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Navigating New State Law and Government Actions and Requirements

Guided by our University mission, vision and values, 窪蹋勛圖 is working to fully understand, respond to, and inform our community about recent and ongoing changes to Ohio law as well as federal actions and guidance. We have created this web page to help keep our community informed, even as guidance may continue to evolve.

Our community is encouraged to visit this page for ongoing updates and to submit additional questions for consideration.

2024-25 New Ohio Law

Advance Ohio Higher Education Act (Senate Bill 1)

On Friday, March 28, Governor DeWine signed into law the . This new law has broad impacts on operations at public universities across the state, including here at OHIO. University leaders are in active conversations to finalize the process and timing of operational changes that may come as a result of this new law. The following Q&A provides additional details. This information is not intended to be a comprehensive analysis of the law, and members of our University community are encouraged to read the bill in its entirety.

Provost Donald J. Leo will be charging several workgroups to assist with planning and implementation of various parts of the bill. View the work group and charges

How will provisions in the law related to diversity, equity and inclusion scholarships impact existing scholarship programs at OHIO?

Federal law prohibits universities receiving federal funding, including federal financial aid, from using use race or sex in the awarding of scholarships.  The U.S. Department of Educations Office for Civil Rights has recently provided guidance reiterating these restrictions. 窪蹋勛圖 has already taken action to align with federal guidance, and we do not anticipate significant impacts on scholarships as a result of the Advance Ohio Higher Education Act. 

窪蹋勛圖s highly competitive Templeton Scholars Program, Appalachian Scholars and Urban Scholars Programs, and Margaret Boyd Scholars Program underwent review in 2023 to ensure selection criteria and associated processes aligned with new interpretation of federal law, and those programs will continue at 窪蹋勛圖.

Will language in the law related to controversial topics result in the elimination of courses at OHIO or the censoring of certain classroom topics?

The law does not require changes to course or program offerings as it relates to what it defines as controversial topics. 

Rather, the law requires that public Universities affirm and declare a commitment to intellectual diversity for course approval, approval of courses to satisfy general education requirements and student learning outcomes, as well as remaining committed to allowing students to reach their own conclusions about all controversial beliefs or policies. To this end, the Office of the Provost will work with the University Curriculum Council to incorporate intellectual diversity as a criterion in the course approval process. The law encourages the development and offering of courses on a wide variety of topics that will allow for student choice.

窪蹋勛圖 remains deeply committed to academic freedom, and the law itself explicitly protects the ability of faculty to exercise professional judgment about how to accomplish intellectual diversity within an academic discipline. No changes to course offerings are anticipated except where explicitly outlined in the Advance Ohio Higher Education Act, which includes the introduction of a new American civic literacy course and the potential sunsetting of programs with fewer than five graduates on average.

The law includes a requirement to sunset programs with low conferrals. Will this result in the elimination of any programs at 窪蹋勛圖?

The Advance Ohio Higher Education Act includes a requirement for universities to eliminate any undergraduate degree program it offers if the institution confers an average of fewer than five degrees in that program annually over any three-year period or submit a waiver for consideration to the Chancellor of the Ohio Department of Higher Education. 

It is important to note that all students currently enrolled in a degree program potentially impacted by this requirement will have the opportunity to complete degree requirements as outlined in the Undergraduate Catalog.

The Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost is working with Institutional Effectiveness and Analytics to identify programs that fit this low-conferral definition. Working with the Deans, the Provost will determine if any programs fitting this definition should be submitted for a potential waiver to the Chancellor in the coming weeks. 

What offices at the University will be eliminated as a result of the requirement to prohibit the continuation of existing diversity, equity and inclusion offices or departments.

On April 29, 窪蹋勛圖 announced that it would sunset its Division of Diversity and Inclusion, including the Multicultural Center, the Pride Center and the Womens Center on or before June 23. As part of that change:

  • Student Affairs will provide expanded support for student organizations and University-wide programming, including Make Respect Visible.
  • Support for the Universitys prestigious Templeton, Urban, Appalachian, and Margaret Boyd Scholars programs will move to the Honors Tutorial College, which administers the OHIO Honors Program and provides coordination for other honors and scholars programming.
  • OHIOs LINKS program will move to University College, aligned with other Signature Academic Experiences.

Additionally, the Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicines Office of Inclusion will be retired at the end of the semester, and the Heritage College office of student affairs will provide expanded support services for medical students.

For more information, read President Gonzalezs April 29 message

How will the new required course in American civic literacy impact current students?

The recently signed Advance Ohio Higher Education Act includes requirements that each state institution of higher education develop a course with no fewer than three credit hours in the subject area of American civic literacy, and all students seeking a bachelors degree complete this course requirement.

However, the law also states that the course requirement will be applied only to students graduating in Spring 2030 or later. To that end, the large majority of OHIOs current students will not be impacted by this requirement. In addition, students may qualify for an exemption to this future course requirement if they have completed a College Credit Plus or Advanced Placement course and exam that meets the content requirements outlined in the legislation or if they have already earned at least three credit hours in American history or American government.

The Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost is working with the College of Arts and Sciences and other academic colleges to facilitate the development of the required American civic literacy course during the 2025-26 academic year. 

The law requires that a syllabus for each course be made publicly available. Will there be a template and process to guide faculty in meeting this expectation?

The requirement to publicly post syllabi is effective beginning in the 2026-27 academic year. The Provosts Office will work with the appropriate administrative units to determine the technology that will support this requirement and will provide guidance to faculty well in advance of Fall 2026 to ensure this requirement is met.

Protect All Students Act (Senate Bill 104)

Ohios went into effect February 24. Under this law, multi-occupancy restrooms, locker rooms, changing rooms, and overnight accommodations accessible by multiple students at once must be designated for either male or female students.

In accordance with state law, OHIO offers multi-occupancy restrooms designated with specific gender labels and single-user and family restrooms.

Moving forward, we will continue our efforts to ensure that our public restroom signage and accommodations can meet the needs of our University community while remaining compliant with all applicable state and federal laws.

2025 Federal Executive Orders and Actions

Research

In January, the White House Office of Budget and Management issued, but then rescinded, a memo temporarily pausing research grant funding. Additionally, the National Institutes of Health announced a change to indirect funding.

Read more and learn how researchers can respond to these changes

Immigration

窪蹋勛圖 has provided additional immigration resources, including updated resources, contact information, frequently asked questions and more to help support and inform students, faculty and staff.

The University remains committed to fostering a safe and welcoming environment for all members of our Bobcat community while continuing to monitor and follow all applicable state and federal laws.

Department of Education Office of Civil Rights Guidance

The U.S. Department of Education Office of Civil Rights issued a Dear Colleague letter on February 14 outlining new guidance around compliance with Title VI. 

Learn more about the letter and its impact on OHIO

Changes to U.S. Department of Education structure and staffing

An executive order was issued on March 20 directing the United States Secretary of Education to take all necessary steps to facilitate the closure of the Department of Education and return authority over education to the States and local communities while ensuring the effective and uninterrupted delivery of services, programs, and benefits on which Americans rely. Like all postsecondary institutions, OHIO is monitoring potential impacts of this order and associated restructuring plans. All Title IV compliance obligations are still in effect for OHIO, and there are no known impacts to students access to aid at this time. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid is still the means by which OHIO students apply for federal, state, and institutional need-based financial aid. Incoming first-year students began receiving 2025-26 Financial Aid Offers in early March, and current student Financial Aid Offers will be posted beginning in April as scheduled. 

Recent Messages

Additional Resources and Information

OHIO's Mission, Vision and Values