Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) efforts have been sewn into the administration of Boise State University, and the university just can’t resist the urge to keep growing its DEI bureaucracy. Not only does it dedicate more staff to the DEI cause than any other public university in Idaho, but it has also begun seeking a new Vice Provost of Inclusion and Belonging. This hire will be the highest-ranking DEI official in the entire Idaho higher education system and signifies Boise State’s desire to take the lead in advancing this pernicious ideology across the state.
Boise State’s new Vice Provost for Inclusion and Belonging will be tasked with leading Academic Affairs so that DEI is even more systematically embedded into campus culture. Boise State first advertised for the Vice Provost for Equity and Inclusion in 2020. The university canceled its search in the face of determined legislative opposition. The 2020 House rejected BSU’s budget by a 47-23 margin, in fact, insisting on substantial budget cuts and ordering the university to return to its core educational mission.
Now, BSU is back for another bite at the apple. It began advertising for a Vice Provost for Inclusion and Belonging on December 22, 2022. The application closes on January 31, 2023. The university is hoping for a different result this session.
Is a Vice Provost for Inclusion and Belonging different from a Vice Provost dedicated to Equity and Inclusion from 2020? Almost every Provost around the country has a title like Vice President of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion or Chief Diversity Officer. Why is Boise State hiring a VP for Inclusion and Belonging? Answer: BSU has long thought legislators are scared of the D-Word, Diversity, so they refrain from using that word. They also think they can fool legislators into thinking this is some novel position unlike any in the country, concerned with “inclusion and belonging” but not with “diversity and equity.”
A closer look at the job description shows BSU’s true intentions. The new Vice Provost will work closely with the university’s highest-ranking officials, including Boise State President Marlene Tromp, the Provost, Deans, and Human Resources to create an “equitable and inclusive environment for all.” The Vice Provost will ensure “inclusive teaching practices” are adopted into the curriculum and promote an “inclusive and equitable environment” through discriminatory programs such as affirmative action. Equity? Check.
Candidates are also required to answer questions about their commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in their job applications. The application asks candidates, “Do you have employment history, scholarship or academic training in areas fostering diverse, equitable and inclusive environments?” Diversity? Check.
The Idaho Legislature previously cut the higher education budget by $2.5 million for advancing DEI, with $1 million of the cuts targeted at Boise State. The Legislature should once again awaken to fight the woke and stop the spread of this poisonous ideology. A wide-awake Legislature would demand a thorough and fair accounting of all DEI initiatives and administrative positions at Boise State and cut off the ideological rot devouring the university. Examples of such courage can be found in Texas and Florida. Idaho can do it, too.
