March 20, 2021
Earlier this week, Boise State University issued the following statement regarding the recent suspension of UF 200 classes:
We have been made aware of a series of concerns, culminating in allegations that a student or students have been humiliated and degraded in class on our campus for their beliefs and values. This is never acceptable; it is not what Boise State stands for; and we will not tolerate this behavior.
Given the weight of cumulative concerns, we have determined that, effective immediately, we must suspend UF 200. In conjunction with academic leadership, we will determine next steps to ensure that everyone is still able to complete the course over the coming week and will communicate with all students in these classes. While an in-depth review of this course was already underway, we must be responsive to these specific allegations and ensure that this and all our courses live up to this standard of mutual respect.
Further, we will develop and deliver a series of professional development sessions for faculty on fostering learning environments characterized by mutual respect.
Finally, we have created a purpose-specific mid-term evaluation for students in UF 200 that will invite all enrolled students to share their experience as members of the course community. As always, students have multiple options for reporting instructor bias, including anonymous reporting.
Boise State University is committed to ensuring that each and every one of our students is treated with respect, and that all have the right to hold and to voice their own personal and political beliefs. Our campus is richer, and learning is made more effective because people of all backgrounds and beliefs are invited to meet, exchange ideas, and learn together.
Boise State students have multiple options for reporting, including:
1) File an Academic Grievance, triggering a review under Boise State Policy 3140.
2) Report bias based on a protected class to Institutional Compliance, triggering an investigation under Boise State’s Non-Discrimination and Anti-Harassment Policy
3) Submit a CARE report, initiating a review of the complaint by the Dean of Students
4) Students who wish to report concerns anonymously may do so through Boise State’s Compliance Reporting Hotline.
Reporting options and resources are also found on the university’s Report a Concern website.
