Lawmakers get their first look at proposed DEI restrictions

A proposal to limit diversity, equity and inclusion programs is a response to a years-long “pendulum shift” in higher education policy, Joshua Whitworth, executive director of the State Board of Education, said Monday.

But while Whitworth insisted the policy would not restrict access to student assistance programs, Senate Minority Leader Melissa Wintrow was skeptical. And she said she has received more than 50 emails in the last two days from students with similar concerns.

“They are afraid of the things you deny them,” Wintrow, D-Boise, told Whitworth. “And maybe they will leave.”

The Legislature’s DEI task force is scheduled to meet again the week of Jan. 6, the first week of the 2025 session.

A legislative DEI working group met for its second meeting at the Statehouse Monday morning. While the eight-member committee has not proposed any legislation — and likely won’t do so until the 2025 legislative session begins in five weeks — the state board introduced its own proposal to curb DEI programs in November. Monday’s meeting gave the legislative task force its first opportunity to discuss this proposal.

In most cases, the state board’s guidelines would prohibit a “central office, policy, procedure, or initiative” for DEI programs. The state would establish several exceptions — including language to comply with federal research grant rules and language to comply with NCAA requirements.

Broadly speaking, the state’s colleges and universities would be open “success centers” open to all students and 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 expressed support for the idea of ​​providing equal access to all students, rather than programs tailored to specific student groups.

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

Whitworth said he was not aware of any specific complaints about access to campus support programs. However, he suggested that students should not complain and simply stay away from groups that don’t seem to fit them. “Would a man go to a women’s center?”

Wintrow, the only Democrat on the task force, responded sharply. In 2000, Wintrow was hired as the first full-time director of Boise State’s Women’s Center. Within the first week, the center received calls 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 accreditation group complains about “false narrative” about DEI

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

Many of the questions centered on the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities’ accreditation standards, and there was concern that the regional agency was imposing DEI policies on Idaho schools.

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

Accreditation bodies allow their member schools to define their own core values. And the U.S. Department of Education would take action against any accreditation group that exceeds that limit, Ramaswamy said.

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

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

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

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

At some point on Monday, Ehardt floated the idea of ​​switching to another accreditation body.

“We are not arguing that anyone needs to stay with us,” said Selena Grace, NWCCU executive vice president.