"We have about $1.5 billion in federal research funding," Roberts said. "We're in the top 10 nationally. So we, I think, have an obligation to maintain a really strong dialog with the administration in all its facets. And that's what we'll continue to do."

"I can't promise that we'll put any conversation that we have with the administration to a vote of the Faculty Council," Roberts continued. "But I can promise that we're highly aware of our responsibilities with respect to protecting the academic freedom of the institution to consulting with the faculty."