On Mar. 7, former Ohio State University (OSU) president Walter Carter Jr. resigned before the OSU Board of Trustees. The announcement was shared with the public two days later.

Carter told the trustees, in his final statement, that he “made a mistake” and engaged in an “inappropriate relationship” with someone seeking state resources to grow her personal business. Specifics of the relations and allocation of public funds remain unclear, and an investigation is ongoing.

Carter noted the progress during his time at Ohio State and his regret to not remain president. His Education for Citizenship 2035 strategic plan—to introduce further scholarships and experiential learning, expand programs in nursing and veterinary medicine and develop an AI fluency initiative—is “poised to succeed for years to come.”

Still, a ripple effect was noted throughout Ohio universities, as concern sparked over ethics in higher education.

At Bowling Green State University (BGSU), Dr. Rodney K. Rogers has served since 2018 as the 12th president of the university. Rogers previously served as provost and senior vice president in 2012 and is the first alumnus to be president.

The Ohio State University has experienced three presidential transitions since 2020, with Carter serving for two years.

Citing the BGSU website, the Senior Director of Executive Communications and University Spokesperson Colleen Rerucha shared that all faculty and staff complete Ohio Ethics Law training through the Office of the General Counsel.

The Ohio Ethics Law training—created under Gov. Mike DeWine’s directive—is an e-course “to assist public employees across the state in gaining a practical understanding of the prohibitions related to conflicts of interest, nepotism, acceptance of gifts and selling goods or services to one’s own public employer,” Rerucha cites.

All public employees, including university faculty, complete this training.

Bowling Green State University, on its official webpage, maintains that it “pursues its mission and conducts its academic and business affairs with the highest ethical standards.”

At publication, BGSU has not provided an official statement regarding Walter Carter Jr.

Explore the full Ethical Conduct and Professional Workplace Behavior policy statement: https://www.bgsu.edu/policies/governance/3341-1-2.html