Latest news with #S.B.1
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Ohio private college presidents ask to get rid of proposed changes to Governor's Merit Scholarship
Getty Images. Ohio private college presidents slammed proposed requirements for participating in the Governor's Merit Scholarship that were added to the House's version of the two-year operating budget during testimony in the Senate Higher Education Committee. The committee had four hearings on the budget, which Senate lawmakers are currently working on. The Ohio House passed the budget last month and Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine must sign the budget by June 30. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Todd Jones, president and general counsel of the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of Ohio (AICUO), spoke out against provisions the Ohio House added to the budget regarding new requirements for private colleges if they want to continue to participate in the Governor's Merit Scholarship, which gives the top 5% of each high school graduating class a $5,000 scholarship each year to go to an Ohio college or university. Under the new changes made in the House, private colleges would also have to accept the top 10% of Ohio's graduating class and comply with parts of Senate Bill 1 — Ohio's new higher education law that bans diversity and inclusion efforts and regulates classroom discussion, among other things. 'I want to be clear that our concerns are not about DEI and SB 1,' Jones said. 'Our concerns are about the very nature of our institutions and what it means to be a private, nonprofit institution. … When the state dictates our missions, board structures, curriculum, hiring practices, workloads, and public engagement, the autonomy that defines nonprofit institutions disappears.' Tiffin University President Lillian Schumacher said the S.B. 1 mandates would increase operational costs without improving educational outcomes. 'For many institutions, these new burdens could lead to closures, reduced financial aid, higher tuition, and a reduction in critical educational services for students,' she said in her testimony. Forcing private colleges and universities to accept the top 10% of Ohio's graduating class would create challenges for those institutions, Chancellor of the Ohio Department of Higher Education Mike Duffey said. 'Public universities have the infrastructure with branch campuses, large-scale facilities, and state funding to absorb enrollment increases,' Jones said. 'Independent institutions operate on much smaller scales.' Eight AICUO institutions function out of a single academic building, he said. 'Imposing this mandate without providing financial or logistical support places an impractical burden on private colleges,' Jones said. Being able to welcome an additional influx of students depends on various factors including the students' major, housing and financial needs, University of Findlay President Kathy Fell said. 'I know we all agree that students will not benefit from this opportunity if approbate supports and resources for success are not available,' she said in her testimony. Aultman College President Jean Paddock said the 10% acceptance mandate would not be possible in healthcare programs that are limited to a capped number of seats. 'With a nursing shortage well documented, sending our best and brightest who want to enter the healthcare field to other states is the opposite of what we want,' Paddock said in her testimony. The Governor's Merit Scholarship was enacted through the last state budget two years ago and 76% of the state's 6,250 eligible students from the class of 2024 accepted the scholarship. The acceptance rate was 100% in Hocking, Holmes, Putnam, Adams, Monroe, Noble, and Vinton counties, Duffey said. In the second year of the scholarship, 87% of Ohio students accepted the scholarship and 11 rural counties had a 100% acceptance rate, Duffey said. Ohio Sen. Jane Timken, R-Jackson Township, said she has received several inquiries from private colleges and universities with concerns about the Governor's Merit Scholarship requirements being linked to compliance with parts of S.B. 1. 'Clearly we would lose some students if they weren't able to access those funds,' Duffey said. The budget currently allocates $47 million for fiscal year 2026 and $70 million for fiscal year 2027 for the Governor's Merit Scholarship. Follow Capital Journal Reporter Megan Henry on Bluesky. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Signature collection can begin to get referendum to repeal higher education law on Ohio's ballot
Ohio college students and protesters rally at the Statehouse on March 19, 2025, against Senate Bill 1, a higher education overhaul that bans diversity efforts and faculty strikes, and sets rules around classroom discussion, among other things. (Photo by David DeWitt, Ohio Capital Journal.) The first major hurdle to get a referendum on the November ballot to repeal Ohio's massive higher education law has been cleared. Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost certified the title and summary language for a referendum that would repeal Senate Bill 1, set to take effect at the end of June. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE S.B. 1 bans diversity efforts, regulates classroom discussion, prohibits faculty strikes, creates post-tenure reviews, puts diversity scholarships at risk, and creates a retrenchment provision that blocks unions from negotiating on tenure, among other things. The law affects Ohio's public universities and community colleges. 'My certification of the title and summary… should not be construed as an affirmation of the enforceability and constitutionality of the referendum petition,' Attorney General Dave Yost said in a letter certifying the petition. Members of the Youngstown State University's chapter of the Ohio Education Association are behind efforts to get the referendum on the Nov. 4 ballot. With the title and summary language approval, petitioners can now start gathering signatures. About 248,092 signatures are needed — 6% of the total vote cast for governor during the last gubernatorial election. The signatures must be from at least 44 of Ohio's 88 counties. The signatures would likely be due at the end of June. Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose would then have to verify the signatures before the measure is referred to the Ohio Ballot Board to determine the language that would appear on the November ballot. The last time a referendum passed in Ohio was 2011 when voters overturned an anti-collective bargaining law. Some of Ohio's public universities have started making decisions because of S.B. 1. Ohio University announced it will close the Pride Center, the Women's Center and the Multicultural Center. The University of Toledo is suspending nine undergraduate programs in response to a controversial new higher education law that is set to take effect this summer. Follow Capital Journal Reporter Megan Henry on Bluesky. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ohio University attempts to include student, faculty input in anti-DEI requirements
ATHENS, Ohio (WCMH) – As public universities prepare for changes under Senate Bill 1, Ohio University is taking a community-centric approach. Ohio University President Lori Gonzalez has penned multiple letters to students, faculty and staff addressing Senate Bill 1, which will limit faculty union powers, ban diversity, equity and inclusion programs on campus, and adjust discussions of 'controversial topics.' As many Ohio universities ask students and staff for patience, Gonzalez has publicly addressed concerns from students and staff. See previous coverage of S.B. 1 in the video player above. 'Most of the questions, as you would imagine, were about how what we are required to do by law will impact what and how we teach,' Gonzalez said at a university update meeting on Tuesday. 'I'm just going to make it clear … we remain wholly committed to academic freedom as the cornerstone of the academy, critical for educating students.' Ohio college presidents sign letter against federal 'overreach' Ohio University published a page for legislative updates to provide up-to-date information for students and staff, as did Ohio State University. However, Ohio University has not announced any major changes under SB 1 yet, a stark difference from Ohio State, which dissolved its diversity, equity and inclusion offices before SB 1 was signed into law. Gonzalez said they will always comply with state and federal law, but they 'don't want to over comply.' Instead, university spokesperson Dan Pittman said Ohio University is working carefully to accurately and fairly interpret the law while trying to remain transparent. University leadership has sought student and faculty feedback through an online portal for questions and university update meetings. Gonzalez was able to assure students and staff that they do not anticipate any changes to courses that cover 'controversial topics.' 'As evidenced by our interactions, OHIO deeply values transparency with our community, and we will continue to further these efforts in the days ahead with additional updates,' university spokesperson Dan Pittman said. Ohio professors trying to repeal anti-DEI law Ohio University Provost Donald Leo is assembling six academic work groups to prepare for various SB 1 requirements. All six groups' responsibilities and timelines are clearly defined online, and the groups' membership will be published this week as well, allowing some insight into the university's process: Low Conferral Program Working Group: Implementing a review process for a new requirement to sunset majors that confer fewer than five degrees per year over a three-year period. American Civics Literacy Course Working Group: Developing a plan for a new course to satisfy SB 1's required three-credit American civic literacy class. Student and Peer Evaluations of Teaching Working Group: Developing policies for peer and student evaluations for SB 1's mandatory written faculty evaluations. Publicly Accessible Course Syllabus Working Group: SB 1 requires all syllabi to be publicly available, so this group is developing a plan and template for doing so. Intellectual Diversity in Course Approvals Working Group: Under the new law, universities must 'demonstrate intellectual diversity for course approval,' so this group will implement a process to do so for current and future courses. Annual Evaluations and Post-Tenure Review Working Group: Developing a policy for annual evaluations and post-tenure review as required for faculty under the law. Most groups will meet weekly over the summer to develop a plan for their assigned concepts, with proposals due Aug. 16, 10 days before classes will begin in the fall semester. The American Civics Literacy Course group will work more quickly, submitting a plan in May for review at the June Board of Trustees meeting. The syllabi group has a bit more planning time, as that requirement does not go into effect until the following school year. 'We understand that this is a new process, our goal, of course, is to comply, as the president says, but we want to minimize the burden on the faculty,' Leo said. Columbus receives 'F' grade for air quality Leo said the groups will include representatives from the President's Council and Cabinet, the University Curriculum Council, the Office of Civil Rights, deans of colleges and appointees from the Faculty Senate. Still, some faculty members want more support from the administration. The newly founded faculty union at Ohio University called on Leo and Gonzalez on April 7, asking them to be better advocates for academic freedom and for faculty expertise. Professors have been largely against Senate Bill 1, and Ohio University's Faculty Senate passed a resolution strongly opposing the bill in an emergency meeting on March 17. Leo said the university is trying to include them in the decision-making process without burdening them. So far, Ohio University has only postponed or canceled two events because of DEI concerns: the Black Alumni Reunion and a Celebrate Women Conference at the Lancaster campus. The former still occurred without university support after alumni rallied the community in just weeks. Senate Bill 1 will go into effect on June 26, and Gonzalez said the university will provide more updates within the next week. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ohio professors organize to try to stop anti-DEI higher education law
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Ohio educators submitted a petition to the state on Monday, the first step in a grassroots effort to overturn Senate Bill 1. The movement began at Youngstown State University, where faculty union members started collecting signatures to initiate a repeal. S.B. 1 will ban diversity, equity and inclusion efforts at public universities, and limit faculty union powers. The sweeping higher education bill was signed into law by Gov. Mike DeWine on March 28, and Ohio professors hope to repeal it before it takes effect June 26. They are trying to repeal the bill using a referendum, which enables voters to decide on a law themselves. In Ohio, laws can be challenged in the 90 days before they take effect through a series of petitions. The faculty group submitted its initial summary petition to secretary of state and attorney general offices on Monday, kicking off the process. Big Walnut school board censures member Already, support for the referendum has been high. Although they only needed 1,000 signatures to submit the first petition, the Ohio S.B. 1 Petition group collected between 4,000 and 5,000 signatures in just 10 days. Yost has until May 5 to decide if he believes the title and summary of Senate Bill 1 organizers submitted with the initial petition are fair and accurate. If he certifies the petition, the group then needs to collect more than 250,000 signatures from registered voters across Ohio. For accurate representation, the law requires signatures that equal 3% of how many voters participated in the last gubernatorial election from at least 44 of Ohio's 88 counties. The organization said it anticipates Yost rejecting the first petition, so it hurried to submit it on Monday to allow time to collect enough signatures for another if need be. The group has until June 25 to certify their process and gather the hundreds of thousands of signatures they need. 'Altercation' at Westerville school results in arrests The group is organizing across the state, attracting a number of supportive volunteers. When S.B. 1 was under consideration at the Statehouse, it received around 1,800 opponent testimonies but just 39 proponents. The faculty group pointed to the overwhelming opposition in support of their movement. If they are able to submit the proper petitions, S.B. 1 would be paused from being enacted until voters have the chance to decide in November. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
University of Toledo suspending nine undergrad programs in compliance with Ohio higher ed law
College students graduating. Getty Images. The University of Toledo is suspending nine undergraduate programs in response to a controversial new higher education law that is set to take effect this summer. Admission to Africana studies, Asian studies, data analytics, disability studies, Middle East studies, philosophy, religious studies, Spanish and women's and gender studies programs has been suspended starting with the 2025-26 school year 'in compliance with SB1', according to a Monday news release from the university. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Students currently enrolled in one of the programs can still complete their degree and all nine of these programs will remain available as minors. 'I also want to be clear that these disciplines remain an important part of UToledo,' Dr. Scott Molitor, Toledo's interim provost and executive vice president of academic affairs, said in a written statement. 'Faculty will continue to teach courses that are part of minors, certificates or concentrations, as well as significant components of our core curriculum.' Senate Bill 1 bans diversity efforts, regulates classroom discussion, prohibits faculty strikes, creates post-tenure reviews, puts diversity scholarships at risk, and creates a retrenchment provision that blocks unions from negotiating on tenure, and eliminates undergraduate degree programs that produce on average less than five degrees annually over a three-year period, among other things. State Sen. Jerry Cirino, R-Kirtland, introduced the bill at the end of January, it quickly passed both chambers and Gov. Mike DeWine signed it into law March 28. It affects Ohio's public universities and community colleges, and is set to take effect at the end of June. Youngstown State University faculty are trying to get a referendum on the November ballot to block S.B. 1. UT was already undergoing an annual review of low-enrolled academic programs when DeWine signed S.B. 1 into law, according to the university. 'At the same time UToledo was undergoing its program review process, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine signed into law Senate Bill 1, which includes language that requires universities to eliminate undergraduate programs that have conferred fewer than five degrees annually over any three-year period,' according to the university. 'Nothing speaks like money.' Republican Senator wants Ohio higher education funds tied to new law Those nine programs had 57 students majoring in them during the spring semester and 15 students graduated from those programs during the 2023-24 school year, according to the university. Toledo is suspending 12 additional degree programs unrelated to S.B. 1. They are: Bachelor of Business Administration in Organizational Leadership and Management Bachelor of Science in Health Information Administration Master of Arts in Philosophy Master of Arts in Sociology Master of Education in Educational Research and Measurement Master of Education in Educational Technology Master of Education in Educational Psychology Master of Music in Music Performance Master of Science in Geology Ph.D. in Curriculum & Instruction: Early Childhood Ph.D. in Curriculum & Instruction: Educational Technology Ph.D. in Foundations of Education: Research and Measurement 'It is important to keep our academic portfolio current with the degree programs our students want and that industry needs from their higher education partner,' Molitor said. 'This is now our third year of an annual process to evaluate our programs and make sure we are allocating resources to areas in high demand, which requires us to both look for new programs we should start offering and existing programs that we should stop offering.' Follow Capital Journal Reporter Megan Henry on Bluesky. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
