rich 1.0 Action Network https://actionnetwork.org <link href='https://actionnetwork.org/css/style-embed-v3.css' rel='stylesheet' type='text/css' /><script src='https://actionnetwork.org/widgets/v6/letter/protect-ohios-public-colleges-and-universities-stop-hb-698?format=js&source=widget'></script><div id='can-letter-area-protect-ohios-public-colleges-and-universities-stop-hb-698' style='width: 100%'><!-- this div is the target for our HTML insertion --></div> Ohio Federation of Teachers https://actionnetwork.org/groups/ohio-federation-of-teachers https://can2-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/share_options/facebook_images/000/652/832/original/Announcement_social_graphics-43_(1).png Ohio’s public colleges and universities are under attack — again! First legislators passed SB 1, a new law that gives politicians unprecedented influence over what is taught and discussed on campus, bogs colleges and universities down in unfunded administrative regulations, forces the elimination of some majors programs, and severely weakens tenure and collective bargaining rights for faculty members.   Now, they’re trying to make a bad situation even worse with HB 698. Supporters of HB 698 claim that it just enforces SB 1 by slashing state funding for colleges and universities that aren’t in compliance with SB 1. That would be bad enough, but HB 698 makes SB 1 even more dangerous than it currently is.   HB 698 requires universities to publish "justification reports" naming and detailing the responsibilities of employees who were previously assigned to work on DEI initiatives to ensure they are not doing the same work under a different title. This creates a witch hunt targeted at these faculty and staff members, many from historically underrepresented communities. HB 698 also forces downsizing and layoffs (“retrenchment”) due to steady and stable enrollment ("enrollment stagnation.") This doesn’t serve students, campus communities, or taxpayers. Tell your legislators to protect our public colleges and universities by rejecting HB 698 https://actionnetwork.org/letters/protect-ohios-public-colleges-and-universities-stop-hb-698