On Friday, March 28, Gov. Mike DeWine signed Ohio Senate Bill 1, a higher-education overhaul that eliminates diversity, equity and inclusion on campus, prevents faculty from striking and prohibits universities from weighing in on controversial topics.
The breakdown
Despite protests from students, professor and communities members, Gov. DeWine signed Ohio Senate Bill 1 requiring Ohio's public colleges and universities to abide by the following rules or risk funding.
- A diversity, equity and inclusion ban: The bill prohibits diversity, equity and inclusion in recruiting, training and scholarships. An institution could ask the Ohio Department of Higher Education for a waiver if DEI instruction is needed for accreditation or a specific licensure.
- Ban faculty strikes: Full-time faculty are prohibited from striking during contract negotiations.
- Annual reviews and post-tenure reviews: The bill requires annual evaluations for faculty, including those with tenure. Poor performance could lead to discipline or firing.
- Ban universities from weighing in on controversial topics: Higher education institutions can not take a position on any "controversial belief or policy," which is defined as climate policies, politics, foreign policy, DEI programs, immigration policy, marriage, abortion or "any belief or policy that is the subject of political controversy."
- Eliminate smaller programs: Universities and colleges must eliminate any undergraduate degree program if fewer than five students earned degrees over three years.
- Require online syllabi: Professors must post their syllabi online for students, parents and the public to review beginning in the 2026-2027 academic year.
- Required civics lesson: Students are required to complete a three-credit hour course on American civics literacy to graduate. Students who complete certain high school courses could be exempt.
- Shorten terms for university trustees: The bill will reduce the years a university trustee would serve from nine to six.
- Review three-year degree options: The bill requires the Ohio Department of Higher Education to review whether more degrees can be completed in three years instead of four.
- Ban on new partnerships with China: The law will prohibit universities and colleges from accepting donations and gifts from China.
- Require a five-year cost summary: Universities and colleges must provide lawmakers with a five-year summary of their costs as legislators consider their budgets.
This is just one of many higher education bills introduced by GOP lawmakers at the national and state levels.
The Wright State Guardian is dedicated to investigating how this bill will affect Wright State University's Cultural and Identities Center, faculty contracts, academic programming and budget. We will continue to monitor and update the community as information becomes available.
