Intellectual diversity/Classroom discussion provisions
The implementation team continues to analyze the various forms of SB 1’s focus on “intellectual diversity” and how the university demonstrates its commitment to it in various academic areas, including classroom discussions, syllabi and more. A group of 15 faculty, staff and students representing multiple disciplines, colleges and units have met twice so far and are developing a syllabus statement and FAQs around these requirements as well as collecting additional resources to support compliance. These materials are expected to be shared with the university community in advance of SB 1’s effective date.
Website and materials guidance and disclaimer language
Multiple workstreams continue to be involved in creating guidelines and evaluation criteria for assessing if a program or activity needs to be discontinued or adjusted to comply with Ohio law and federal guidelines regarding DEI. Examples of how to adjust a range of materials including websites, program descriptions, event descriptions and position descriptions to accurately reflect how they comply with the law will also be included with this guidance.
At the same time, because of the breadth and depth of the university’s web presence, the implementation team is also developing general disclaimer language that can be placed on websites as a temporary measure while the broad guidance is being finalized. That disclaimer language is expected to be shared soon.
Cultural and awareness recognitions and events
The implementation team has received a variety of questions regarding cultural and awareness recognitions and events such as Black History Month, Women’s History Month, Pride Month - which begins June 1 - and Juneteenth. As cultural and awareness recognitions and observance of federal holidays are permitted under federal guidelines as well as SB 1, university guidance is as follows:
- Events, programs, recognitions and university participation in cultural awareness months/days and federal holidays is allowed. Any event or program related to these activities needs to clearly communicate that it is open and welcoming to all without respect to protected class. The event, program or recognition cannot be “for” or “intended primarily to benefit” an underrepresented group.
- The above types of events and recognitions can be communicated on university channels such as websites, email and social media. However, communications or messaging that take a position, engage in advocacy for or expand on the cultural or awareness month beyond recognizing it – either via university channels (including email and social media) or when speaking or making a statement in a university capacity are paused as additional portions of SB 1 related to university statements on controversial topics or issues are analyzed.
- It is important to note that the above guidance does not prohibit any individual person’s ability to make statements or represent their own, individual views, or the freedom of faculty to teach, conduct research and publish research findings.
Again, please direct questions in your colleges and units to legislativequestions@osu.edu.
Data collection request
Last week, deans and other senior leaders received a request for assistance with gathering documents and other materials as it relates to the SB 1 prohibition on offering any orientation or training course regarding diversity, equity and inclusion, as well as contracting with consultants or third-parties to promote admissions, hiring or promotion on the basis of race, ethnicity, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression.
As a reminder, members of the implementation team asked that all such materials be submitted by 5 p.m. on Monday, June 2. A Microsoft Teams folder has been set up for each college or unit to submit their documents.