Ohio Universities Rebrand DEI Roles to Sidestep Ban
An investigation revealed that some Ohio universities, including Kent State, are circumventing state-level bans on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives. The institutions are reportedly rebranding job titles and departmental names while maintaining the core functions and practices of their DEI programs.
The legislative backdrop for these changes is Ohio's Senate Bill 1, signed into law by Governor Mike DeWine on March 28, 2025, and effective as of June 27, 2025. The law, also known as the "Advance Ohio Higher Education Act," explicitly bans public universities from funding or maintaining DEI offices, departments, and mandatory staff training. In response, major universities have dismantled their DEI infrastructure. Ohio State University closed its Office of Diversity and Inclusion and its Center for Belonging and Social Change. Similarly, Miami University discontinued three diversity-related offices, including the Center for Student Diversity and Inclusion, and Wright State University eliminated its Division of Inclusive Excellence along with five cultural and identity centers. Instead of outright elimination, some functions and staff are being absorbed into other departments. At Miami University, staff from the discontinued diversity center were moved to the Center for Student Engagement, Activities and Leadership. At Ohio State, the Office of Institutional Equity was renamed the Office of Civil Rights Compliance, tasked with handling reports of discrimination and harassment. The University of Cincinnati ceased operations for its Equity & Inclusion Office and four identity centers, including the Ethnic Programs & Services, LGBTQ Center, and Women's Center. The services previously offered by these centers are being consolidated under The Center for Student Involvement, and the African American Cultural & Resource Center building was renamed "The Cultural Center" to be open to all students. These rebranding and restructuring efforts have drawn scrutiny from state legislators. State Rep. Tom Young introduced House Bill 698 to enforce the DEI ban. The bill would prohibit universities from disguising positions to continue DEI functions and require them to submit an inventory of all reassigned DEI employees with justifications for their new roles. Under HB 698, universities would need to certify their compliance with SB 1 annually. Failure to comply could result in the withholding of state funding, and the bill specifies that any withheld funds would not be retroactively released even if an institution later comes into compliance.
