Ahead of Idaho board's vote on DEI resolution, Boise State shutters its equity centers

Carolyn Komatsoulis, Idaho Statesman on Dec 11, 2024

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Boise State University closed its Gender Equity and Student Equity centers, the school said in an email to students, ahead of a State Board of Education vote on limiting diversity, equity and inclusion programs at Idaho colleges.

DEI programs, which surged in popularity during 2020’s racial reckonings, have been facing backlash. The State Board met last month to discuss a proposed resolution that would ensure no central office, policy, procedure or initiative is dedicated to DEI. Instead, student success centers must be dedicated to all students under the proposal.

“We all have heard the conversations taking place this year across the nation related to diversity, equity and inclusion and higher education,” Boise State officials wrote in the email. “We remain steadfast in our commitment to serving all students while seeking to be responsive to our governing board’s expectations.”

The equity centers’ websites listed a 404 “page not found” error message on Wednesday. A Boise State University spokesperson declined to make anyone available for an interview but said that no staff would lose their jobs because of the change in direction.

Boise State is launching a Student Connections and Support Center, the email said, and the university’s plans include a program for first-generation students.

However, Boise State in the email acknowledged the work done by staff in those centers, which “impacted the lives of thousands of students.” The school is organizing a celebration in the spring to document the impact of the centers.

“I was mainly surprised” at the decision to close the centers, Jyoti Shrestha, a freshman at Boise State, told the Idaho Statesman. “I think it really helps people. It’s sad to see it go.”

The DEI-limiting resolution hasn’t been approved, but there already have been effects. Last month, Idaho State University announced that the school was restructuring its programs even before a State Board meeting to discuss the measure.

Idaho State also announced the creation of a Bengal Success Center. The university restructured its office of equity and inclusion, and said Native American Student Services would continue to operate within Student Affairs.

The University of Idaho is waiting on the board to finalize the resolution “so we can ensure we are in compliance”, according to U of I spokesperson Jodi Walker.

The moves echo discussion from the board’s Nov. 21 meeting, when member Kurt Liebich said that programs supporting Native Americans, veterans and first-generation students were “really important.”

“For a student to be successful in college, they need two things. One, they need the academic support,” Liebich said at the time. “But they also need to be able to find their people.”

Idaho’s Republican state legislators, led by those on the far right, have been scrutinizing and targeting diversity initiatives at universities for years, according to previous Statesman reporting. Those efforts likely will continue, state Sen. Brian Lenney, R-Nampa, told the Statesman.

The general public can send comments to board@edu.idaho.gov, spokesperson Mike Keckler said. The resolution is expected on the agenda for the Dec. 18 board meeting.