Ohio’s New Higher-Ed Law Bans DEI Policies and Forces Major Campus Changes

Ohio’s higher-education landscape is undergoing one of its biggest shakeups in decades after the state passed Senate Bill 1, also known as the Advance Ohio Higher Education Act.

The 2025 law bans diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) hiring and enrollment practices at public colleges and universities, restricts certain academic programs, and even outlaws faculty strikes.

The reforms are already having ripple effects across campuses statewide especially for Black students and other minority groups who relied on DEI resources and cultural centers for community support.

What the Law Does

SB 1 enacts several sweeping changes:

• Bans DEI-focused hiring, training, and admissions practices in public institutions

• Prohibits faculty strikes

• Changes governance rules and oversight structures for colleges and universities

• Restricts required coursework or programming tied to DEI concepts

• Requires campuses to adopt “viewpoint neutrality” policies

The law aligns with a national wave of legislation targeting DEI programs, following similar moves in Florida, Texas.

Impact on Students and Campuses

Critics argue SB 1 will disproportionately harm minority students and faculty by removing structures meant to support belonging, representation, and mental well-being.

One of the most direct consequences so far:
Several multicultural and cultural centers at Ohio universities have announced closures or restructuring in response to the law. These centers have historically served as safe spaces for Black, Latino, Asian, LGBTQ+, and other marginalized student communities — offering mentorship, leadership development, academic support, and campus cultural programming.

Student groups and faculty have warned that eliminating these spaces could:

• Reduce retention and graduation support for minority students

• Limit opportunities for student leadership and cultural engagement

• Undermine efforts to recruit and retain faculty of color

• Increase feelings of isolation among underrepresented groups

Civil rights organizations, student coalitions, and some university leaders continue to push back, arguing that SB 1 will weaken Ohio’s higher-ed system and limit academic freedom. Lawsuits may follow depending on how the regulations are enforced.

Supporters of the law argue that DEI programming has gone too far and that the reforms will create “fairer, more objective systems” across campuses. Opponents counter that the changes erase essential support systems without offering alternatives.

As universities begin implementing the law’s requirements, Ohio students, especially Black and minority communities are preparing for a significant shift in what campus life will look like in the years ahead.