Idaho State Board of Education approves restrictions on DEI policies

Amid opposition from students, the Idaho State Board of Education on Wednesday unanimously approved new policies that prohibit DEI ideology at Idaho’s higher education institutions.

The policy defines DEI — which stands for diversity, equity and inclusion — as “any approach that prioritizes ‘personal identity characteristics’ (race, color, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, religion or gender identity) over individual merit.”

Board members who spoke said they do not oppose the ideas of “diversity,” “equity” and “inclusion” as separate principles — but the ideology is what they are seeking to limit.

“I don’t know when inclusion became a four-letter word, but don’t we want every student to show up on our campus and feel like they’re included and belong?” board member Kurt Liebich said Wednesday.

University presidents had varied responses, but all of them said they could work under the new restrictions and continue providing the same services in different forms. Opponents of the policy have doubts as to whether the services will be able to continue or will be as effective.

A major change is that universities cannot have student resource centers “based on DEI ideology.”

“The idea here is not to take support away from students but ensure that it is holistic in approaching bringing students all together, rather than identity-focused-type centers on our campuses,” State Board of Education Executive Director Josh Whitworth said at the meeting.

Amid discussions around the draft policies, some state universities had already begun taking action on these types of student centers.

Earlier this month, Idaho State University closed its Diversity Resource Center and Gender Resource Center on the Pocatello campus, the Idaho State Journal reported.

ISU President Robert Wagner said the school is “reorganizing” the services rather than doing away with them.

Boise State University also closed its Student Equity Center and Gender Equity Center over Thanksgiving break and is planning to open a new Student Connections and Support Center, KTVB reported.

Both announcements came between the draft resolutions being introduced Nov. 21 and Wednesday’s final action.

BSU President Marlene Tromp told board members Wednesday that she felt the university’s efforts to improve student outcomes over the years have been “profoundly misunderstood and misconstrued,” and she credits the efforts with increases in enrollment and four-year graduation rates.

“Our desire is to ultimately make services more broadly accessible and to increase engagement,” Tromp said.

The board received 687 comments on the proposed policies from students, with around 80% in opposition to the policies, especially in regard to the student centers, Whitworth said. The board rewrote some of the policies in response to a flurry of negative feedback, Idaho Education News reported this week, including language that states, the board “recognizes and values the unique diversity of Idahoans and expects the postsecondary institutions to foster a campus culture that appreciates and reflects this diversity.”

University of Idaho President C. Scott Green said the programs meant to support certain students have been successful, and the student response to the proposed changes has been “a deep sense of loss and sadness.”

“I think we all recognize the broader national and state political dynamics that our Board of Regents are addressing, and we are disappointed, but not surprised, that it has come to this given what’s happened in other states,” Green said.

UI plans to set up a Student Engagement Center with an emphasis on a first-generation student program, he said.

Lewis-Clark State College President Cynthia Pemberton said that given the added guidance clarifying that schools’ centers for veterans and Native American students may still operate, she did not think LCSC would be impacted by the new policies.

Other policies include that no student or staff can be required to declare their gender identity or preferred pronouns, colleges and universities must remain “politically neutral” when it came to free expression on campus, that university presidents are responsible for the “well-being of the institutions,” and the state board is responsible for holding the presidents accountable. The policies will go into effect June 30, 2025.

Superintendent of Public Instruction Debbie Critchfield said the board may call itself back together to address any changes that may be needed as the policies are implemented.

DEI in Idaho

In Idaho and other Republican states, legislation has been introduced and enacted to restrict activities and staff positions on college and university campuses that support DEI.

A state DEI task force has met twice in an effort to identify DEI initiatives in Idaho and likely bring legislation limiting them. Idaho higher education institutions are currently prohibited from using state funds for DEI programs and from requiring diversity statements in hiring or admissions. 

Members of the task force say they oppose any program that may benefit only people of certain racial, gender, sexual orientation identities and potentially disadvantage those who aren’t in historically disadvantaged groups.