A new law in Colorado, passed in May 2025, has brought important changes for universities across the state. The law requires all campuses of the University of Colorado (CU) system to create and publish clear policies that prevent civil rights violations based on immigration status and protect personal information. Campuses were given a deadline of September 1 to comply with these rules on handling personal information.
New Law Brings Immediate Changes to Protect Personal Information
To meet this deadline, the University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS) issued a formal executive directive. This directive serves as a temporary set of rules until the university develops and approves permanent policies. Its goal is to ensure the privacy of students, staff, and faculty while also safeguarding personal information in every situation.
The directive guides the university on how to respond if immigration enforcement agencies, such as Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), request personal information. It also explains how to handle legal requests, such as subpoenas or warrants. These rules make sure the university does not release personal information unless the law requires it.
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The executive directive took effect on September 1, 2025, and will remain active until the university approves a full campus policy through the shared governance process.
How the Directive Protects Personal Information
The directive clearly limits what kind of personal information the university can collect or share. The university does not gather details about a student’s immigration status or documentation unless the law requires it. By avoiding this, the university keeps sensitive personal information out of everyday records and protects individuals from unnecessary exposure.
When a legal request for personal information arrives, the university follows strict procedures. Officials contact university police and legal counsel, notify the student requesting their personal information, and inform campus leadership. The Office of University Counsel records the request details and confirms compliance with the law before handing over any documents. After completing this review process, the office submits the documentation to the immigration agency only if the law requires it.
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The directive also provides students with the right to access their own records. Under FERPA, a federal privacy law, students may request their personal information and even give consent for others to access it. This ensures transparency and gives students control over their personal information at all times.
Another important part of the directive is the protection of campus spaces. Certain areas of the university are now designated as nonpublic. ICE agents or other immigration enforcement officials cannot enter these areas without presenting a valid warrant. Even when a warrant is shown, additional steps must be taken before any personal information is released. This helps safeguard the privacy and rights of the campus community.
According to university officials, many of these practices were already followed informally. However, the new directive makes them official and ensures that everyone knows the exact steps to take in protecting personal information.
Interim Directive Until Permanent Policy
The executive directive is described as an interim measure. Developing a complete campus-wide policy usually takes more time, especially because it requires input from different groups across the university. The process also faced delays because much of the work had to be done over the summer months, when faculty and staff were away on vacation or off contract.
Because of these challenges, the directive was put in place as a temporary solution. It ensures that the university is already in compliance with the new state law while the more permanent rules are being worked on.
The directive emphasizes that the protection of civil rights is central to the university’s mission. It highlights that this information will only be released when there is a clear legal requirement, such as a subpoena or warrant. Otherwise, this information remains protected at all times.
The university has also committed to providing training and guidance to students, staff, and faculty as the directive is implemented. In the meantime, anyone with questions can contact the University Counsel or the Policy Office for clarification.
By putting this directive into place, the university is ensuring that sensitive data stays secure, while also complying with new state requirements. For students and staff, this means added peace of mind about how their information is handled during interactions with outside agencies.
