ATHENS, Ohio — Because of a new higher education law going into effect this summer, Ohio University announced it will be shutting down its Division of Diversity, which includes the Multicultural Center, the Pride Center and the Women’s Center.

What You Need To Know

  • A bill going into effect this summer bans diversity efforts in higher education

  • The university said all positions associated with DEI work will be eliminated, but staff have the opportunity to apply for other positions within the school

  • A handful of other Ohio colleges have made similar changes to comply with the law

Senate Bill 1 was signed into law in March by Gov. Mike DeWine, R-Ohio. The bill bans diversity efforts, as well as puts diversity scholarships at risk, controls discussions in classrooms, creates post-tenure reviews and more. 

Additionally, the bill requires universities to eliminate undergraduate programs that have had fewer than five degrees annually over any three-year period.

Because of this, the university said the changes were necessary. 

"Building and supporting a sense of belonging within our University community is absolutely essential to meeting our mission of holding the door open for all who are eager to learn," Ohio University officials wrote in a statement. "We must continue to ensure every person we invite to be a part of our University community finds their place here and develops connections. Without forgetting that essential commitment, we must also follow the law."

The centers will close over the next several weeks; however, some changes will take effect immediately, including:

  • Student Affairs will provide expanded support for student organizations and University-wide programming, including Make Respect Visible
  • Support for the University’s 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
  • OHIO’s LINKS program will move to University College, aligned with other Signature Academic Experiences

The university added it will also sunset the Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine’s Office of Inclusion at the end of the semester. The Heritage College Office of Student Affairs will provide expanded support services for medical students.

Ohio University said the changes will "necessitate the elimination of all positions within the Division of Diversity and Inclusion," as well as other staff positions that have been dedicated to diversity and inclusion work. 

The employees affected will stay in their current roles for the next several weeks, and the university is allowing them to interview for any open position at the school. Additionally, they will receive full separation benefits if they don't stay at the university, officials said.

The closure of Ohio University's center follows a trend for many Ohio colleges preparing for Senate Bill 1 to take effect this summer. 

Earlier this month, the University of Toledo announced it's dismantling nine undergraduate programs that the school felt would violate the law, including programs in education, art and religious studies.

Case Western Reserve University also closed its DEI office earlier this year.

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