Utah Tech University has announced structural and policy changes following the passage of House Bill 261, known as the Equal Opportunity Initiatives, and House Bill 257. The university is working toward full compliance with these laws, which impact various campus programs, offices, and facility usage.
Under House Bill 261, the university is prohibited from maintaining policies, programs, or required trainings that promote differential treatment based on personal identity characteristics. As part of this compliance effort, the Office of the Chief Diversity Officer will be dissolved on July 1, 2024, and the Center for Inclusion and Belonging, including the LGBTQ+ Resource Center, will also be dissolved.
University officials stated that no employees will be laid off due to these changes. Instead, staff from the dissolved offices will be reassigned to roles within the Office of Student Engagement & Leadership and the Student Resource Center. These resources will eventually be managed through a newly designated Student Success and Support Office, which will include a new council to coordinate efforts.
The legislation also impacts hiring practices and academic transparency. Utah Tech has discontinued its Diversity Advocate program in favor of a Search Committee Advocate program designed to ensure equal opportunity for all applicants. Additionally, the law requires that syllabi for mandatory courses be posted on the university website and made searchable to the public.
Regarding academic freedom, the university noted that research and classroom teaching remain expressly exempt from House Bill 261. Faculty may continue to research and teach concepts related to race, gender identity, and sexual orientation.
House Bill 257, which focuses on sex-based designations for privacy, impacts the use of gender-designated changing rooms. While individuals may continue to use gender-designated restrooms that do not involve a changing room based on their identified gender, use of changing rooms and attached restrooms is restricted to an individual's sex assigned at birth unless they have amended their birth certificate and undergone primary sex characteristic surgery.
To assist with these transitions, Utah Tech is evaluating on-campus locker rooms to ensure private options are available. The university currently provides all-gender restrooms in several campus buildings, including the Atwood Innovation Plaza, Brooks Stop, and the Science, Engineering & Technology Building. New construction projects, such as the Tennis Building and General Classroom Building, are also being designed with additional all-gender restroom facilities.
The university is conducting a comprehensive review of its mission, vision, and values statements to ensure alignment with the new laws. For concerns regarding safety in restrooms, individuals may contact the Dean of Students Office at 435-652-7514.
