Information on Legislative and Executive Actions
Ohio State continues to monitor and review legislation and executive actions brought forth at all levels of government.
As a public institution, the university will comply with all local, state and federal laws and regulations. At the same time, Ohio State is committed to maintaining an environment in which students, faculty and staff have the resources needed to fully participate and succeed in teaching, learning, research and patient care.
The implementation of enacted legislation, executive orders and other changes often depends on interpretation by federal agencies and courts, so the university will rarely have clear answers right away on how a specific government action or policy will affect Ohio State.
A number of other factors also influence whether enacted legislation or an executive order moves forward, or how it ultimately may be implemented. These factors include:
- Which agency is responsible for implementation and if that agency needs to create rules or processes for implementation
- The implementation timeline stated in the executive order or legislation
- If there will be a public comment period
- Legal action/court orders challenging the executive order or legislation
For anything with the potential to impact Ohio State, the Office of Government Affairs works with the Office of Legal Affairs and the appropriate units to convene university offices and partners to determine the impacts and, if applicable, work through implementation.
The university is actively monitoring and responding to the continually evolving landscape, and will continue to support students, faculty and staff. Offices, units and departments should not make changes to policies, procedures or rules without direction from the Office of Legal Affairs, Office of Academic Affairs or their senior vice president’s direction.
Below is guidance on specific issues as they arise.
Last updated: February 28, 2025
Guidance
Federal
2025 Federal Administration Transition, offered through Ohio State's Enterprise for Research, Innovation and Knowledge, provides guidance for students, faculty and staff about impacts to research.
If law enforcement comes to classrooms, academic or clinical spaces:
- The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) protects the privacy of student education records, including immigration status, for all students. That means university employees cannot disclose a student’s immigration status to law enforcement, proactively or in response to questions, without consultation with the Office of Legal Affairs.
- In clinical spaces, all care providers, including students, must abide by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and provide care per clinical expectation. HIPAA applies to all patients, regardless of immigration status. This means that care providers cannot disclose any information about a patient’s immigration status to law enforcement – proactively or in response to questions. Additionally, there is no requirement to document immigration status and, generally, patients are not asked about their status unless it directly relates to their health care.
- Generally, all local, state and federal law enforcement agencies – including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) – coordinate with the Ohio State University Police Division (OSUPD) when they have enforcement needs on campus. The university anticipates that the process will continue to be followed; however, if law enforcement comes to a classroom space or office,contact OSUPD at 614-292-2121 and the Office of Legal Affairs at 614-292-0611 to assist.
- The Office of International Affairs provides international students and scholars with advising and assistance on immigration regulations and paperwork.
- For additional university guidance, provided by the Office of Legal Affairs, see the Key Issues webpage.
As university leaders stated in a Feb. 12, 2025, message to faculty, staff and students, Ohio State is continuing its evaluation of its work in diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) and has formed working groups to review Ohio State jobs and duties related to DEI and to examine DEI programming, initiatives and projects. The goal is to ensure that the university has a full picture of work in this area and can be positioned to make changes if state or federal law requires it or if we decide a different approach is in the university’s best interests. As the working groups move forward, updates will be shared as information becomes available.
On February 14, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights issued guidance in a Dear Colleague Letter, which served to inform and accelerate the university's continuing work.
On Feb. 27, President Carter announced an initial reorganization and update on the continuing review of DEI programs. Effective Feb. 28, 2025, the university’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion will sunset along with some of its services. Scholarships administered through the Office of Academic Affairs, including the Morrill Scholarship Program and the Young Scholars Program, will be maintained, but their eligibility criteria may be modified to ensure compliance with the law. The programming and services offered by the Office of Student Life’s Center for Belonging and Social Change will be discontinued effective Feb. 28. The Office of Institutional Equity will be renamed the Office of Civil Rights Compliance to more accurately reflect its work. The Office of Civil Rights Compliance will continue to serve as a university-wide resource for receiving, investigating and resolving all reports of discrimination, harassment and sexual misconduct – and will report to the Office of University Compliance and Integrity. Additional details are available on Ohio State News.
State of Ohio
- Ohio State has confirmed that this executive order is not intended to include state colleges and universities. The language specifically states that it applies to state agencies, boards, and commissions under the authority of the governor.
- Offices, units and departments should not make changes to policies, procedures or rules without direction from the Office of Legal Affairs, Office of Academic Affairs or their senior vice president. If impacts are determined and changes need to be made to processes or that necessitate faculty or staff to change a procedure or way of operating, Ohio State will communicate that information as needed.
- In November 2024, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine signed into law Senate Bill 104, which requires the university to designate multi-use student restrooms, locker rooms, shower rooms and changing rooms for only the male biological sex or only the female biological sex.
- The law prohibits the university from knowingly allowing individuals to use multi-use student restrooms, locker rooms, shower rooms and changing rooms designated for the opposite biological sex and prohibits the university from establishing or maintaining gender neutral or gender inclusive multi-use restrooms, shower rooms, changing rooms or locker rooms.
- After an initial review, the university’s facilities were determined to be in compliance with the law. All multi-use student restrooms, locker rooms, changing rooms, and shower rooms are designated by male or female biological sex.
- There are more than 450 single-occupancy restrooms across all campuses. Additional information and answers to frequently asked questions are available on the Facilities Operations and Development site.
On Feb. 12, 2025, the Ohio Senate passed Senate Bill 1 (SB 1), also known as the “Advance Ohio Higher Education Act.” Full text of the bill is available on the State of Ohio website. The bill now moves to the Ohio House of Representatives for further deliberation through the committee process, in which further amendments may be considered. Should the house amend the current version of SB 1, the senate will need to concur on the house changes prior to the bill going to the governor’s desk for his signature. Bills signed into law are typically effective 90 days after signature from the governor.
Ohio State will continue to work with elected officials to advance the university’s priorities to ensure that students, faculty and staff have the resources and support needed to succeed.
University policies and resources
Faculty with specific questions about their work in the classroom should contact the Office of Faculty Affairs. The Drake Institute also has helpful resources for instructors.
Faculty and staff with questions about human resources policy or procedure impacts should contact their Human Resources Business Partner.
Additional resources
Keeping the community informed
Ohio State will communicate information as needed to members of our community about changes or impacts. In accordance with the university’s Philosophy on Institutional and Leadership Statements, however, Ohio State refrains from taking institutional positions on matters that extend beyond the university. Ohio State, including leaders who represent the university, uses its voice judiciously and, when institutional or leadership statements are issued, employs a framework to ensure decisions are made based on consistent factors.
The university will monitor and respond to the continually evolving landscape while maintaining its support of students, faculty and staff.
For questions about enacted legislation, executive orders and other changes, please contact legislativequestions@osu.edu.