|
|
2025-2026 Policies and Procedures
3357:12-16-34-Controversial Belief Policy
|
|
PURPOSE/CHARTER
This policy affirms Zane State College’s commitment to compliance with Ohio Revised Code 3345.0217, ensuring the protection of intellectual diversity, academic freedom, and the rights of students and employees to engage in open inquiry and expression without institutional coercion. The College prohibits discriminatory practices in hiring, promotion, admissions, and academic programming based on political, ideological, or controversial beliefs.
POLICY
In accordance with ORC 3345.0217, Zane State College prohibits the following actions unless explicitly required by federal law or as a condition of eligibility for competitive federal or research grant funding:
- Implementation or promotion of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) training
- Establishment or maintenance of DEI offices
- Use of DEI-related job descriptions
- Engagement with third parties to influence admissions, hiring, or promotion based on DEI principles
- Provision of DEI-targeted scholarships The College affirms:
- Its core mission is to discover, improve, transmit, and disseminate knowledge and citizenship education through research, teaching, discussion, and debate.
- The institution will support the fullest degree of intellectual diversity and free expression for students, faculty, and staff.
- Faculty and staff shall encourage students to reach their own conclusions about controversial beliefs and shall not indoctrinate or promote any specific political, social, or religious viewpoint.
- No institutional endorsement or opposition shall be made on controversial beliefs or policies, except where directly related to the institution’s funding or mission or in matters of national conflict endorsed by Congress.
- The College will not require or discourage endorsement of any ideology or political stance in admissions, employment, or academic performance.
- Litmus tests such as diversity statements or ideological declarations are prohibited in hiring, promotion, and admissions decisions.
- Academic and administrative processes-such as committee assignments, workload adjustments, or scheduling-shall remain ideologically neutral.
- The College will proactively seek invited speakers that represent a diverse range of ideological and political views.
Speaker Transparency Requirement
In compliance with ORC 3345.0217(C), all speaker fees, honoraria, and emoluments exceeding
$500 for institution-sponsored events will be:
- Posted prominently on the College’s website
- Accessible via no more than three links from the main homepage
- Searchable by keywords or phrases
- Publicly accessible without registration
SCOPE/POLICY GUIDELINES
This policy applies to all students, faculty, staff, and administrators at Zane State College. It governs institutional conduct related to academic expression, hiring, admissions, programming, and intellectual discourse.
Definitions:
- Controversial belief or policy: A belief or policy that is the subject of political, social, or academic debate and on which reasonable people may disagree.
- Intellectual diversity: The full and fair representation of multiple viewpoints on a wide range of public policy issues.
NON-COMPLIANCE
Violations of this policy will be reviewed under the process established by ORC 3345.0215 (C). Complaints may be submitted by students, student groups, or faculty members who believe a violation has occurred. Non-compliance may result in:
- Formal investigation and adjudication under established institutional processes
- Corrective action as determined appropriate under state law and college policies
POLICY APPROVAL
I have read and understand the Zane State College Controversial Belief Policy and Guidelines. I understand that if I violate the rules explained herein, I may face legal or disciplinary action according to applicable laws or company policy.
|
|
|
|
|
