University Guidance

The implementation team has received a variety of questions regarding cultural and awareness recognitions and events such as Black History Month, Women’s History Month, Pride Month and Juneteenth. As cultural and awareness recognitions and observance of federal holidays are permitted under federal guidelines as well as SB 1, university guidance is as follows: 

• Events, programs, recognitions and university participation in cultural awareness months/days and federal holidays is allowed. Any event or program related to these activities needs to clearly communicate that it is open and welcoming to all without respect to protected class. The event, program or recognition cannot be “for” or “intended primarily to benefit” an underrepresented group.
• The above types of events and recognitions can be communicated on university channels such as websites, email and social media. However, communications or messaging that take a position, engage in advocacy for or expand on the cultural or awareness month beyond recognizing it – either via university channels (including email and social media) or when speaking or making a statement in a university capacity are paused as additional portions of SB 1 related to university statements on controversial topics or issues are analyzed.
• It is important to note that the above guidance does not prohibit any individual person’s ability to make statements or represent their own, individual views, or the freedom of faculty to teach, conduct research and publish research findings.
• Funding or administrative support by colleges or units for cultural and awareness recognitions and events is permitted as long as it is provided on an equal basis, and such funding is sourced only from unrestricted, non-tuition or non-state funds.

Updated: June 18, 2025

While SB 1 prohibits orientation and training courses concerning diversity, equity and inclusion subject to certain exceptions, these limitations do not apply to courses offered by academic units toward the completion of a degree or for-credit certificate programs. Additionally, SB 1 provides exceptions to the training and orientation prohibitions for when those programs are required to (I) Comply with state and federal laws or regulations; (II) Comply with state or federal professional licensure requirements; (III) Obtain or retain accreditation. Exceptions may also be granted when requirements to obtain a research grant conflict with the DEI prohibitions in SB 1. The Ohio Department of Higher Education (ODHE) is managing the exception processes and information is available on the ODHE’s Senate Bill 1 Information website. Ohio State is finalizing the internal steps required before submitting an exception request to ODHE and will share that information when available. No exception requests may be submitted to ODHE without following Ohio State’s internal process first. Until Ohio State’s internal process is in place, please review the information ODHE is sharing and begin gathering what you may need. If you have questions during this time, please send them to legislativequestions@osu.edu.

Updated: June 12, 2025

The curricular changes within SB 1 will phase in over time, and there are no changes going into effect in Autum 2025. Students are expected to follow the degree requirements in place when they matriculate. The civics course requirement will not apply until graduation 2030 and after. Generally, the requirements in place when a student enters are expected to apply throughout their degree.  If there are any changes, those will be communicated to students, and advisors will help students navigate them in the context of the student’s specific degree and needs.

Updated: June 16, 2025

Consistent with the Advance Ohio Higher Education Act (SB 1), Ohio State’s Philosophy on Statements helps ensure that the university will not endorse or oppose any controversial belief or policy, except on matters that directly impact the institution's funding or mission of discovery, improvement, and dissemination of knowledge.

A “controversial belief or policy” for the purpose of compliance with SB 1 means any belief or policy that is the subject of political controversy, including issues such as climate policies, electoral politics, foreign policy, diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, immigration policy, marriage, or abortion.

Only official statements from the university, colleges and units (including university officials in their official capacity) are considered to be in scope for purposes of the prohibition on endorsing or opposing controversial beliefs or policies. See the FAQ section for more details on what constitutes an institutional or leadership statement and who is considered a representative university leader.

Academic teaching and research activities, including a college or unit communicating about such activities does not constitute endorsement or opposition. Similarly, colleges, departments, units, etc. Hosting a seminar or academic talk within their area of academic discipline does not constitute an endorsement or opposition. Research news stories, storytelling and amplification of such material does not constitute an endorsement or opposition. Guidelines for those writing and producing multimedia content about research by Ohio State faculty or students are available on the Implementation Style guide page. 

Read more information on the Philosophy on Statements page.

Updated: June 25, 2025