Northeastern’s mission statement promises to “create a welcoming environment where everyone can thrive, succeed, and feel a strong sense of belonging” (Northeastern University, 2025). However, students feel this aspiration slipping away. The Northeastern Educational Freedom Project (EFP), an association of students based at Northeastern University, was formed to fulfill and defend the promise of Northeastern’s mission — a promise rooted in learning, teaching, expression, and opportunity. With this goal in mind, EFP conducted a comprehensive study of Northeastern student sentiment on a range of issues from free expression to student representation. Here is what we found:

Many of Northeastern’s policies silence student voices and fail to protect students. Students and professors alike feel increasingly afraid to fully express themselves in the classroom. Experiential learning opportunities, which make Northeastern unique, have been cut as research and career options are less accessible due to the new federal administration. The changes made to the university’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs have left students feeling isolated, unrepresented, and unappreciated. International students are being targeted by increasingly restrictive federal policies that limit their stay, heighten surveillance, and endanger their legal status. Inadequate support from Northeastern’s Office of Global Services only deepens their fear and uncertainty. The rapid deployment of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers across the country and Northeastern’s lack of transparency as to what will be done if ICE enters campus has left students feeling similarly fearful. As this is happening, Northeastern’s Board of Trustees — which is responsible for shaping high-level policy that directly impacts campus life — lacks transparency and student representation, meaning decisions are made in the absence of students’ involvement and without students’ knowledge.

Over the course of the comprehensive study, we surveyed 1,077 students, faculty, staff, parents, and alumni. Additionally, we organized a town hall and policy solution workshop consisting of 36 and 13 leaders of student organizations, respectively. This is what we found:

• 65% of students, faculty, staff and alumni surveyed do not feel confident that the university’s actions are representative of its mission statement.

• 55% of students and 100% of club leaders surveyed do not feel confident that Northeastern adequately promotes and protects free speech.

• 92% of affected respondents report they have been negatively impacted by the federal administration, leading to job loss, financial aid and research cuts.

• 78% of student leaders surveyed say they do not believe the changes to DEI at Northeastern are representative of the university’s mission.

• 96% of students, faculty, staff, and alumni surveyed agree that Northeastern should provide legal resources for international students.

• 52% of student leaders surveyed express no confidence that Northeastern would actually defend their rights if they were violated by the federal administration.

• 69% of students, faculty, staff, and alumni surveyed do not feel Northeastern has been transparent about their ICE policies.

• 95% of students, faculty, staff, and alumni surveyed say Northeastern should involve students in its decision-making process about the university’s mission, student code of conduct, and policies.

Based on the collection and analysis of data from EFP’s research — and in an attempt to better understand how to help Northeastern achieve its mission — the following is a list of policy reforms the Northeastern Educational Freedom Project will share with university administration and propose in the Student Government Association Senate. We ask that you sign this petition in support of these reforms and indicate your personal affiliation with Northeastern.

Rejecting Trump’s Compact

• Given recent developments, which were not discussed with student leaders, committing through a presidential communication to the student body that the university will not join the current federal administration's Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education.

Freedom of Expression:

• Removing the policy requiring approval to demonstrate at least 7 days in advance.

• Adopting the Chicago Principles on freedom of expression: a widely respected set of guidelines for free expression adopted by over 100 universities.

• Eliminate computer usage policies that do not align with the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, such as the prohibition of “annoying” speech (Northeastern University, 2018).

Research and Career Opportunities:

• Informing the student body, through student hub notifications, about each new fee added to tuition, with an explanation of how each fee’s revenue will be used.

• Creating a Student Government Association Board tasked with monitoring federal research funding at Northeastern, and advocating for accessible undergraduate research opportunities.

Belonging at Northeastern:

• Implementing a university wide survey on students’ basic needs in collaboration with the Temple University Hope Center.

• Sharing measurable goals and benchmarks to demonstrate ongoing commitment to creating an environment of belonging.

• Involving marginalized student communities in the decision-making processes which impact belonging efforts on campus.

• Publishing updates on staffing, budgeting, and policy decisions affecting belonging work on a regular basis.

• Committing financial resources to programs, services, and staff that directly support marginalized students, including efficient in-person counseling services and disability accommodations.

Resources for International Students:

• Establishing a School of Law sponsored immigration clinic providing legal advice.

• Establishing discounted partnerships with local legal aid organizations for non-citizen representation and know-your-rights training.

• Establishing mental health resources aligned with students’ cultural origin.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE):

• Publishing on a Northeastern University-run website the steps the university will take if ICE enters campus.

• Committing not to share international students' personal and financial information with ICE, as required by City of Boston law.

Administrative Transparency and Student Representation:

• Increasing the information published on the Board of Trustees website to include: Board bylaws, the names of committees and committee members, meeting agendas, meeting minutes, and Trustee emails.

• Opening Board of Trustees meetings to students and permitting student journalists to attend meetings.

• Permitting the appointment or election of at least two student representatives, one undergraduate student and one graduate student, to serve on the Board of Trustees.

• Permitting the appointment or election of at least two student representatives, one undergraduate student and one graduate student, to serve on the Policy Oversight Committee