Excerpt from the Chronicle of Higher Education
Amid the tidal wave of proposals across the country that would eliminate diversity efforts at public colleges, Ohio’s Senate Bill 83 stands out.
The 39-page bill could reshape higher education in the state, with provisions that would ban many diversity initiatives, require annual faculty performance reviews, create new graduation requirements, potentially bar Chinese students from enrolling, and mandate the language colleges must include in their mission statements.
State Sen. Jerry C. Cirino, a Republican, who introduced the legislation, did not respond to a request for comment. An Ohio Department of Higher Education spokesman declined to comment on the bill and said the department “does not establish positions on new legislation until the governor begins the process of involvement in the bill.”
Here’s The Chronicle’s analysis of how the bill could affect the state’s colleges.
Banning DEI
The bill says the state would withhold money from public colleges unless they declare that they will not require students, faculty, or staff to take part in diversity training or programs. Diversity, equity, and inclusion programs are described as a “controversial belief or policy” in the bill.
Public colleges would also be prevented from using diversity statements, or other so-called “political and ideological litmus tests,” in hiring or promotion.
