Karen Miller

From the pandemic into a shifting economic landscape,ⁱ faced with declining public faith in the value of a college degreeⁱⁱ and an aging population,ⁱⁱⁱ higher education has been challenged to innovate, adapt, and evolve like no other time in its recent history. The changing regulatory and legal landscape is also creating confusion. Institutions must navigate through proposals, conflicting information, and uncertainty as federal directives; changes in higher education funding; and even local politics affect operations, strategies, and programming at community colleges across the U.S.

On March 28, 2025, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine signed the Advance Ohio Higher Education Act (SB 1) into law, with an effective date of June 27, 2025. Described as controversial, SB 1 “prohibits diversity and equity programming, bans faculty strikes and regulates classroom discussion at Ohio’s public universities and community colleges.”^iv This new legislation compounded the anxiety and uncertainty already existing at Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C). Importantly, faculty at Tri-C and throughout Ohio interpreted its requirements as interfering with academic freedom and intruding on faculty teaching and learning expertise.

To help our institution through this turbulent and uncertain time, Tri-C President, Dr. Michael Baston, convened an Institutional Clarity Initiative. Rooted in Tri-C’s commitment to shared governance, the group was composed of faculty, administrators, and legal experts, and led the college’s response to SB 1 and federal changes.

The initiative had two work groups: academic/workforce and governance/institutional compliance. Each group took a three-part approach to addressing the changes in SB 1. After researching and interpreting the legislation, the team would assess if the interpretation matched existing policies or if it needed to be integrated into existing procedures. Finally, each group would begin implementation with a project plan and a timeline.

A great deal of this work took place out of the spotlight, in conjunction with internal and external legal resources and colleague community colleges, and with guidance from the Ohio Association of Community Colleges, as legislative updates were released. To keep the college community informed of this progress while maintaining focus on Tri-C’s mission and students, the executive team committed to as much transparency and communication around the work as was possible.

For example, Tri-C’s entire college community was kept up to date through a series of virtual town halls, which were recorded for later review. Staff and faculty submitted questions for Baston and the executive team, all of which were answered. Additionally, the academic leadership team consistently met with the leadership of Tri-C’s American Association of University Professors as well as the Joint Faculty Senate Committee to provide updates, listen to questions and concerns, and share available information.

Importantly, Tri-C’s president continually set the tone for the institutional position on these ongoing federal and state legislative changes. For example, in a collegewide email in response to the U.S. DOE Dear Colleague letter targeting DEI programs, Baston reiterated our focus on students:

Please know that we remain committed to providing access to education for all in our region who seek it, regardless of their race, culture, background, or any other defining trait or characteristic. Our belief as an institution is that all of society benefits when everyone has a path to gain knowledge and pursue their life’s goals. We will continue to operate with that foundational belief as our guiding star while aligning with all legal requirements at the federal, state, and local levels. (M. Baston, personal communication, February 19, 2025)

On the effective date of SB 1, Baston issued an additional communication, noting:

The guiding principle of this process is to ensure our practices continue to align with the college’s mission and core values while also complying with changing legal and regulatory expectations. What remains unchanged is our steadfast commitment to serving our students, providing clarity in our mission, and enhancing the quality of life for the communities we serve. (M. Baston, personal communication, June 27, 2025)

Most importantly, all college executives worked with their departments and divisions as empathetic leaders through these large institutional changes. With numerous opportunities for faculty and staff to provide feedback, this active listening helped leadership to understand multiple perspectives and priorities, which is essential to leading staff, faculty, and students through institutional change.^v Empathetic leadership, especially during this time of crisis, provided both administrators and employees with the opportunity to be more engaged and offered a sense of inclusivity, even as many initially felt excluded from the implementation process.^vi

Nearly nine months after SB 1 became law, Tri-C is still feeling its effects and challenges.^vii However, our commitment to shared governance, open communication, and transparency, as well as a deeply held commitment to our students and the community we serve, provides the college with the ability to evolve, adapt, and grow while focusing on teaching, learning, completion, and success.

ⁱ Selingo, J. J. (2025, January 6). Higher Ed’s Grim New Normal: Overcoming Demographic Headwinds Will Require More Than Austerity. The Chronicle of Higher Education.
ⁱⁱ Merisotis, J. (2025, April 1). Higher Education’s Big Test: Proving the Value of College Degrees. Lumina Foundation.
ⁱⁱⁱ Marcus, J. (2025, January 8). A Looming ‘Demographic Cliff’: Fewer College Students and Ultimately Fewer Graduates. National Public Radio.
^iv Crawford, K. (2025, July 2). SB1 took effect last week. Here’s how Ohio universities have responded. The Ohio Newsroom, para 1.
^v Powell, J. (2023, November 14). Rethinking authentic leadership: The essential need for empathy in higher education leadership. Higher Education Digest.
^vi Brower, T. (2021). Empathy is the most important leadership skill according to research. Forbes.
^vii Morris, C. (2025, September 29). Dozens of Programs to End at Kent State, Tri-C, Other Northeast Ohio Colleges Under Senate Bill 1. Ideastream Public Media.