Information on Legislative and Executive Actions
Miami University continues to monitor and review legislation and executive actions that impact our community from all levels of government. The university will comply with all local, state, and federal laws and regulations. Miami is committed to providing a welcoming, supportive community where all students, faculty, and staff can thrive.
The implementation of enacted legislation, executive orders and other changes often depends on interpretation by government agencies and courts, so the university will rarely have immediate, clear answers on how a specific government action or policy will affect our community.
Offices, units and departments should not make changes to policies, procedures or rules without direction from their vice president or dean or absent consultation with a representative from the Office of General Counsel or Academic Affairs.
Below is guidance on specific issues as they arise.
Last Updated: April 21, 2025
Federal
In February 2025, federal guidance was issued to institutions of higher education in the form of a letter from the Department of Education Office of Civil Rights about civil rights law and anti-discrimination requirements that are a condition of receiving federal funding.
The Department of Education Office of Civil Rights clarified the executive order on “Ending illegal discrimination and restoring merit-based opportunity,” reiterating existing legal requirements under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Equal Protection Clause of the United States Constitution, and other relevant authorities.
The letter reminded institutions receiving federal funding to:
- ensure that their policies and actions comply with existing civil rights law;
- cease all efforts to circumvent prohibitions on the use of race by relying on proxies or other indirect means to accomplish such ends; and
- cease all reliance on third-party contractors, clearinghouses, or aggregators that are being used by institutions in an effort to circumvent prohibited uses of race.
Institutions were given until Feb. 28 to ensure compliance with applicable statutes and regulations, including anti-discrimination requirements that are a condition of receiving federal funding.
State
On March 28, 2025, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine signed into law Senate Bill 1 (SB1), which affects multiple aspects of higher education and requires Miami University to make several organizational changes before the law takes effect in late June 2025.
As we navigate these changes to comply with the law, we will be guided by our core values of Love and Honor and our enduring commitment to providing a supportive community where all students, faculty, and staff can thrive. Among other items, Senate Bill 1 includes provisions related to:
- Faculty workload, evaluation, post-tenure review, retrenchment, and striking;
- Undergraduate degree program reviews, courses, and syllabi;
- Institutional costs and speaker fees;
- Intellectual diversity and statements of commitment;
- Diversity, equity, and inclusion, and ensuring equal treatment;
- Institutional neutrality; and
- Institutional relationships with China.
We encourage the Miami community to read the law for additional details.
Shortly after the proposal of SB1 in January 2025, following two years reviewing the previously proposed SB83, the university began examining campus portfolios to evaluate what changes would be needed if the bill passed. In accordance with the law, Miami will discontinue operations of the following offices this summer:
- Office of Transformational and Inclusive Excellence (OTIE),
- Center for Student Diversity and Inclusion (CSDI), and
- Miami Regionals Center for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
The university has communicated directly with the employees who are affected by these changes, and all have been offered opportunities in other parts of the university. We will also be communicating with the student organizations that work with these offices in the coming weeks.
More information about specific changes will be shared with impacted divisions later this semester as plans are finalized.
This is a comprehensive law with many facets, and we know you may have questions.
We will continue to review the legislation and communicate additional updates through the legislative information page on this page. As we learn more, faculty and staff will receive applicable guidance from their divisions.
Miami University has reviewed Ohio Governor Mike DeWine’s February 4, 2025 order 2025- 01D and received clarification that it applies to state agency employees and does not apply to Ohio public university employees like those at Miami.
The university will continue operating without change to its Flexible Work Arrangements Policy.
Please contact the Office of Human Resources at 513-529-3131 with any questions.
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 multi-occupancy restrooms, shower rooms, changing rooms or locker rooms that are gender neutral or gender inclusive.
Miami University, as it does in all cases, will follow the law on this matter.
The university’s facilities are in compliance as there are multi-occupancy restrooms that are designated for Women or Men and single-occupancy restrooms for all individuals to use throughout campus.
Miami is committed to providing a welcoming, supportive community where all students thrive.
University Statements
Questions?
- Students: reach out to the Division of Student Life.
- Employees: communicate with supervisors, directors, deans and vice presidents to elevate inquiries as needed to appropriate university leaders.
- Deans and vice presidents: connect with a representative from the Office of General Counsel.
