Idaho Higher Ed Gets New Rules on Diversity

In a recent move, Idaho's higher education institutions got new guidelines. The Idaho State Board of Education unanimously approved new policies. These policies say "no" to DEI ideology – which stands for diversity, equity, and inclusion. They don't want these ideas to take the spotlight away from individual merit. The board members support diversity, equity, and inclusion but think DEI ideology should be limited. Kurt Liebich, a board member, asked, "When did inclusion become a bad thing? We want students to feel included and belong on our campuses. " University leaders had mixed feelings. They think they can keep offering services, just in different forms. Some students and staff worry about how effective these services will be now. A big change is that universities can't have student centers focused on DEI ideology. The idea is to support all students together, not just ones from specific backgrounds. Some universities, like Idaho State University and Boise State University, have already closed certain student centers and are planning new ones. There were 687 comments from students about the new policies. Around 80% were against them, especially the part about student centers. The board made some changes based on this feedback. The new policies will start on June 30, 2025.