COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- With 10 days to take action, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine acted quickly once sweeping higher education bill Senate Bill 1 was sent to his desk Wednesday, signing it into law Friday afternoon. Senate Bill 1 has drawn vast criticism from students and faculty, particularly because of the changes it makes to diversity, equity and inclusion at the collegiate level. S.B. 1 was nicknamed the "Advance/Destroy Higher Education Act," depending on who is speaking. Under S.B. 1, public colleges are no longer allowed to have DEI offices or school-sponsored scholarships that relate to DEI, nor can any existing offices be renamed to serve the same purpose. If a university violates the ban on all DEI practices on campus, it now risks losing state funding. Faculty have raised concerns about stipulations in the bill that ban professors from endorsing any "controversial belief or policy." Faculty will not be allowed to teach that any race or sex is superior, that anyone is inherently biased or prejudiced because of their identities, that anyone bears responsibilities for past actions or enforce any discomfort for someone's race or sex. Why Columbus fire officials are saying there's a critical vehicle shortage Sponsored by Sen. Jerry Cirino (R-Kirtland), proponents of S.B. 1 say it will protect students from having to conform to more liberal ideologies on campus. Cirino celebrated DeWine's decision, saying it was a long, worthwhile road to pass S.B. 1, referencing several years of attempts to pass it. "What we have seen on college campuses is college students saying, 'I get to have my point of view and get to shut down people who disagree with me,'" Republican strategist Matt Dole said. "That is not free speech. Free speech is understanding that everybody gets their own say. And hate speech is just as protected as any other speech." The bill saw 1,728 opponent testimonies during Senate and House hearings, and 39 proponent testimonies. Of those speaking in favor, nine would be directly affected by the legislation. There were also protests across multiple Ohio campuses. Prohibitions against faculty striking have drawn criticism from labor unions. Faculty told NBC4 they worry new requirements to publicize course syllabi may lead to doxing, and fear the bill will have a "chilling effect" on what is taught in the classroom. The bill will also establish new faculty evaluation requirements, including a mandatory student questionnaire that asks if professors create a classroom free of bias. The bill also establishes new American civic literacy courses, a three-credit course that will be eventually required for graduation. The course will cover American economics and capitalism, including required readings. "I've talked to incoming students who are also very concerned about this and reconsidering their admissions decisions based on this bill," Ohio State junior Molly Hornberger, who participated in student protests against the bill, said. "And now that it's passed, I think the effects are forthcoming. I think we will see a decline in admissions, and I think the true, true worst parts of the bill won't be seen for a couple of years, but I think they're coming." Hornberger said she does not want to return for her senior year under Senate Bill 1, and although she will finish out her degree, she will no longer pursue a graduate degree in Ohio like she had initially planned. She also said it was "disheartening" that neither the General Assembly nor DeWine changed their minds after immense opposition from constituents. The Ohio State University already dissolved its DEI offices, in part out of concern that S.B. 1 might pass. Ohio State spokesperson Ben Johnson said the university had hoped for more changes to the bill before it passed, although the university had not taken a formal position on S.B. 1. "Throughout the legislative process, Ohio State advocated for changes to S.B. 1 that would preserve and enhance academic freedom, embrace diversity of thought, and foster civil discourse on campuses where all individuals feel welcomed and respected," Johnson said. Ohio Republicans form own version of DOGE The Undergraduate Student Government at Ohio Statement issued a statement expressing disappointment that DeWine signed the bill, "despite significant student, faculty, staff, etc. opposition." "We will continue to fulfill our mission of students serving students, and will remain committed to carrying out our values of diversity, equity, and inclusion," the statement reads. "We urge university leadership to stand with students in protecting inclusive spaces on our campus. The passage of this bill is a huge step backward, but our resolve to uplift every Buckeye remains unwavering. Students are a determined people and no matter how many people legislate against us, we will remain and we will rise." Ohio House Democrats strongly condemned DeWine's actions, saying they had joined Ohio students and staff in urging the governor to veto S.B. 1 earlier this week. "The governor now has to live with the consequences that will haunt his legacy because signing S.B. 1 into law begins the inevitable destruction of Ohio’s cherished higher education system by legalizing state-sponsored censorship and discrimination, it will damage our economy and future by making Ohio an extremely undesirable place to learn and work, and it radically undermines the collective bargaining rights of workers,” Minority Leader Allision Russo (D-Upper Arlington) said. The Buckeye Institute, a free-market think tank, has been outspoken in favor of the bill's passage. Institute Research Fellow Greg Lawson said the organization applauds DeWine's decision as one of the most important higher education reforms in the past 25 years. "The policies in Senate Bill 1 will ensure a diverse intellectual environment for all students and accountability for faculty, and they will cut administrative bloat to focus universities on graduating students who are gainfully employed. These are much-needed reforms that were long overdue," Lawson said. Senate Bill 1 will go into effect in 90 days. ...read more read less