A statewide faculty organization is urging lawmakers to reject House Bill 698, a proposal that would tie public university funding to its compliance with Ohio’s Senate Bill 1. 

The Ohio Conference of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) has launched a petition opposing the bill, aiming to show lawmakers a strong opposition from faculty across the state. 

HB 698 was introduced in February and would require public universities to certify they are complying with Senate Bill 1 or risk losing a portion of their State Share of Instruction funding. The legislation also allows the state to withhold funding from institutions found to be noncompliant. 

Supporters say the bill is meant to strengthen accountability and ensure universities are following state law. Critics argue that the bill may be unnecessary because SB 1 only took effect recently.

“I know firsthand that Kent State University is doing absolutely everything it can do and needs to do in order to comply with SB1,” said Deb Smith, president of the Kent State Faculty Union. 

Smith said the added requirements could shift resources away from the classroom. 

“It would put in a whole bunch of additional reporting requirements … This is essentially an unfunded mandate that takes away from the educational mission,” she said. 

The AAUP also raised concerns about how tying funding to compliance could impact students. 

“It absolutely impacts students. It impacts the quality of education they get and whether or not their programs continue to exist,” said Jennifer Price, executive director of the Ohio AAUP. 

HB 698 is still under consideration in the Ohio legislature. 

Lex Radde is a reporter for KSTV. Contact her at [email protected].