Ohio State University (OSU) is under scrutiny for its spending on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs and its acceptance of foreign funding, according to a report by Open the Books, a taxpayer transparency watchdog. This comes as OSU alumnus JD Vance is expected to become vice president.
The report states OSU spent $13.3 million on 201 DEI-related employees in the last year. Open the Books claims this amount could cover in-state tuition for 1,000 students.
The report also highlights $15.8 million in funding OSU received from China since 2013, the same year a Chinese researcher at OSU was later convicted of making false statements to federal authorities related to research fraud.
Additionally, the report details over $3 billion in federal grants received by OSU since 2020, including funding for programs like “rock climbing for Girls- (female and nonbinary teens)” and research on insect protein and COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy.
OSU spokesperson Benjamin Johnson questioned the report’s DEI employee count, stating figures “have all been produced without the university’s input or guidance,” a local media reported stated. He explained that much of the spending covers disability accommodations, Title IX compliance, student retention programs, research grants, gifts, and scholarships.
Open the Books said its report on OSU is the first in a series examining DEI spending, foreign donations, and federal grants at public universities. The watchdog said it used OSU’s publicly available payroll data and federal records for its analysis.
The report notes that while most of OSU’s foreign donations came from countries like Japan and Switzerland, China was a significant contributor, along with $7.7 million from sources tied to Saudi Arabia. It also highlighted OSU programs that connect students with career opportunities in China. According to local reports, Open the Books stated, “While we spent on DEI, they were working on getting STEM-related knowledge.”
