Ohioans can vote to repeal a law that would be very detrimental to Ohios public colleges and universities if we get enough petition signatures by June 21st to place a referendum on the ballot in November.
On March 28, Governor DeWine signed Senate Bill 1 (SB1), the Advance Ohio Higher Education Act into law despite more than 1500 people who submitted opponent testimony when it was in the Senate committee. SB1 is a direct act of state overreach and intrusion into higher education. It limits what universities, and their faculty can say and do. SB1 will have a substantial negative impact on faculty, students, and higher education in Ohio.
The law calls for a radical overhaul of the state’s institutions of higher education. Among other things, it outlaws diversity, equity and inclusion programs, eliminates workersrights, and censors what is discussed in the college classroom.
Aspects of this law are eerily like the policies found in authoritarian countries that actively censor colleges and universities. All people should be concerned when our laws restrict academic freedom in ways seen in such countries as China, North Korea, and Iran.
SB1 inhibits a professor’s ability to teach necessary and relevant concepts, such as those that deal with race, class, and gender. These concepts include discussions of systemic racism, inherited wealth, and white privilege. While claiming to be about respecting “-sides” of a discussion, it prohibits concepts and conversations in the classroom that may cause discomfort, guilt, anguish, or any other form of psychological distress due to ones identity (such as race, sex, gender, etc.).
Additionally, it impacts the ability to teach an accurate history of the United States, and the world. SB1 is a direct act of state overreach and intrusion into higher education. It limits what universities, and their faculty can say and do. Specific requirements of the law include a mandatory civics class for all students and specifies the content of the course. It imposes an unnecessary financial burden on the university and its students. Universities will need to dedicate money to the hiring of more instructors to teach these classes frequently enough to accommodate the large student populations our colleges and university serve.
The anti-diversity, anti-equity, and anti-inclusion aspects of the bill prohibit schools from creating, offering, or continuing to fund scholarships that support women, ethnic, and racial minorities. It makes it illegal for universities to offer any kind of voluntary faculty diversity trainings—such as how to support LGBTQ+ students or those who are members of various racial, ethnic, or religious groups. Under SB1, this voluntary training is no longer legal even though medical school faculty have noted the importance of diversity training for future doctors and nurses that serve diverse populations. That means Ohio Universitys Office of the Vice President for Diversity and Inclusion will be eliminated along with the Pride Center, the Multicultural Center, and the Womens Center.
In addition to the harm to students from this law, it also prohibits faculty strikes—one of the few tools faculty have to ensure they are receiving a fair contract. Although disruptive, faculty strikes are rare in Ohio and generally last a short period of time and have had little impact on students.
Not only does this bill prohibit faculty from striking, but it also removes all discussion of tenure from contract negotiations—essentially eliminating tenure at Ohio universities. This elimination of faculty rights will make it difficult to attract and retain quality faculty in Ohio. Fewer quality faculty members will reduce the quality of higher education which in turn will make it difficult to keep students in state and to attract out-of-state and international students.
In the end, SB1 is bad for faculty, bad for students and bad for Ohio. It applies to Ohios 14 public universities and 23 public community colleges and threatens loss of state funding if violated. The bill, which becomes law 90 days after the governors signature, substitutes governmental edicts for academic freedom; eliminates all diversity, equity, and inclusion activities on campuses; restricts how faculty teach; bans faculty strikes.
Given that Governor DeWine has signed already signed the bill, a referendum is our last best hope for saving higher education in Ohio. We are collecting signatures to put this issue on the November 2025 ballot. But time is running short to get these signatures. We need 250,000 valid signatures by June 21. We ask you to add your name to the SB1 petition. Volunteers are collecting signatures across the state and will be available at many Ohio public events. You can go to this website: https://ohsb1petition.com to find a place to sign. Let your voice be heard! Ohioans should be able to decide the future of higher education in our state.