University leaders describe reorganization of diversity offices after state resolution

Senators asked university presidents about the practical effects of a recent State Board resolution on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs at Idaho campuses. Presidents described different responses at their institutions, including office closures, restructured positions and new student-success efforts.

Senator Tammy Nichols asked for a status update on the resolution and its campus impacts. Dr. Cynthia Pemberton, president of Lewis-Clark State College, said LC State has not had a system of DEI “centers,” so it has seen limited impact; she noted the college’s Native American Veterans Center and an Accessibility Services Center continue to serve students.

“LC State really doesn't have any centers, so there has been no impact,” Pemberton said, adding that the college had continued veterans and accessibility services.

Boise State President Marlene Tromp said the institution anticipated board action and had already reorganized some functions. Tromp told the committee Boise State closed the Blue Sky Institute in July 2024 and the Build Institute in October 2024; she said Veterans Services remains available and that student-support programs were being redesigned to serve students broadly.

“At Boise State we’ve been rethinking how we served our students and how we serve the community,” Tromp said, describing institution-wide changes that, she said, were intended to preserve services for veterans and other student groups while aligning with board guidance.

University of Idaho President Scott Green described a broader reorganization at his campus: he told the committee the institution moved some offices and reallocated positions in advance of the board deadline, including dissolving several named office positions and refocusing staff into campuswide student-success units. Green described new programs such as the Vandal Success and First-Generation student support units and said those efforts aim to help students navigate financial aid, tutoring and retention services.

Idaho State University President Robert Wagner said ISU renamed and relocated compliance and equity functions, moving the Office of Equal Opportunity and Title IX to report to the president’s office, closing a diversity resource center and a gender resource center, and moving the affected full-time employees into student-involvement and compliance roles. Wagner said ISU created a new Bengal Success Center focused on academic success and faculty development.

Committee members raised concerns about oversight, the preservation of student services, and whether reductions in specialized centers would reduce support for rural, first-generation or vulnerable students. Several presidents said their institutions were attempting to preserve services through reorganization rather than eliminating support entirely.

The presidents answered follow-up questions from senators and said that, while implementation details vary by campus, student-support services remain a high priority.