President Cantwell Updates USU Community on Recent Legislation

Editor’s note: The following is an email sent by USU President Elizabeth Cantwell to the Utah State University community on Feb. 15, 2024.

Dear students, faculty and staff:

I have heard from some of you with questions about the two bills signed into law by Governor Cox (HB257 and HB261) on Jan. 30. I know many in our community have questions about what these bills mean for them. I want to provide you with some additional information and reinforce our university commitment to USU’s mission of excellence, access, and inclusion for all Aggies.

Though I address a few specific concerns below, please review our FAQ webpage to learn more. If you still have questions, you can submit them using the comment button at the bottom of that same webpage.

Know that we deeply appreciate your questions and feedback. Input from a broad spectrum of experience and perspectives helps us ensure we are comprehensive and inclusive in our implementation plans. It also helps us better communicate to our campus community about the impacts of the recent legislation and the actions we are taking.

While we are mindful not to clutter your inbox, we will also work to provide regular communication about our implementation plans and how our actions further our university’s commitment to supporting student and employee success, building and bridging communities, and creating more opportunities for all members of the USU community.

HB257 Sex-Based Designations for Privacy, Anti-Bullying, and Women’s Opportunities.

We are currently reviewing the new law and working through how to meet both federal and state obligations. I know many campus community members are anxious to learn about how the bill will impact them and their access to critical facilities. We are working thoughtfully but also expeditiously to best answer these questions. At the same time, we are actively reviewing existing facilities, including bathrooms and locker rooms, to identify opportunities for enhanced privacy and gender-neutral facilities.

Please note, a few years ago, Utah State made a push to add all-gender bathrooms to buildings throughout our Logan campus. You can locate these restrooms using the?university map.

HB261 Equal Opportunity Initiatives

Due to some continuing confusion expressed in news stories around HB261, I want to reinforce a few points about how it affects USU activities:

• The Inclusion Center and campus cultural centers will remain open and continue to serve our campus community.
• Classroom instruction and research were specifically excluded from HB261. These activities will not be affected.

Please visit usu.edu/dei/faq to read more FAQs. As we are able to offer more answers to questions about the laws, I will continue to reach out to you.

Together, we can ensure the university remains a place where everyone has the opportunity to succeed, express themselves, and find belonging.

Best regards,

Elizabeth R. Cantwell President