This message has been approved by President John Thrasher for distribution to students, faculty and staff.

Dear Students, Faculty and Staff:

In light of the administration’s new policy preventing the entry of citizens of seven foreign countries to the United States for the next 90 days, I want to update you and reaffirm the university’s full support of all of our students, faculty and staff regardless of religious belief, country of birth or citizenship.

In the three days since the executive order was issued, we have reviewed this fluid situation and how it might affect FSU. As things stand now, we have 60 students from some of the affected countries, most of them from Iran. One of them is a graduate student who had gone home to Iran who will not be able to return at least until the ban is over or something changes. He is the only student we are aware of who was out of the country when the ban was announced.

We are aware that faculty or student travel plans to conferences and other professional obligations may need to be changed due to this order. For now, our general recommendation is that those from the affected countries should not leave the United States. We are working to better understand the situation and have been advising these students and employees.

The university does not collect or maintain information on individuals’ immigration status except when required by law to do so. We will continue our practice of maintaining the absolute confidentiality and privacy of our students’ and employees’ information absent a lawful order.

In addition, I will continue to support Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals — or DACA — which allows some undocumented students who arrived in this country as children to be spared from deportation and makes them eligible for two-year renewable work permits. It is the right thing to do to help these students find a path toward a better future.

These actions are true to the values of Florida State University. As a nationally recognized champion of diversity and inclusion, FSU welcomes the skill and creativity of scientists, engineers, professors, graduate and undergraduate students, and visitors from around the globe. Their excellent scholarly work is central to our university’s success in many fields and benefits Florida, the nation and the world.

In the coming days, we will closely monitor the impact of the executive order. As it is clarified, we will continue to communicate with those affected. Walk in advising hours at the Center for Global Engagement are 2-4 daily for F-1 students and 3-4:30 for J-1 students and scholars. Please contact Dr. Cynthia Green (cgreen2@fsu.edu) at 644-3050 or Kristen Hagen (khagen@fsu.edu) at 644-9563.

I encourage everyone at FSU to support their fellow students and scholars as we move forward together.

John Thrasher
President