Designation of Nonpublic Areas Under the Massachusetts “Protect Act”

I. Background

Bridgewater State University (the “University” or “BSU”) complies with the Massachusetts “Protect Act,” G.L. c. 6, § 225(a) (2026), which authorizes the Governor of the Commonwealth to prohibit or limit civil immigration enforcement activities in the nonpublic areas of any state entity, including a state university.

Based on the implementation guidelines issued by the Governor in response to the Protect Act, along with the Governor’s concomitant delegation of authority to the state universities, BSU has adopted the following nonpublic area designations for the University. These designations apply solely and distinctly in the context of the Protect Act and civil immigration enforcement, and should not be interpreted to apply in other circumstances, including those governed by separate University policies defining nonpublic areas, such as the descriptions of nonpublic forums contained in the University’s Free Speech and Demonstration Policy.

II. Definitions

In general, BSU defines “nonpublic areas” as spaces with access restrictions where entry requires the consent of the University or is otherwise limited or prohibited. Nonpublic spaces are usually not open to the general public and are restricted to authorized University officials, faculty, librarians, staff, students, and invited guests. “Public spaces,” in contrast, are spaces that are accessible to the public at large without restriction.

Moreover, for the purposes of the Protect Act, BSU also includes as nonpublic spaces certain other areas of the University to ensure that people can carry out their work, attend class, live on campus, access services, or conduct University business without disruption, fear, or intimidation.

“Civil immigration enforcement” includes efforts to investigate, enforce, or assist in enforcing federal civil immigration laws.

III. Significance of Nonpublic Areas Designation

Access to nonpublic spaces generally requires that outside law enforcement or federal immigration agents (like ICE) need a proper judicial warrant rather than an administrative warrant to enter without University permission.

Note, however, that nothing in the Protect Act, the Governor’s guidelines for implementation, or BSU’s own designations of nonpublic areas, prohibits any federal law enforcement agency or the Bridgewater State University Police Department from engaging in criminal law enforcement activities consistent with applicable constitutional, federal, or state law, so long as they do not undertake that work for the purpose of conducting or participating in federal civil immigration enforcement.

IV. List of Designated Nonpublic Areas at BSU Under the Protect Act

Areas that are in, on, or near to –

• Residence hall buildings, individual residence hall rooms, and all other spaces within residence halls, including individual or shared bathrooms, kitchens, hallways, common spaces, and study lounges;
• other kinds of residential facilities, such as faculty, staff, or guest housing;
• University dining halls;
• interior spaces of University administration or academic buildings;
• libraries;
• entrances, lobbies, and waiting rooms within University facilities;
• faculty, librarian, and staff offices;
• conference rooms;
• locker rooms;
• employee break rooms;
• building hallways;
• warehouses;
• field offices and satellite campuses;
• client/patient treatment or meeting rooms;
• parking lots and garages;
• classrooms;
• lecture halls;
• research, teaching, and scientific laboratories;
• computer labs;
• storage rooms;
• athletic fields, stadiums, field houses, gymnasiums, recreational spaces, and related facilities;
• bus stops;
• the interior of University vehicles, such as transit buses, regardless of where they are situated;
• spaces that are accessible only with specific permission, including those requiring a badge, code, or key to enter; or requiring admission by a University employee (even if such spaces are left unlocked or unmonitored during certain times of day, they may remain nonpublic based on their function);
• spaces requiring appointments;
• spaces marked with no-trespassing signs or stickers;
• spaces protected by gates, fences, or staff monitors;
• ticketed events, or spaces reserved for events;
• All lands and buildings owned, used, or leased by the BSU Foundation that are held for the benefit University;
• other sensitive locations identified by signs.

9/2026