Engagement
We are grateful that students, faculty and staff are engaged in multiple workstreams. Some of the groups providing input through the workstreams include University Senate (through its faculty leaders and its Government Affairs committee); college and regional campus curricular and associate deans; the Research Security Governance Board; the university’s Faculty Ombuds; and the University Policy Review Committee, which includes representatives from all policy-owning offices, University Senate, the Wexner Medical Center and regional campuses. Faculty participating in these workstreams represent a variety of departments and disciplines across several colleges and academic centers. Every college and regional campus has representation, and this engagement will continue to expand as implementation work continues.
Additionally, the centralized webpage dedicated to SB1 implementation noted in a previous update has an expected launch date of the week of May 19.
Guideposts and evaluation criteria
The implementation team is working to develop a set of guideposts and evaluation criteria regarding SB1’s DEI provisions. SB1 includes broad prohibitions on DEI relative to orientation/training courses, offices/departments, job descriptions, third-party services, scholarships and research grants. However, the legislation does not define the term DEI as used in the statute, nor does it provide guidance about the characteristics of DEI programs.
We know it is essential to provide guidance to programs, which will inform needed changes on collateral materials including websites and social media. This guidance will also acknowledge that there will continue to be decisions that will need to be made on a case-by-case basis. It is our goal to have administrative guidance on these parameters shared in advance to allow for changes to occur prior to the June 27 effective date so that the necessary responsive work can occur in a timely manner.
Timeline
SB 1 goes into effect on June 27, though a number of provisions in the bill have delayed effective dates. For example, the syllabi requirements and American civics literacy course requirement need to be implemented by autumn semester 2026.
The implementation team has established a timeline for addressing aspects of the bill based on when they will become effective. They are as follows.
- By June 27: Ohio State trustee terms (3335.02, 3335.09); statement of commitment (3345.0216); complaints and disciplinary sanctions (3345.0218); reporting guidelines (3345.0219); partnerships with China (3345.591); treatment of all faculty, staff and students (3345.88); striking prohibition (4117.14, 4117.15); and all other program, position and DEI-related activity changes and work must be completed.
- By autumn 2025: statutorily required policy-related updates (3345.0217); student and peer evaluations of faculty (3345.451); summary of costs (3345.8)
- By autumn 2026: syllabi (3345.029); required American government or history course (3345.382)
We anticipate releasing additional guidance related to faculty performance, post-tenure review, faculty workload, and additional related policies on the centralized web resource for SB 1.
Low-Enrollment Degrees
As an update to our May 1 report on the provision around low-enrollment degrees, Vice Provost for Academic Programs Randy Smith continues to work with deans in colleges who offer degrees that fall under the law’s provisions to explore options around restructuring, realignment or potential elimination. The university has determined that current students in any degree program that may be eliminated will be able to finish their degree. A process will be created to review degree enrollments annually.
Statement of Commitment
Each state institution of higher education is required to post a statement of commitment – the language of which is provided – “on its publicly accessible web site and alongside the state institution’s mission statement in any place in which the mission statement appears, including when it is published or posted. Each institution shall include the statement of commitment in any solicitations and offers of admission to students and any offers of employment to faculty.” Related to faculty offers of employment, the Office of Academic Affairs and Human Resources are updating the Strategic Hiring Initiative for Faculty Talent (SHIFT) faculty hiring framework to be compliant with this provision. Regarding students, the committee is engaged with Strategic Enrollment Management to update offers of admission.
Controversial Issues
SB1 requires that the university declare that it will not “endorse or oppose” any controversial belief or policy “except on matters that directly impact the institution's funding or mission of discovery, improvement, and dissemination of knowledge.” The university is developing guidance regarding the activities that may be impacted by this provision and will be updating the Philosophy on Statements based on that guidance.