Ethnic Studies

Taken from Ohio State’s Shared Values Page, here is the highlighted mission of the university:

The university is dedicated to:

• Creating and discovering knowledge to improve the well-being of our local, state, regional, national and global communities;

• Educating students through a comprehensive array of distinguished academic programs;

• Preparing a diverse student body to be leaders and engaged citizens;

• Fostering a culture of engagement and service.

We understand that diversity and inclusion are essential components of our excellence.

Office of Diversity and Inclusion (ODI) (1970 - February 28, 2025)

Founded in 1970, the Office of Diversity and Inclusion was one of the oldest and most comprehensive offices of its kind in the nation, with a mission to help build Ohio State into a world class model of inclusive academic excellence. ODI’s Mission was to “advance diversity, equity and inclusive excellence throughout the university enterprise by implementing student recruitment, retention and success programs, supporting faculty and staff initiatives, and partnering with campus and community stakeholders in the U.S. and beyond."

Following the passage of Ohio Senate Bill 1, OSU sunset ODI on February 28, 2025. Taken from the main ODI site before removal, the following provides further background on the work ODI initiated:

ODI oversees the Frank W. Hale Jr. Black Cultural Center, the Todd Anthony Bell National Resource Center on the African American Male, the Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation (LSAMP) Program, the Morrill Scholarship Program, the nine-city Young Scholars Program, ACCESS Collaborative, as well as being home to a wide-range of retention, mentoring, scholarship, and access programs, including Latine Student Success, the James L. Moore III Scholars, and the Regional Campus Transitioners.

At Ohio State, we consider the rich diversity of our students, faculty and staff to be both a defining characteristic and an essential source of our institutional strength.

With the changing face of the nation itself, the terms “diversity” and “inclusion” have expanded over time to include persons from a growing array of backgrounds, cultures, identities and experiences. Because diversity is dynamic, not static, the university will continue to reflect these changes, understanding that a diverse learning environment benefits everyone.

Decades of research have shown that diversity, nurtured in a welcoming and respectful environment, encourages critical thinking, reduces harmful stereotypes and strengthens the ability to communicate, work and play across lines of identity and difference. These are essential skills for participants in a globally connected world, and Ohio State is committed to providing the richly diverse learning environment that all Ohio State students need to grow into the able leaders and productive citizens that our nation and world demand.