Ohio University attempts to include student, faculty input in anti-DEI requirements

ATHENS, Ohio (WCMH) – As public universities prepare for changes under Senate Bill 1, Ohio University is taking a community-centric approach.

Ohio University President Lori Gonzalez has penned multiple letters to students, faculty and staff addressing Senate Bill 1, which will limit faculty union powers, ban diversity, equity and inclusion programs on campus, and adjust discussions of "controversial topics." As many Ohio universities ask students and staff for patience, Gonzalez has publicly addressed concerns from students and staff. See previous coverage of S.B. 1 in the video player above.

"Most of the questions, as you would imagine, were about how what we are required to do by law will impact what and how we teach," Gonzalez said at a university update meeting on Tuesday. "I'm just going to make it clear ... we remain wholly committed to academic freedom as the cornerstone of the academy, critical for educating students."

Ohio University published a page for legislative updates to provide up-to-date information for students and staff, as did Ohio State University. However, Ohio University has not announced any major changes under SB 1 yet, a stark difference from Ohio State, which dissolved its diversity, equity and inclusion offices before SB 1 was signed into law.

Gonzalez said they will always comply with state and federal law, but they "don't want to over comply." Instead, university spokesperson Dan Pittman said Ohio University is working carefully to accurately and fairly interpret the law while trying to remain transparent.

University leadership has sought student and faculty feedback through an online portal for questions and university update meetings. Gonzalez was able to assure students and staff that they do not anticipate any changes to courses that cover "controversial topics."

"As evidenced by our interactions, OHIO deeply values transparency with our community, and we will continue to further these efforts in the days ahead with additional updates," university spokesperson Dan Pittman said.

Ohio University Provost Donald Leo is assembling six academic work groups to prepare for various SB 1 requirements. All six groups' responsibilities and timelines are clearly defined online, and the groups' membership will be published this week as well, allowing some insight into the university's process:

• Low Conferral Program Working Group: Implementing a review process for a new requirement to sunset majors that confer fewer than five degrees per year over a three-year period.
• American Civics Literacy Course Working Group: Developing a plan for a new course to satisfy SB 1's required three-credit American civic literacy class.
• Student and Peer Evaluations of Teaching Working Group: Developing policies for peer and student evaluations for SB 1's mandatory written faculty evaluations.
• Publicly Accessible Course Syllabus Working Group: SB 1 requires all syllabi to be publicly available, so this group is developing a plan and template for doing so.
• Intellectual Diversity in Course Approvals Working Group: Under the new law, universities must "demonstrate intellectual diversity for course approval," so this group will implement a process to do so for current and future courses.
• Annual Evaluations and Post-Tenure Review Working Group: Developing a policy for annual evaluations and post-tenure review as required for faculty under the law.

Most groups will meet weekly over the summer to develop a plan for their assigned concepts, with proposals due Aug. 16, 10 days before classes will begin in the fall semester. The American Civics Literacy Course group will work more quickly, submitting a plan in May for review at the June Board of Trustees meeting. The syllabi group has a bit more planning time, as that requirement does not go into effect until the following school year.

"We understand that this is a new process, our goal, of course, is to comply, as the president says, but we want to minimize the burden on the faculty," Leo said.

Leo said the groups will include representatives from the President's Council and Cabinet, the University Curriculum Council, the Office of Civil Rights, deans of colleges and appointees from the Faculty Senate.

Still, some faculty members want more support from the administration. The newly founded faculty union at Ohio University called on Leo and Gonzalez on April 7, asking them to be better advocates for academic freedom and for faculty expertise.

Professors have been largely against Senate Bill 1, and Ohio University's Faculty Senate passed a resolution strongly opposing the bill in an emergency meeting on March 17. Leo said the university is trying to include them in the decision-making process without burdening them.

So far, Ohio University has only postponed or canceled two events because of DEI concerns: the Black Alumni Reunion and a Celebrate Women Conference at the Lancaster campus. The former still occurred without university support after alumni rallied the community in just weeks.

Senate Bill 1 will go into effect on June 26, and Gonzalez said the university will provide more updates within the next week.