In late January, the Utah Legislature passed and the governor signed two bills impacting how colleges and universities provide important services to their campus communities.
In late January, the Utah Legislature passed and the governor signed two bills impacting how colleges and universities provide important services to their campus communities. These bills address issues related to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and establish gender regulations regarding the use of changing rooms.
Utah Valley University's campus leaders are studying the bills and collaborating with the Utah System of Higher Education (USHE) to understand precisely what the language of the bills requires and what changes UVU will need to make to comply with the new laws. At this point, there are more questions than answers. Below is a summary of what we do know; as we gain more clarity, we will share that information with the campus community.
One thing that won’t change is our mission to help all students succeed and our focus on creating a welcoming and supportive culture for all of our faculty and staff. Some of our programs and initiatives may have to be adjusted, but our commitment to helping individuals transform their lives through education is resolute. We value the breadth of knowledge, perspective, backgrounds, and experiences represented in our faculty, staff, and students.
We recognize that changes, such as those imposed by these two new laws, can be unsettling. We remind our campus community of resources available to help with any emotional or mental health issues that may arise as a result of these changes.
Email your UVUID to [email protected] to get free access to TimelyCare.
We thank our faculty and staff for all you do to enrich the lives of our students and all members of our campus community.
If you have questions about HB261 or HB257, please use this form to submit them. We will collate and categorize the questions and will share answers as and when we get them. This may take some time, so please be patient. Our commitment is to keep lines of communication open as we explore the implications of this legislation for our work at UVU.
Where can I read H.B. 261?
Please follow this link to the bill.
When does H.B. 261 take effect?
July 1, 2024.
What does this mean for the name of the Office of Inclusion and Diversity?
The name of the office will likely change. More information about the name change will follow.
Where can I read H.B. 257?
Please follow this link to the bill.
Will UVU be changing bathrooms or locker rooms on campus?
UVU has unisex bathrooms all across campus to accommodate the needs of transgender employees and students.
How will the university enforce the new law?
Enforcement requirements in the law are not completely clear at this time. More information will be provided as it becomes available.
When does this law take effect?
Portions of the bill took effect on Jan. 30, 2024. Other portions will take effect on May 1, 2024.
