‘Waste of time’ vs. ‘key resource’: How Idaho students view now-hindered DEI programs
The Idaho State Board of Education voted unanimously Wednesday to limit diversity, equity and inclusion policies at Idaho colleges.
Already, Idaho State University and Boise State University had closed or restructured equity programs on campus. School officials said Wednesday that they took those actions because of Idaho’s political climate.
“We felt like there was an opportunity for our institution to make changes that we could control,” Idaho State President Robert Wagner said. “To make changes that meant that individuals who care about students and are working very, very hard are not going to all of a sudden lose their jobs at the end of the legislative session.”
Boise State President Marlene Tromp told the board it “grieves” her that the work to support students has been “profoundly misunderstood and misconstrued.”
“Seeing laws enacted and enforced across the country prohibiting many kinds of student support efforts, and given our state’s strong stance on these issues and the reactive disruptions to services for students that we saw on many campuses, we wanted to work thoughtfully to ensure that we continue to serve all students,” Tromp said.
University of Idaho President C. Scott Green said he was “disappointed but not surprised,” and recognized the “broader national and state political dynamics” in play for the board.
The resolution defined “DEI ideology” as any approach that elevates “personal identity characteristics” over merit.
“Institutions shall not establish or maintain a central office, policy, procedure, or initiative that promotes DEI ideology,” the resolution said. “Institutions shall ensure that no student resource or student success center serves students based on DEI ideology.”
It’s unclear exactly how much will change under the resolution.
Lewis-Clark State College President Cynthia Pemberton said school operations will not be impacted. Idaho State’s president said the school was reorganizing where programs come from but not eliminating any.
However, at the University of Idaho, Green told the board it will take some time to fully meet the needs of students.
On Wednesday, Green sent a letter to students and employees outlining a new student engagement center. All offices in U of I’s Equity and Diversity unit will close by the beginning of the spring semester, the email said. However, that unit’s employees will keep their jobs.
“The pressure around DEI programs has been building for several years,” Green wrote. “Leadership has looked at outcomes in other states and various ways of supporting students and we believe we can support all students and meet the political expectations of our state.”
The resolution also came with guidance outlining exceptions to the resolution. For example, colleges can establish centers for indigenous students, people with disabilities and veterans. Schools can also do what they need to maintain grant eligibility and comply with NCAA requirements, like recruiting students from underrepresented backgrounds. Universities will still be able to offer scholarships to people from underserved communities.
Hundreds of students submitted feedback to oppose the proposal by the State Board of Education.
Idaho Republicans this past legislative session proposed a bill that would have barred DEI programs in the state’s public universities. Though the bill never became law, GOP legislators have since continued to denounce the initiatives and state their intent to target them this coming session.
DEI programs grew popular after a national racial reckoning over the death of Black man George Floyd at the hands of police. Despite facing backlash from Republican lawmakers everywhere, the DEI initiatives remained popular among Idaho’s university students, the state’s student feedback portal showed.
The portal received more than 700 responses, with the majority of them opposed to the resolution. Students said people from marginalized communities needed support to succeed, and that these programs helped with graduation and retention rates. DEI centers and spaces were welcoming to all, even those who aren’t from a particular background, several students said.
“DEI is such a key resource for countless students that attend these institutions,” one student wrote. “Getting rid of it would be an enormous mistake, and would negatively affect more people than most are aware.”
Some students said the DEI initiatives helped them deal with an abusive ex, “persist” in their journey, get counseling, work, learn about the world and find warm winter clothes.
About 150 responses agreed with eliminating DEI programs. Many of them argued that merit was more important than identity. Some said students shouldn’t be divided, and that these programs were helping to inflate the cost of attendance.
“The DEI department is a complete waste of time and resources,” one DEI opponent wrote.
Some students were mixed: They saw a need to address DEI on campus, but felt the resolution went too far. In one response, a student said they understood the concerns but felt that the resolution fell into the same trap of “leaning into identity politics and missing the mark of the issue.”
“While it is understandable to not require DEI statements, programs, units, etc. at universities, I am opposed to outright banning them,” another response said. “Institutions should be allowed to create and enforce their own policies and programs related to diversity and inclusion since this does not oppose the rights of students.”
The feedback from students “informed” revisions to the resolution, according to the Wednesday agenda. The updated resolution added a section that said the board “recognizes and values” the diversity of Idahoans and expects universities to “foster a campus culture that appreciates and reflects this diversity.”
The resolution requires Idaho universities to eliminate their DEI initiatives by June 30, 2025.
This story was originally published December 18, 2024 at 4:00 AM.
