Boise State University shuttered its Student Equity Center and the Gender Equity Center over Thanksgiving break, reported KTVB, an NBC-affiliated station in Boise, Idaho.
University administrators told students Tuesday in an email, which KTVB obtained, that the centers were closed on Nov. 29. The email suggested that the decision was made to get ahead of an upcoming State Board of Education vote on a resolution to curtail diversity, equity and inclusion efforts at colleges and universities. Introduced Nov. 21, the resolution would “ensure that no central offices, policies, procedures, or initiatives are dedicated to DEI activities,” and that student success centers are “dedicated to all students.” The board is expected to vote next Wednesday, Idaho Ed News reported.
Boise State administrators told students they planned to create a new Student Connections and Support Center.
“We all have heard the conversations taking place this year across the nation related to diversity, equity and inclusion and higher education,” the email read. “The Idaho State Board of Education has developed resolutions for Idaho universities, and we have provided feedback. We remain steadfast in our commitment to serving all students while seeking to be responsive to our governing board’s expectations.”
Other Idaho universities are scaling back on DEI language as well. Robert Wagner, president of Idaho State University, announced on Nov. 14, before the resolution was introduced, that he planned to change the name of the Office of Equity and Inclusion to the Office of Equal Opportunity and Title IX. He said programs currently provided by the Diversity Resource Center and the Gender Resource Center would be integrated into broader student supports.
