Federal Guidelines

The rapid pace of change may feel confusing or disruptive; for that reason, William & Mary is taking a measured approach. Above all, the university remains committed to our core values: belonging, curiosity, excellence, flourishing, integrity, respect and service. We seek to create an environment where all can teach, learn, and make new knowledge without fear of bias, disruption, or barriers.

• First, William & Mary speaks in our own voice. We strive scrupulously to be politically neutral, because that opens the widest space for true deliberation on our campus. That is what we are here to foster.
• Second, William & Mary speaks in measured ways, as second-day responders. And we speak proactively and affirmatively, rather than reactively.

William & Mary stands in solidarity with all institutions — universities, colleges, and many others — that defend freedom of expression and academic freedom. It is incumbent on each of us at William & Mary to uphold those principles. Indeed, at William & Mary these powerful ideas first began to be framed.

A long tradition of American jurisprudence has upheld the essential value of freedom of expression “as a vital guarantee of democratic self-government” (Justice Brett Kavanaugh, US Telecom Association v. FCC, 855 F. 3d 381.) Writing in 1967, Supreme Court Justice William Brennan reflected on why the principle of intellectual pluralism guaranteed by freedom of expression is so important to the mission of higher education:

"The vigilant protection of constitutional freedoms is nowhere more vital than in the community of American schools. ... The classroom is peculiarly the 'marketplace of ideas.' The Nation's future depends upon leaders trained through wide exposure to that robust exchange of ideas which discovers truth 'out of a multitude of tongues, (rather) than through any kind of authoritative selection. (Keyishian v. Board of Regents)"

Summing up these precedents, he concluded: “The essentiality of freedom in the community of American universities is almost self-evident. No one should underestimate the vital role in a democracy that is played by those who guide and train our youth. To impose any straitjacket upon the intellectual leaders in our colleges and universities would imperil the future of our Nation. No field of education is so thoroughly comprehended by man that new discoveries cannot yet be made. ... Scholarship cannot flourish in an atmosphere of suspicion and distrust. Teachers and students must always remain free to inquire, to study and to evaluate, to gain new maturity and understanding; otherwise our civilization will stagnate and die.”

The Board approved a resolution on April 25, 2025 affirming the university’s measured, values-based and merit-based approach to evolving federal guidance, including the Equal Protection Clause of the U.S. Constitution and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Consistent with the resolution, William & Mary will be vigilant in our commitment “to providing every student an education that is free of discrimination and every employee a workplace that is similarly free.”

The resolution approved by the Board of Visitors on April 25, 2025 addresses topics covered in the February 14, 2025, "Dear Colleague" letter (pdf) from the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Civil Rights. 

Consistent with Board direction, William & Mary will continue to follow all federal regulations and policies, with meticulous attention to those outlined in the Dear Colleague letter.

Yes. Beginning in 2021, William & Mary shifted to a values-based and merit-based framework for inclusive excellence when we launched the university’s Board-approved strategic plan. President Rowe detailed in her April 25 message to campus, and the William & Mary Board of Visitors affirmed in their recent resolution, the university’s commitment to excellence, belonging and a campus free from discrimination.

Since 2021, jobs and functions have evolved to reflect the new approach, including eliminating the Chief Diversity Officer role and creating a Senior Advisor to the President focused on employee leadership development. The Office of Diversity & Inclusion is now the Office of Inclusive Excellence, the Center for Student Diversity is now the Student Center for Inclusive Excellence and Alumni Engagement & Inclusion Initiatives is now the Office of Alumni Inclusive Excellence.

At William & Mary, we recognize excellence as a core value, affirmed formally in 2019. As our values statement explains, “We aim for the extraordinary, recognizing that personal growth and meaningful accomplishment require bold and innovative aspirations, courageous risk-taking, and focused effort.”

We recognize that the talented human beings gather at William & Mary can come from anywhere. So we look for talent everywhere – consistent with who we are as a pre-eminent public university. We seek to recruit outstanding students and employees from across the Commonwealth of Virginia, nation, and world. Our standards are high: those who come here, belong here, and we aim to support them to achieve their goals at the highest level without fear of discrimination of any kind.

William & Mary’s Board-approved strategic plan outlined this values-based and merit-based approach – grounded in the idea that a plurality of perspectives, experiences, talents, backgrounds, and expertise contributes to the vitality of our community and is the best preparation for a globally competitive workplace.

Reves Center

The Office of International Students, Scholars & Programs at the Reves Center is a resource for questions regarding international students, scholars and employees. Please contact globe@wm.edu.

Office of First-Generation Student Engagement: Special Immigration Status

Joselia Souza, M.Ed., director for the Office of First-Generation Student Engagement is a point of contact for students with special immigration status. Resources are also provided on the Special Immigration Status webpage.

This is an evolving situation and information continues to emerge. Each federal agency appears to be developing its own procedures for implementing the different EOs and monitoring compliance. As those procedures are implemented, we will be able to provide more details. At minimum, we will update this FAQ twice each month through at least the spring semester.

The Office of Government & External Affairs coordinates university engagement with federal, state, and local officials regarding: (1) legislation; (2) state and federal appropriations; (3) regulations; and (4) campus visits. Additionally, the office supports all aspects of preparing for testimony before federal, state, or local entities. For questions about engaging with federal, state, and local officials, please refer to this published guidance.

Teaching and research continues as planned except for grants where a stop work order has been issued. This is a fluid situation that we are monitoring carefully. We will evaluate any forthcoming EOs or pauses as they happen and provide updated guidance when necessary. Specific questions related to research grants should be directed to the Office of Sponsored Programs. Batten School & VIMS principal investigators or program managers should direct their questions to Connie Motley, Director of Sponsored Programs.

William & Mary's Office of Sponsored Programs is maintaining an archive of updates for funding recipients on campus. OSP will continue to list federal funding opportunities with due dates that have not passed. Note that access to those opportunities through portals like grants.gov may change on a daily basis.

Federal agencies are currently reviewing financial assistance programs as defined by 2 CFR 200 for alignment with recent Presidential EOs. Many of the EOs are also the subject of litigation seeking to enjoin their enforcement. If the terms of your grant allow for flexibility, consider postponing the hiring of grant-funded staff or signing of new contracts relying on grant funds. Slowing the pace of grant-funded commitments to third parties will mitigate some of the risks associated with the abrupt changes in federal policy and provide time to assess how agencies are implementing the new directives.

Any principal investigator or program manager who gets such a request from their funding agency should send it to the Director of the Office of Sponsored Programs and their OSP point of contact immediately and wait for direction. OSP will track each request and coordinate responses. Batten School & VIMS principal investigators or program managers who receive such a request should send it to Connie Motley, Director of Sponsored Programs (motley@vims.edu).

Federal financial aid for students is not currently at risk. The EOs that have sought to freeze spending — some of which are currently on hold due to court rulings — do not apply to federal funds directed at individuals, including Pell Grants, the federal Work Study program, and Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (SEOG).

At this time, Virginia state student financial aid has not been affected by federal actions.

The university has received no notice of changes to Veterans Educational Benefits.

The U.S. Department of Education has stated that Federal Work-Study was not affected by the pause of federal funding that was announced on January 27 and then rescinded.

William & Mary is a career partner for life, offering a range of free resources to support alumni navigating career transitions, job searches and professional growth. Whether alumni are exploring new career paths, refining job search strategies or expanding their network, William & Mary provides the tools and connections they need:

• One Network Resources Repository – The repository is a hub for resume and cover letter guidance, interview tips and job search strategies.
• Alumni Career Design Program – A structured 30-day online program starting April 26 to help alumni rethink and design their next career move.
• One-on-One Career Support – Schedule a free 30-minute Zoom career conversation with W&M careers staff for personalized guidance.
• Networking & Best Practices – Learn how to maximize One Network by scheduling a Zoom meeting with W&M careers staff.
• Support for Law School Alumni – One-on-one career support is available to Law School alumni through the Law School's Office of Career Services. Contact lawocs@wm.edu or Assistant Dean Elisabeth Beal (eabeal@wm.edu) to schedule an appointment and to receive personalized guidance.

Support the far-flung William & Mary community

• Have a job or internship opportunity for William & Mary students or fellow alumni? Email hirethetribe@wm.edu to share it.
• Stay connected with the William & Mary community by attending events and networking through W&M's Washington Center.
• If you have a job or internship opportunity for Law School students or alumni, email lawjob@wm.edu to share it.

As America's first university, William & Mary played a crucial role in the birth and evolution of our pluralistic democracy. Today, as a public university in the Commonwealth of Virginia, William & Mary is bound to the Constitutions of our Commonwealth and of the United States. We strongly affirm the principles enshrined there.

Consistent with our educational mission, William & Mary embraces a culture of open debate, reflection and listening. When we create space for respectful debate we grow in understanding – benefiting from the different perspectives and experiences of our diverse community in our pursuit of knowledge as a public good. It is the role of a university to hold open such spaces of respectful debate both inside and outside the classroom.

William & Mary is a nationally recognized leader in civil discourse: a place where today's students develop the critical thinking and civil discourse skills they will need to uphold our democracy as leaders in their communities, states and nations. Through the Democracy Initiative in the university's Vision 2026 strategic plan, William & Mary is modeling how to study, teach and affirm the rights and obligations of 21st-century citizenship.

William & Mary remains committed to engaging across divides inside and outside the classroom. Since 2021, all incoming students and more than a thousand faculty and staff have been trained on the Aspen Institute's Better Arguments framework. With the goal of fostering an environment where respectful dialogue can take place on even the most challenging topics, William & Mary has adapted and expanded this co-curriculum for the entire William & Mary community. Learn more at our Engaging the World page.

When expressing personal opinions about public events, it is important that employees make clear they are speaking as individuals and not in their professional capacity or on behalf of the institution. Review the guidelines for separating personal and professional communications (pdf). These guidelines were written from a faculty perspective but the recommended strategies are useful for all employees.

The university has also established content-neutral restrictions on the time, place and manner where individuals and recognized student organizations can engage in speech and expressive activities. Expression that disrupts class schedules or the operation of campus events and activities is prohibited. Review the applicable policies:

• Use of Campus Facilities
• Posting & Chalking On Campus

Please direct any inquiries for information or assistance to WMPD at 757-221-4596. The William & Mary Police Department (WMPD) is a fully accredited police department in the state of Virginia. Officers provide professional safety services on campus including an active police patrol, all day every day.

If you have questions or concerns about anyone on campus, please contact WMPD immediately. Please also remember that posting rumors or incorrect information on social media creates unnecessary anxiety for community members. In this time of uncertainty for many, let's all commit to correcting misinformation.