Restructuring of the Office of Equity and Inclusion

Message from President Robert Wagner

At Idaho State, our highest priority is to promote and support student success. This is achieved through thoughtful, intentional planning and continuous improvement, realigning programs and resources as needed to best support students as they navigate their college experience.

After careful consideration and evaluation, and discussion with members of our institutional community, the Office of Equity and Inclusion will be reorganized to better meet the needs of students, faculty, and staff through alignment and placement that connects these resources more directly with those who rely on them. The Office of Equity and Inclusion will be renamed the Office of Equal Opportunity and Title IX and will be housed within the Office of the President. Stacey Gibson will serve as the Associate Vice President for Institutional Engagement and Director of the Office of Equal Opportunity and Title IX. Programs valued by employees and students, such as bystander intervention, violence prevention and healthy relationships, will continue to be offered through this office. As part of this realignment, programs from the Diversity Resource Center and the Gender Resource Center will be integrated into broader student support services, thus dissolving the current structure of these centers. This shift allows us to consolidate efforts and provide more streamlined, impactful support for all students while adhering to state guidelines.

Along with this restructuring, I’m excited to announce the creation of the Bengal Success Center, which will play a key role in supporting academic success for all ISU students. This center is an expansion of our current student success efforts by providing enhanced resources and opportunities to meet the needs of our entire student body. The Bengal Success Center will also include the upcoming Center for Teaching and Learning and Instructional Excellence, which will focus on promoting excellence in both student learning and faculty teaching. This center will be a hub for academic growth, offering professional development for faculty and ensuring that all students have access to the tools they need to thrive throughout their educational journey at ISU. 

The Native American Student Services (NASS) programming will continue to operate within Student Affairs. Opportunities for students to advance their leadership development will remain a significant component of NASS as students will lead the planning and implementation of activities. 

On Common Ground, a recent University initiative celebrating identity and community through artistic expression, will operate under the Dean of Students in the Office of Student Affairs. This annual event is a platform for students to communicate their unique perspectives about finding belonging in the Bengal Community through creative works. 

At ISU, we believe strongly that creating a welcoming environment where every student can thrive is fundamental to our mission. Our commitment to that mission remains steadfast and guides everything we do. The Bengal Success Center will play a pivotal role in this, providing tailored academic support, fostering connections across our campus and ensuring students have the resources they need to meet their academic goals.

As always, our top priority is the success of our students. We are confident that this change will help us better fulfill our mission to serve all students and prepare them for their future careers while respecting the expectations of the broader community we serve.