Ohio State University Shuts Down Diversity and Inclusion Office Amid Policy Shifts

Ohio State University has announced the discontinuation of its Office of Diversity and Inclusion ODI and the Center for Belonging and Social Change CBSC, effective Friday.

The decision, confirmed by university President Ted Carter Jr. at Thursday’s University Senate meeting, will result in the removal of related professional staff positions, with 16 employees remaining employed for 60 days as the university works to find alternative roles for them.

Certain services within ODI will continue, but the programming and services offered by CBSC will be discontinued.

The university’s diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI)-related units, including the Hale Black Cultural Center and the Kirwan Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnicity, remain under review, though they remain open for now.

While these institutional changes are part of a broader reassessment, no current students will lose scholarships or financial aid, and those working in ODI or CBSC will be offered alternative jobs at the university.

Carter addressed the challenges posed by these changes, citing the broader federal and state government actions influencing the university’s decision.

Federal executive orders from the Trump administration and Ohio’s SB 1 — which aims to ban DEI programs in state universities — are part of the factors driving this move.

This restructuring comes amidst a legal and political environment where institutions are being pushed to reconsider or eliminate DEI initiatives due to potential legal and funding risks.

Carter expressed understanding of the disappointment these changes may cause but emphasized the need for the university to adjust to the evolving landscape while maintaining its core values of excellence, access, and opportunity.