Update on Ohio Senate Bill 83

As presently written, the bill would impact a number of areas, including: 

• University mission statements

• DEI policies and practices

• Policies related to intellectual diversity and divisive concepts

• Syllabus requirements

• Faculty workload, evaluation and post-tenure review processes 

• Partnerships with the People's Republic of China

• Board of Trustees training

• Campus speakers

• A requirement of an American history/government course for all undergraduates 

• Financial reporting

• A prohibition on employees of any state institution of higher education to strike 

According to Karen Ryan, executive director, University of Cincinnati’s Government Relations, this bill is currently moving through the legislative process. It has been introduced, referred to the Senate Workforce and Higher Education Committee and the sponsor gave his testimony to the committee. Earlier this week, proponents of the bill provided their testimony to the committee. Over the coming weeks, the committee will hear more testimony, both proponent and opponent.

She added that UC has been and continues to be engaged in this process. The university works closely with the Inter-University Council of Ohio (IUC), which represents all of Ohio’s 4-year public universities, to provide feedback to the sponsor, State Senator Jerry Cirino, and to our local delegation about this proposed legislation. 

The IUC is a significant asset for the State of Ohio as it represents 14 public higher education institutions and provides a mechanism for member institutions to come together with one voice on issues.

Stated Ryan, “I have had discussions with IUC counterparts to talk through our collective input and responses to several of the bill’s proposals and to review how the proposed measures and requirements may impact the institutions. It’s our goal to retain the integrity of our institutions – where we teach our next generation how to think, not what to think. Our universities, including UC, are fundamental to the State of Ohio in terms of problem solving, creating opportunity and developing educated and engaged citizens.”

Here at UC, the Government Relations office is soliciting campus feedback via the shared governance process. In addition, members of the campus community may share feedback on the proposed legislation using this feedback form. 

If you would like to contact your local legislator, please use your personal contact information and email rather than those of the university. You may find contact information for the Ohio General Assembly online: https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/.