The University of Toledo has adopted a new Intellectual Diversity and Controversial Beliefs policy and updated several campus offices to comply with the Advance Ohio Higher Education Act, known as Ohio Senate Bill 1, that was signed into law March 28, 2025, and goes into effect June 27, 2025, though several provisions in the bill have delayed effective dates.
The UToledo Board of Trustees today adopted a Statement of Commitment and approved the new Intellectual Diversity and Controversial Beliefs policy, which fulfills requirements under the law to affirm the institution’s commitment to ensuring the fullest degree of intellectual diversity and prohibits diversity, equity and inclusion offices or departments, orientation or training courses, and institutional scholarships.
“Our commitment remains steadfast: to uphold laws and compliance obligations while fostering a supportive learning and working environment where every individual feels welcomed and empowered to succeed,” UToledo Interim President Matt Schroeder said. “As always, UToledo will comply with laws and regulations while supporting our Rockets. UToledo will continue to be a place that values our differences and promotes a culture of mutual respect.”
Aligned with the new policy and requirements of SB1, UToledo has disbanded the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and the Office of Multicultural Student Success. The Office of Student Engagement and Connections will support programming for all student organizations and student events.
In addition, the Catharine S. Eberly Center for Women has been redesigned into the Catharine S. Eberly Center for Student Experience, and will be housed within the Center for Advocacy and Student Experience. The new center will support all students at UToledo and provide programming in support of students with families and health resources.
The law also calls for a process to submit complaints from any student, student group or faculty member about an alleged violation of the prohibitions and requirements in the policy. The University’s Report a Concern website has been updated to provide that resource. The policy goes into effect Sept. 25, 2025, and investigations will follow the University’s standard process for personnel or student conduct issues.
UToledo continues efforts to update policies and practices to align with other components of SB1 that await additional guidance from the Ohio Department of Higher Education. Those include developing policies on faculty workload, annual performance evaluations, post-tenure review, and tenure and retrenchment, and financial reporting requirements.
Some aspects of the law go into effect later, including the public posting of course syllabi that will be required starting Fall 2026 and the establishment of a required American civics course for undergraduate students entering in Fall 2026 or thereafter.
UToledo has worked proactively to comply with requirements in the law that require universities to eliminate undergraduate programs that have conferred fewer than five degrees annually over any three-year period. UToledo will continue to evaluate undergraduate programs regularly.
A new online resource, utoledo.edu/legislation, has been created to communicate the latest information on recent legislation impacting UToledo, including SB1 and the University’s Intellectual Diversity and Controversial Beliefs policy and Statement of Commitment. UToledo is updating campus signage and website to comply with the legislation.
