Faculty and staff at a private Catholic university in Wisconsin this week were warned against using the word “illegal,” as it is too “stigmatizing.”

“The terms ‘undocumented’ or ‘unauthorized’ are preferred over ‘illegal,’ as they are more accurate and less stigmatizing,” stated a guidance document distributed at Viterbo University, a private Catholic institution in western Wisconsin that’s a three-hour drive from Minneapolis.

“When possible, focus on a person’s status rather than using it as a defining label (e.g., ‘a student without legal status’ rather than ‘an illegal student’),” stated the document, a copy of which was provided to The College Fix by a campus source.

The three-page document was titled “Supporting Students Experiencing Immigration Status Challenges.”

It came as campuses nationwide are grappling with heightened tensions over U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations in Minnesota and other states. Some universities are warning students when ICE is spotted near campus, for example.

As for Viterbo’s document, it also delved into mental health problems that can arise from “immigration-related stress” for students. They include: chronic anxiety, fear, depression, difficulty concentrating, and missed classes.

One way faculty and staff could “support” students is by using “respectful language” and “non-stigmatizing terminology,” the document advises, while also directing them to refer students to resources such as counseling services and the campus ministry.

Faculty were also advised to be patient and, when possible, “offer flexibility, extensions, or alternative arrangements.”

In an email message to employees on Wednesday to distribute the document, Viterbo University President Rick Trietley also included a second flyer titled “Guidance for Interactions with Law Enforcement & Government Agents.”

“As a Catholic, Franciscan institution, Viterbo University is grounded in a commitment to the inherent dignity of every person,” he wrote. “…We are called to create an environment where every person can thrive, where diversity is celebrated, and where our shared mission is lived fully in every corner of campus.”

The term “illegal” has been a hot-button topic in academia for years. In 2013, for example, the UC Berkeley student government banned the term “illegal immigrant” from its discourse, deeming the phrase racist, offensive, unfair and derogatory.

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