Ohio’s public universities are already considering how to implement changes that would be triggered by the controversial higher education reform bill lawmakers are expected to pass this week.
Cleveland State University, for example, expects to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to implement a new mandatory civics course if the bill becomes law, according to public records requested and reviewed by Signal Ohio. It also would cut academic programs and close at least nine diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) related services and programs.
The estimated figures and potential next steps were highlighted in memos compiled by Cleveland State that ultimately were passed along to its lobbying group. That group then provided context from all of its members to the Ohio Legislative Services Commission. It’s a non-partisan Statehouse organization that tries to put a dollar figure on the cost of legislation.
These projections are all related to Senate Bill 1. This legislation looks to overhaul how higher education works in Ohio by banning faculty strikes, requiring training for university trustees, and ending all diversity, equity and inclusion work. Critics say the bill is anti-union, could cost institutions millions to comply, and would end some critical support services for students.
The Ohio House is expected to pass Senate Bill 1 as early as Wednesday. If it does so without changes, the bill will land on Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine’s desk. He recently told Signal Ohio he plans to sign the bill into law.
Cleveland State estimates several DEI-related programs could end
Senate Bill 1 passed out of the Senate without lawmakers clearly defining what they meant by DEI, leaving universities to figure out what it means.
Cleveland State leaders compiled a list of the programs they thought could be impacted in early February, records show.
They found nine existing related offices and/or programs would be prohibited under the bill’s current language, according to records. That list includes disability services, a women’s office, support for veterans, and a multicultural engagement office.
Out of that group, the Office of Disability Services and Testing has the biggest operating budget of about $134,000. Records show a student support services office with operating costs of nearly $121,000.
But they believe other programs – like the university’s food pantry and all student-led organizations – could stay put. Records show leaders came to that conclusion because those programs serve all students.
Across the state, records show that 13 out of 14 public four-year universities spent about $27.5 million combined annually on labor, operating and support expenses related to DEI work and employed nearly 240 people.
Spending $400,000 on civics class would be “significant”
Cleveland State and similar institutions fall into a category known as regional public universities. These universities feel enrollment woes and budget challenges far more intensely than the state’s flagship university, Ohio State.
Cleveland State officials noted they would need to spend close to $400,000 to implement a new mandatory civics course as required by the bill. The university’s vice provost said that would have a “significant fiscal impact,” records show.
The vice provost came to that estimate by surmising the institution would need to offer 50 sections of the course each year. They’d have to hire four new full-time lecturers at a cost of about $320,000, along with part-time instructors for an additional $75,000.
The memo also highlighted another potential problem: There may be no one to teach such classes.
“It is not clear that enough people with adequate credentials would be available to staff these courses appropriately,” the university’s vice provost told other leaders in an email.
Cleveland State could close four additional academic programs
Senate Bill 1’s language also calls for closing academic programs that have had low enrollment over the past three years.
Records show Cleveland State leaders don’t believe that would be a huge deal at their institution. The university already sunset nearly two dozen programs in an effort to cut costs last spring.
If passed, the legislation could require them to close four additional unnamed programs. Fewer part-time faculty members would be needed. University officials estimated it would result in “minimal” savings of $80,000 each year.
