Lawmakers get their first look at proposed DEI restrictions

BOISE (Idaho Ed News) — A proposal to restrict diversity, equity and inclusion programs responds to a years-long “pendulum shift” on higher education politics, State Board of Education executive director Joshua Whitworth said Monday.

But while Whitworth insisted the policy will not limit access to student support programs, Senate Minority Leader Melissa Wintrow was skeptical. And over the past two days, she said she has received more than 50 emails from students with similar concerns.

“They are scared about the things you are denying them,” Wintrow, D-Boise, told Whitworth. “And maybe they will leave.”

A legislative DEI task force reconvened at the Statehouse Monday morning for its second meeting. While the eight-member committee has unveiled no proposed bills — and probably won’t before the 2025 legislative session begins in five weeks — the State Board in November unveiled its own proposal to rein in DEI programs. Monday’s meeting gave the legislative task force its first chance to discuss this proposal.

In most cases, the State Board policy would ban a “central office, policy, procedure or initiative” dedicated to DEI programs. The state would write up several exceptions — including language to meet federal research grant rules and language to comply with NCAA requirements.

By and large, the state’s colleges and universities would be open “success centers” that are open to all students, offering everything from mental health counseling to academic support.

“This is about better practices or newer practices,” Whitworth said.

The State Board is still reviewing the proposal, and it’s unclear when the board might vote on it. But on Monday, two Republican committee members voiced support for the idea of offering equal access to all students, instead of programs geared toward specific student groups.

“It’s that exclusion … that has gotten us here,” said Rep. Barbara Ehardt, R-Idaho Falls.

Whitworth said he knew of no specific complaints about access to campus support programs. But he suggested that students might not complain, and simply stay away from groups that don’t seem to fit them. “Would a man go to a women’s center?”

That drew a sharp response from Wintrow, the task force’s lone Democrat. In 2000, Wintrow was hired as the first full-time director at Boise State’s women’s center. Within the first week, a student came in and reported she was raped. In Wintrow’s time at the center, she took reports from two men who said they had been raped by other men.

“Thank God I was there to help them,” Wintrow said.

Head of regional accrediting group decries ‘false narrative’ on DEI

Task force members spent part of Monday’s meeting grilling leaders from the region’s accrediting body.

Many of the questions drilled down on the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities’ accreditation standards, and nagging concerns that the regional body imposes DEI guidelines on Idaho schools.

“It’s a false narrative,” NWCCU President Sonny Ramaswamy said.

Accrediting bodies let their member schools define their own core values. And the U.S. Department of Education would come down on any accrediting group that steps over that line, Ramaswamy said.

Lawmakers were clearly skeptical. And several pointed to DEI language in the accrediting group’s statement of core values: “We believe there is strength in our differences and that opportunities to succeed are afforded every individual.”

Repeatedly, Rep. Dale Hawkins, R-Fernwood, asked Ramaswamy if he believed colleges and universities should embrace similar language. Repeatedly, Ramaswamy avoided the question.

“I use data and evidence,” he said. “I don’t use beliefs.”

NWCCU is a key player in Idaho higher education. It’s the accrediting body for all of Idaho’s public two- and four-year colleges and universities, and private institutions such as The College of Idaho and Brigham Young University-Idaho.

At one point Monday, Ehardt floated the idea of switching to a different accrediting body.

“We don’t argue that anyone has to stay with us,” said Selena Grace, NWCCU’s executive vice president.