotes a more beneficial university experience for all. Our overriding goals will be transparency and compassion as we navigate these important issues together. 

We recognize the current lack of clarity from the federal government about recent directives creates a significant amount of uncertainty. However, Illinois is more than an institution. We are a community. Our relentless pursuit of knowledge and impact is matched only by our kindness and empathy. The ways we care for others can never be displaced. Please take the time to check in with your colleagues and classmates who may be most affected. Our collective spirit of collaboration and service is what makes this university among the world’s very best.  

Sincerely, 

Robert J. Jones
Chancellor 

John Coleman
Provost