Marquette Today

Campus News and Events

Submit news

Menu

  • Campus News
    • Top News for Students
    • Top News for Faculty & Staff
    • Magazines at Marquette
    • Campus Alerts
  • Archives
  • Submit news
    • Editorial Guidelines
    • Contacts
  • @MarquetteToday
  • Events Calendar
  • Topics
    • Community Engagement
    • Diversity
    • Innovation
    • Master Planning
    • Marquette Momentum
    • Research
    • Strategic Planning

A message from Provost Myers and Xavier Cole regarding undocumented students

February 13, 2017

Dear Marquette community,

Rooted in a longstanding Catholic and Jesuit tradition, Marquette University was founded on the principle of providing higher education to Milwaukee’s burgeoning immigrant population. It is our mission and our great privilege to welcome all, not just some, to this university.

With respect to the ongoing national attention around the immigration issue, we reiterate what we wrote last week in a letter to the campus community: “We stand with our international students and any other student whose family is impacted by this evolving situation.”

We are writing again today to bring further clarity to what exactly this means for Marquette. In doing so, let us first re-emphasize the core tenets of our Statement on Human Dignity and Diversity: “As a Catholic, Jesuit university, Marquette recognizes and cherishes the dignity of each individual regardless of age, culture, faith, ethnicity, race, gender, sexual orientation, language, disability or social class. Precisely because Catholicism at its best seeks to be inclusive, we are open to all who share our mission and seek the truth about God and the world.”

It is through that unwavering commitment that we outline Marquette’s official positions and available resources regarding undocumented individuals:

  1. With respect to immigration enforcement, Marquette University and the Marquette University Police Department will follow the law, but we will not act as an arm of federal immigration enforcement.
  • Guided by its mission, vision and values, MUPD is dedicated to maintaining a safe environment conducive to learning, living and working at Marquette, and is committed to the safety and security of the Marquette campus and surrounding community.
  • The university, bound by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), will not release information about students unless required to by law or court action.
  • The university does not control or supervise off-campus or other police authorities (local, state or federal) and therefore cannot address any actions by those agencies.
  1. In the event that the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) policy is overturned and students are unable to work, Marquette will assist undocumented students in the case of lost wages. The university will help affected students find support — they should contact the Office of Institutional Diversity and Inclusion. Students who experience financial difficulties for any other reason should contact the Office of Student Financial Aid.
  1. While the university does not have the capacity to provide legal services, should an individual need legal support, the university will help them find it. In fact, undocumented individuals may be eligible for one or more existing immigration options and might wish to seek legal counsel at this time. Available resources include:
  • Catholic Charities, a program supported by the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, provides legal assistance for immigrants living in the United States.
  • The Marquette University Law School provides a free legal clinic on Wednesday evenings at the United Community Center in Walker’s Point.
  • Individuals should learn how to recognize and avoid legal scams, which become more prevalent during periods of change in immigration policy.
  1. Special care should be taken when traveling outside the United States, given the potential difficulty of re-entering. Students and faculty should consult carefully with the Office of International Education before traveling abroad.
  1. The Office of Institutional Diversity and Inclusion should be the first point of contact for those who have immigration needs and related questions. The Center for Intercultural Engagement is also an available resource for assistance around immigration issues.
  1. The university has established a website with resources for undocumented students, which will be updated with information as new situations emerge.

As university leaders, we take very seriously any issues of national importance that have a direct effect on our students and the broader Marquette community. We also recognize the immigration issue is an evolving one, so we will continue to coordinate with our higher education peers — particularly our fellow Jesuit institutions — on behalf of our students.

We educate and serve students who come from 72 countries around the world, and the Marquette community is richer for it.

Indeed, we are all Marquette.

Sincerely,
Dr. Daniel J. Myers
Provost

Dr. Xavier Cole
Vice President for Student Affairs

Filed Under: For Faculty/Staff, For Students, Home - Featured Story, News Tagged With: Community Engagement, Diversity

More news

Priestly callings: Two graduates find spiritual purpose at Marquette

June 6, 2023

No vacation from vocation as Anselm Smith enters seminary

June 6, 2023

Having dismissed thoughts of priesthood, Noah Smith now ready to enter Jesuit formation

June 6, 2023

Annual notification of FERPA rights

June 6, 2023

Colleagues honored at 2023 Staff Excellence Awards

June 5, 2023

EagleExpress completes nearly 50,000 rides in first semester

June 5, 2023

Marquette University mourns the loss of Dr. James Scotton

June 5, 2023

Marquette expands partnerships within Wisconsin Technical College System

June 5, 2023

More news

Quick Links

  • Faculty/Staff News
  • Student News
  • Magazines at Marquette
Submit news

Featured Stories

Seize the summer: Milwaukee hotspots to explore

Students in Milwaukee this summer should try spending time exploring and discovering a lesser-known side of Milwaukee after summer classes, internships or work. 

Abiola Keller research - Black women who are caregivers talking and sharing in a circle

Encouraging caregivers to care for their own health, one story at a time

As Black women who are caregivers struggle to find the time and willpower to exercise and improve their diets, Dr. Abiola Keller’s nursing research uses shared storytelling as a promising way to find healthier paths.

We Are All Marquette: A Q&A with Dr. Qindan Huang, associate professor of civil, construction and environmental engineering

Dr. Qindan Huang discusses the importance of having women representation in STEM, the changes she’s seeing in the engineering industry and her proudest moments at Marquette.

Read more featured stories.

Safety

MUPD announces body-worn camera pilot program; full adoption anticipated in fall 2023

Free steering wheel locks available from MUPD; new software available for Hyundai vehicles

Safety Task Force efforts help lead to reduced crime on campus

Human Resources News

Looking back on May’s wellness events

Registration for summer GROW classes now available

Policy Review Committee shares updated UPPs on international travel, purchasing, leaves of absence

Research

A watchful eye — and clear voice — on clean water

Using chemistry to address a scientific challenge — and a human one

Marquette faculty and staff research grants from March 2023

Awards & Accomplishments

Colleagues honored at 2023 Staff Excellence Awards

Alumni National Awards 2023: Marquette University alumni, friends honored for excellence

Dr. Iqbal Ahamed, Md. Raihan Mia honored with Best Paper Award from Elsevier’s Smart Health Journal

Marquette UniversityCopyright 2023 by Marquette University
MARQUETTE.EDU // A TO Z