Support for Our Non-Citizen Students

Dear Members of the Seattle University community: 

Today is the Feast of the Epiphany. For members of our community who trace their roots to Latin America, the celebration of the Three Kings is a day for giving gifts and spending time with family. As Pope Francis has said, the story of the Three Kings – three foreigners who traveled to Bethlehem (by way of Jerusalem) to pay homage to the infant Jesus – is also a celebration of the universalism of God’s love. It is therefore a reminder of the radical inclusiveness of our calling as a Jesuit, Catholic university. 

Because of this foundational value, Seattle University is committed to providing an education that is global in its scope and to upholding and defending the dignity of every member of our community, regardless of their identity or national origin. In keeping with those values, I ask you to please give your attention to this important message (below) from Vice Provost for Global Engagement Laura Spitz and Vice President for Diversity and Inclusion Natasha Martin regarding the University’s current plans in response to anticipated changes in immigration policy that may result from the upcoming change in presidential administrations. 

We will be updating these plans in response to new information as it arises, and we will follow up with additional communication as appropriate. In uncertain and unsettling times, the consolations of faith, community, and friendship are indispensable sources of strength, resilience, and joy. At Seattle University, we are fortunate to be part of a community that is rich in all of these. I welcome you to the new academic term and wish you all a happy new year. 

Respectfully,

Eduardo M. Peñalver

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Dear Campus Community, 

We hope your break was restful and rejuvenating. As our Seattle University community reconvenes and prepares to enter a new academic term together, there is cause for optimism and excitement for new possibilities. And yet, we also know that we live in uncertain times, including the anticipation of a U.S. administration under new leadership, and that this uncertainty is causing uneasiness and anxiety for some on campus, particularly our students who are non-citizens.   

We are a Jesuit Catholic university committed to educating the whole person, guided in our response to uncertainty by values rooted in dignity, inclusion, and human flourishing. Within this broader mission, Seattle University is wholly and unequivocally committed to supporting our undocumented, deferred action, and international students. A number of campus offices have been meeting for several weeks to prepare for anticipated changes that could impact members of our community. As these offices continue to closely monitor actions undertaken by the new administration, we wanted to make you aware of the following resources and information. 

• All students, faculty and staff are invited to a Know Your Rights presentation on Monday, Jan. 13, 12:00-12:50 pm in Sullivan Hall (Room C5 or Zoom). This presentation will be led by law student Stephanie Chaparro and Professor Zaida Rivera, Director of Seattle University School of Law’s Immigrant Justice Clinic. Lunch will be served. 

• Additional Know Your Rights presentations will be offered in colleges, schools, and student support areas over the next few months as more information about immigration enforcement practices becomes known. 

• Seattle University Law School will be offering consultations to non-citizen students coordinated by the law school’s clinical program. We will share additional details when the law students and faculty return to campus mid-January. 

• The MOSAIC Center will be offering UndocuAlly training over the Winter Quarter. In addition, MOSAIC can provide emergency financial assistance to support undocumented students with DACA renewal fees or other one-time legal or processing fees related to their status. 

• The International Student and Scholar Center is hosting an H-1B Work Visa Workshop on Friday, Jan. 24, at 2 p.m. The location will be shared with those who RSVP here. This session, an opportunity to learn more about the process for 2025, is open to all but targeted toward students here on F-1 visas. 

• Our Campus Climate Incident Reporting and Response Protocol includes a link to resources for students, staff, and faculty to access support for their mental and physical well-being. 

• Students in need of additional support or information about available resources are encouraged to reach out to the MOSAIC Center, the International Student and Scholar Center, Campus Ministry, their Advisors, and/or the Dean of Students Office.   

• As a reminder, Seattle University protects the privacy of our students’ education records and information. The university has published its guidelines for student records and information under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). Except in the narrow circumstances articulated in the guidelines, the university will not disclose personally identifiable information (other than directory information) from a student’s education records without the student’s written consent. 

• We also know that some of our faculty and staff may be impacted by potential changes in immigration policies and those with questions on visas or employment status can reach out to Human Resources or the Office of Global Engagement. 

In the days ahead and always, let us keep in mind the words of Pope Francis in his encyclical “Fratelli Tutti,” which the bishops of Washington State referenced in a recent statement supporting immigrants and refugees. The pope writes:  

“If every human being possesses an inalienable dignity, if all people are my brothers and sisters, and if the world truly belongs to everyone, then it matters little whether my neighbor was born in my country or elsewhere.” 

Thank you. 

Sincerely, 

Natasha Martin 
Vice President for Diversity and Inclusion 

Laura Spitz 
Vice Provost for Global Engagement