FAQs

The university provides weekly updates on federal developments and their impact on the university and higher education broadly. These updates will be continually shared on this website. Also available is a centralized hub for resources relevant to all members of our community to receive additional support. 

GW will continue to monitor developments closely and remains committed to supporting our students, faculty, and staff throughout this period. Students in need of support can access wellbeing resources or studentsgwu [dot] edu (contact) the Division for Student Affairs. Faculty and staff can access the Employee Assistance Program, and researchers can askovprgwu [dot] edu (contact) OVPR for updates related to federally funded projects.

We are aware that National Guard members have been more visible on campus, and we recognize the concerns some members of our community have raised about their sense of personal safety. It is important to keep in mind that the public streets and sidewalks that run through GW’s campus fall under local and federal authority, but only authorized university community members are allowed to access campus buildings that require GWorld access.

In instances where National Guard members have entered campus private property, they have left immediately upon the direction of university officials. The university maintains communication with National Guard leadership and has discussed the distinction between public and private property. National Guard leadership has confirmed they understand Guard members are not to enter private property.  

No, GW has not requested the Guard’s presence on campus. 

To support the safety of our entire community, we encourage individuals to ensure that building doors close behind them when entering and exiting. Please know that when we become aware of external law enforcement or National Guard in our facilities, we immediately follow up with the appropriate command.

The Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps (NROTC) is a leadership development program that allows students to earn their degree while simultaneously pursuing a commission as an officer in the U.S. Navy or U.S. Marine Corps upon graduation. Students enrolled in the program, also known as Midshipmen, take naval science courses, conduct physical training, and develop their leadership skills as part of their academic schedule.

In recent weeks, some members of the university community have noticed students from the GW NROTC wearing camouflage uniforms and have asked about their role on campus. These individuals are full-time students of the university and should not be mistaken for active-duty service members, law enforcement, or members of the National Guard.

GW’s NROTC unit, led by CAPT. Christina Dalmau, Professor of Naval Science, includes students from George Washington, Catholic, Georgetown, and Howard universities. All official NROTC activities are supervised by Naval Science Instructors.

No. The NROTC is a leadership development program that allows students to earn their degree while simultaneously pursuing a commission as an officer in the U.S. Navy or U.S. Marine Corps upon graduation. In the case of a recent report of possible Guard members on the Vex, GW NROTC students were erroneously identified as members of the Guard. NROTC members should not be mistaken for active-duty service members, law enforcement, or members of the National Guard.

The safety of our GW community is our highest priority. We encourage those with concerns or questions about safety to review our resources page or federal [dot] updategwu [dot] edu (contact us) for additional guidance. 

We are aware of recent news reports about the Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education. We would like to clarify that GW has not been invited to adopt or comment on the Compact, and we are not considering adopting it. What we are doing is actively discussing GW’s values, principles and priorities, and how they relate to the important issues and the broader challenges faced by all of higher education, including some that are addressed by the Compact.

The safety of our community members remains GW’s highest priority, and we will keep our community informed of any new and relevant information that may affect them. At this time, we do not anticipate an impact to GW’s operations. The university remains in close contact with local and federal partners and will provide updates as needed. 

No, the GW Police Department’s jurisdiction and authority on campus has not changed.

The situation is highly fluid. On Aug. 14, MPD amended its procedures, through an Executive Order, to allow MPD to assist federal immigration enforcement agencies by sharing information about persons not in MPD custody (e.g., during traffic stops) and by providing transportation for federal immigration agency employees and detained subjects. MPD’s position did not change, however, with respect to not assisting federal immigration officials in other areas, including, for example, arresting individuals based solely on federal immigration warrants.

Later on Aug. 14, Attorney General Pam Bondi rescinded MPD’s Executive Order as well as prior MPD rules that prohibited MPD from arresting individuals based on administrative warrants, assisting federal agents during arrests, and searching databases for an individual’s immigration status without a criminal warrant.

The D.C. Attorney General subsequently issued a statement that AG Bondi’s directives are unlawful and filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court in D.C. According to late-breaking media reports on Aug. 15, during a Court hearing the Administration agreed to relinquish control of MPD back to the MPD Chief.

With the expiration of the 30-day emergency takeover of MPD on September 10, Mayor Bowser announced that MPD would no longer cooperate with ICE under the August 14 Executive Order.

Accordingly, it remains unclear to what extent MPD will continue to cooperate with federal immigration authorities under AG Bondi’s directive. GW will monitor closely and advise the community of any further changes. As a reminder, guidance is available for responding to unannounced visits by government officials for immigration-related actions, and the International Services Office website includes additional guidance.

Operational control of MPD has now returned to the District. Mayor Bowser has issued an executive order directing her public safety team to coordinate with federal officials. Leadership and policing strategy are evolving. GW will monitor closely and advise the community of any further changes.

Federal law enforcement officers, just like local law enforcement officers, generally need a warrant, signed by a judge, to enter a private residence such as a residence hall room, unless there are specific exceptions like exigent circumstances or consent by the resident. (Common exigent circumstances include: hot pursuit of a fleeing suspect, the imminent destruction of evidence, an immediate risk to the life or safety of a person, and the need to protect police officers or the public from harm.)

• Carry your government-issued ID (driver’s license, passport and/or visa, Alien Registration Card) and GWorld with you at all times.
• Ensure a trusted friend/relative has copies of your important documents.
• Ensure a trusted friend/relative knows your correct Alien Registration Number and country of birth. 

While there is no general legal requirement in the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia to present identification on demand, you may be required to present identification in certain situations. For example, you may be required to show your driver’s license while driving on public streets, and provide identification to enter into government buildings and apply for government benefits. Foreign nationals must be able to show proof of their lawful immigrant status.

In general, no. Law enforcement officials may stop and ask you questions if you are in a public place, however they may only temporarily detain, search and question an individual if there is “reasonable suspicion” that the person has committed or is committing a crime. “Reasonable suspicion” is less than “probable cause,” but needs to be more than a hunch. The stop must be based on specific, articulable facts that would lead a reasonable person to believe that criminal activity has been, is, or is about to occur. If you choose not to produce identification, you may be detained for a longer period of time.

A recent limited decision by the Supreme Court, however, gives Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials the latitude to stop individuals they suspect are illegally present in the U.S. based on their appearance, language (or accent), or place of work. (That limited decision is still subject to further review by the courts.)

A “Real ID,” a driver’s license or identification issued by a state under recently adopted federal standards, will likely be sufficient proof of citizenship for most situations. While a Real ID does not technically establish proof of citizenship, it does represent proof that the holder of the ID is lawfully living in the country, and generally meets federal security standards. You may also, however, choose to keep handy other standard forms of proof of citizenship: a passport or a birth certificate. Non-citizens must carry proof of their immigration status, e.g., green card, a physical copy of the Form I-94 record or nonimmigrant visa.

Non-citizens must carry proof of their immigration status, e.g., green card, a physical copy of the Form I-94 record or nonimmigrant visa.

The university provides specific guidance on responding to ICE officials on campus and includes checklists for front desk staff and supervisors.

Please familiarize yourself with the AILA's Know Your Rights guide and the ACLU's Know Your Rights webpage.

The International Services Office supports and offers general visa-related guidance to all university-sponsored international students, scholars and employees in F-1, J-1, H-1B, TN, O-1, and E-3 statuses. In addition to those holding the above visa statuses, the university includes many people who hold other immigration statuses. Due to the complex and fluid nature of government policies, the university advises individuals in these categories to use caution and to consult with the ISO with any questions prior to engaging in international travel. Please refer to the ISO's Travel and Re-entry page for information. Individuals may also wish to consult with a qualified immigration attorney prior to engaging in international travel.

The White House announced restrictions on the entry of new H-1B workers into the U.S., unless their petitions are accompanied by a $100,000 supplemental payment to the U.S. government. GW continues to evaluate the full implications of these restrictions and will share updates with our community as more information becomes available. Please isogwu [dot] edu (reach out to the ISO) if you have questions about your individual circumstances.

The International Services Office (ISO) provides updates on immigration policies, programming, and resources that support GW’s international community. Various FAQs addressing safety, travel, and legal resources also are available on the ISO site. Members of the GW community can stay informed through the following communication channels:

• Campus partners may subscribe to the ISO Campus Partner Listserv to receive important announcements and guidance relevant to their work with international students and scholars.
• The ISO Global Insider Newsletter, distributed to our international community, features immigration reminders, event updates, resources, and community highlights. Students and campus partners may also subscribe to receive these updates.

For individualized support, isogwu [dot] edu (contact ISO) directly.

In August, GW received the Department of Justice’s letter with its findings regarding GW’s response to antisemitism on campus. We responded by requesting a meeting to discuss the findings and engage in constructive dialogue; no meeting has taken place to date. In the meantime, we are consulting with our trustees and faculty experts, and we will update the community as we can.

For additional safety and security resources, visit the Resources page or Safety website, or download the GW Guardian app. Emergency management information from the District is also available online.

All GW community members are automatically signed up to receive GW emergency email alerts. You can also sign up for text alerts by adding a mobile phone number to your GW Alert account. You can add up to three email addresses and phone numbers so that friends and family may also receive GW emergency alerts. Visit the GW Alert webpage for instructions on how to manage your account.

If students have individual concerns, they are encouraged to reach out to the Division for Student Affairs at studentsgwu [dot] edu or visit in person at the Student Center, 2nd Floor. The team is here to listen, provide guidance, and connect students with the right resources to address their needs.

Faculty may contact the Office of Faculty Affairs, and staff may contact their unit’s HR business partner.  Wellbeing resources, including GW’s Employee Assistance Program (EAP), are available for both faculty and staff.

The university continues to defend and protect academic freedom and freedom of expression, which are foundational to GW’s mission. GW is committed to creating spaces where members of our community can bring rigor, evidence, and respect as they confront ideas that may challenge or discomfort them while following GW’s policies. GW’s guidelines for exercising and defending academic freedom are clearly defined, and the university also offers a website with FAQs addressing the importance of freedom of expression as well as its limits, including time, place and manner guidelines and likely permitted and prohibited activities. 

GW’s Office of General Counsel is working with outside counsel to understand applicable law, particularly civil rights and anti-discrimination laws in the higher education context, and to validate that our current programs meet these standards. Those legal assessments will be shared with a group of senior administrators, including leadership from the Office for Diversity, Equity and Community Engagement (ODECE) and representatives from the campus community, who will be charged with evaluating them and offering advice to leadership as to how we best maintain our commitment to full inclusion and equal opportunity within the bounds of the law. We will share updates with the community as this process unfolds.

GW is working to maintain our commitment to a campus that is fully inclusive and welcoming to all. ODECE offers resources and bias incident support services and the university promptly reviews reports of discrimination and harassment via the centralized Office of Access and Opportunity.