A new anti-DEI law could affect six academic programs at the University of Idaho.
Meanwhile, the U of I is reviewing all staff job descriptions “to ensure they meet the letter and spirit of the law,” university administrators said in a memo to employees Tuesday.
The memo comes just one week after Senate Bill 1198 officially went into effect. Passed on the final day of the 2025 legislative session, the controversial law outlaws campus diversity, equity and inclusion programs — banning DEI offices, DEI officers and preferential hiring and admissions.
The U of I and other Idaho universities have already closed DEI-based student support centers, in response to a State Board of Education policy passed in December. But as Tuesday’s memo illustrates, complying with this year’s far-reaching DEI law will be a more complicated process.
“A team of leaders is working to identify and correct any violations or perceived violations with the law,” said the memo, co-signed by U of I President C. Scott Green, Provost Torrey Lawrence and Vice President for Finance and Administration Brian Foisy.
The memo, obtained by Idaho EdNews Wednesday, spells out several potential trouble spots:
Academics. After a preliminary review, U of I officials spotted six programs that could be affected by the new law. The memo does not mention any programs by name, and Idaho EdNews has asked the U of I for more details.
“This fall, we’ll work closely with faculty in these programs to review degree requirements and understand how the new law might affect them,” administrators said in the memo.
Idaho colleges and universities have already sought 11 exemptions to the law — covering required summer courses that have a DEI component, and cannot be replaced by a course with no DEI component. The U of I asked the State Board for an exemption, for its women’s, gender and sexuality studies minor.
Job descriptions. The U of I will need to update some faculty job descriptions; the memo does say how many descriptions will need a rewrite. Meanwhile, the memo says, “Many (staff) job descriptions use words targeted by the law.”
Website. The U of I is redoing its website later this summer, which will give the university a chance to bring the site into compliance.
“Our university website contains many references that could be seen to violate the law. … Many are historical references to old catalogs or degree outlines.”