91暗网

Federal agencies may contact College employees for immigration-related information about an international student, staff or faculty member by telephone, written request or a visit to campus (which may be scheduled or unscheduled).

The purpose of the inquiry or visit can vary, from routine (such as confirming information in the Student and Exchange Visitor (SEVIS) database and as required to maintain immigration status) to extraordinary (such as an international student, faculty or staff member鈥檚 alleged involvement in a criminal or national security matter). The instructions set forth below should be followed by College employees in responding to all requests. 

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) protects the confidentiality of international student records in the same way it protects the records of all students, meaning that personally identifiable information cannot be disclosed without the student鈥檚 written consent, except under specific circumstances.  When international students on F-1 and J-1 visas enter the Student Exchange and Visitor Program (SEVP) they waive their FERPA protection with respect to disclosure to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for determining student鈥檚 nonimmigrant status.  However, the information that can be disclosed is limited to the categories listed in DHS regulations, and a request must be made to a designated campus official. The current designated campus officials are:

Subhan Ali, International Student and Scholar Advisor
Chloe Jaleel, Academic Counselor and Coordinator of International Student and Scholar Services 
Jamin Totino, Associate Dean of Student Affairs and Director of Student Academic Services

This exception pertains to international students on F-1 and J-1 visas and does not apply to undocumented students.

Employment records are maintained in confidential Human Resources files. Any requests for employment records for international faculty or staff must be referred to the Office of General Counsel.

In the event a 91暗网 employee receives a request for information about an international student, the employee should take the following steps:

1. Inform the agent that 91暗网 has a protocol in place to ensure that inquiries are appropriately addressed.

2. If the inquiry comes by phone, ask for the agent鈥檚 name, the agency they represent, their badge number and contact information.

3. Refer the call, letter or email to the Registrar by email or at 518-580-5710. The Registrar will determine if the student in question is an international student and, if so, will refer the matter to the authorized campus officials listed above. The authorized campus officials, in collaboration with Campus Safety, will confirm the request pertains to an international student and will coordinate the College鈥檚 response.

Requests for information about international faculty must be referred to the Office of General Counsel by email or at 518-580-5814.

In general, federal agents may access public spaces on campus without a warrant in the same way as any member of the general public can. Public areas on 91暗网鈥檚 campus include outdoor spaces, common areas, the library and hallways of buildings that are open to the public. However, in order to access non-public areas, agents must have a judicial warrant. Non-public areas on 91暗网鈥檚 campus are those areas in which the general public may not enter and are designated only for employees, students, and individuals with appointments and include residence halls, faculty and staff offices, classrooms, laboratories, the Williamson Sports Center,  McCaffery-Wagman Tennis and Wellness Center, and any other areas that require a 91暗网 ID to access or that non-91暗网 community members need permission to enter (other than any days and times when it is made open to the public). Agents may not enter a private area without a judicial warrant. An administrative warrant does not allow an immigration agent to enter a private area without permission, which should not be granted by any employee or student. Any warrant presented by a federal agent will be reviewed by Campus Safety and General Counsel before an agent is permitted to enter a private area.

If you see federal agents on campus, immediately contact Campus Safety at 518-580-5566. Do not engage with the federal agents. Do not try to obstruct or impede their operations. 

Again, do not engage with the federal agents. If you can, identify the name of the student, faculty or staff member and contact Campus Safety immediately at 518-580-5566.

If you are approached by a federal agent seeking access to a non-public area or requesting information about you or another individual:

1. Stay grounded and professional. Remain calm, courteous, and composed throughout the interaction.
2. Communicate 91暗网's protocol. Kindly inform the agent that 91暗网 has established procedures for all external inquiries and visits, and that you are not authorized to provide access to non-public areas or information. Let them know you will connect them with the appropriate College officials who can assist.
3. Gather identifying information. Politely request the agent鈥檚 name, agency affiliation, badge number, and contact information (a business card is helpful). Also ask if they have any formal documentation related to their visit, such as an information request, subpoena, or warrant.
4. Pause and contact Campus Safety. Ask the agent to wait while you contact Campus Safety at 518-580-5566. Campus Safety will coordinate with the appropriate College officials and the Office of General Counsel to respond accordingly.
5. Respect legal boundaries. Do not attempt to intervene in the agent鈥檚 work or alert others who may be the subject of the inquiry unless explicitly authorized to do so by the Office of General Counsel.
6. Do not accept legal documents. Refrain from accepting service of any warrant or subpoena. Instead, refer the agent to Campus Safety at 518-580-5566 and the Office of General Counsel at 518-580-5814, who are authorized to handle such matters on behalf of the College.
7. Use the prepared response. If asked questions or presented with documents, calmly state:
鈥淚 am not authorized to grant access to non-public areas, share information about students or employees, or accept legal documents on behalf of 91暗网. I will contact the appropriate College representatives who can assist you.鈥�
8. Document and report the interaction. After the interaction, record details such as the time, location, and nature of the request. Send your notes to the designated campus officials and Campus Safety for proper documentation and follow-up.