Idaho's education board could kill DEI at public universities. Here's what we know

The Idaho State Board of Education could pass a resolution limiting diversity, equity and inclusion polices, also known as DEI, in Idaho’s public colleges and universities.

The discussions come amid a nationwide backlash against DEI programs, which became popular in 2020 in the aftermath of George Floyd’s death at the hands of a Minnesota police officer.

“This is not about removing support where people need it,” Josh Whitworth, executive director of the State Board of Education, said during Thursday’s board meeting. Rather, he said, it’s aimed to provide all students with access to the offices.

“It’s really an inclusionary point of view,” Whitworth said.

The draft resolution presented Thursday to the board would ensure that no central office, policy, procedure or initiative is dedicated to DEI. The colleges must also ensure “that all student success centers are dedicated to all students.”

Board member Kurt Liebich said he was concerned the DEI policy could be interpreted broadly and eliminate groups that are helpful for some students. He said students need academic support in college to be successful, but also need to find their people.

“We have a lot of programs on our campuses that support Native Americans, that support veterans, that support first-gen students,” Liebich said at the meeting. “All those programs are really, really important for students to be successful on our campuses.”

Another board member said he didn’t think the resolution would require removing such programs.

Rumors started circulating on social media this week that the University of Idaho plans to eliminate its DEI units. A social activist organization at the University of Idaho, Movimiento Activista Social, posted on Instagram asking people to stand in solidarity against the move.

University of Idaho spokesperson Jodi Walker said the school was discussing closing its DEI-related units with students, as part of its overall discussions on how to meet “the expectations of our board and the Legislature.” Idaho lawmakers this past session introduced Senate Bill 1357 to prohibit DEI in Idaho’s higher education institutions, though the bill went nowhere.

No announcements have been made, Walker said, and decisions are fluctuating based on information from the State Board.

“In light of the information provided at today’s board meeting, we are evaluating our options and working with the board to provide input and feedback to their resolution,” Walker said. “Ultimately we will comply with any resolutions or policies they establish.”

Idaho universities make changes

The board took no action on the resolution Thursday. But university administrators have already begun making changes.

A week before the meeting, Idaho State University President Robert Wagner announced that the school was restructuring the Office of Equity and Inclusion and renaming it to the Office of Equal Opportunity and Title IX. Programs from the Diversity Resource Center and the Gender Resource Center are set to be “integrated into broader student support services.”

“This shift allows us to consolidate efforts and provide more streamlined, impactful support for all students while adhering to state guidelines,” Wagner wrote. “Along with this restructuring, I’m excited to announce the creation of the Bengal Success Center, which will play a key role in supporting academic success for all ISU students.”

An Idaho State University spokesperson did not respond to a message asking why the university took such moves. Lewis and Clark State College did not return a request for comment.

“Boise State is committed to serving all students,” Boise State University spokesperson Stephany Galbreaith said in an email. “We are aware of the resolutions that were presented at today’s Idaho State Board of Education meeting and will provide feedback.”

Idaho legislators scrutinize diversity

Idaho’s Republican state lawmakers have been scrutinizing diversity initiatives at universities for years, at times withholding budget approvals for colleges as they criticized offices that were involved in DEI programming. School administrators and state officials have responded by limiting equity initiatives that have become standard across the country.

The Idaho State Board of Education approved a resolution banning diversity statements for hiring at Idaho’s four-year public colleges in April 2023. That same year, legislators passed a budget bill for universities that barred state funding for diversity programs.

Efforts against DEI initiatives will likely continue in Idaho, said state Sen. Brian Lenney, R-Nampa, who co-sponsored last year’s anti-DEI bill. The other two co-sponsors did not return requests for comment.

“I’ve spent my time in the Senate pushing state bureaucrats to dismantle DEI, because not only is race-based discrimination illegal, it’s steeped in Marxism and utterly incompatible with Idaho’s values,” Lenney wrote in an email. “In 2025, we’ll ramp up our campaign, leveraging the Legislature’s hard shift to the right to completely eradicate these toxic policies.”