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Policy Updates for August 2025

Policy Office transition

Angie Zirschky has moved into the Office of Compliance and Ethics as the Compliance Director and ADA/504 Coordinator. Amaia Guerricabeitia has assumed the Policy Manager role on an interim basis. Policy-related questions can be directed to Guerricabeitia at policyinfo@boisestate.edu or (208) 426-1256. 

Approved Policy Revisions

  • University Course Numbering (Policy 4090): This policy revision deletes section 3.3, which allowed upper-division courses numbered at 300 or 400 levels to be given a “G” designation for graduate credit. Section 3.2 was added to reflect the current practice of assigning university-wide course numbers for specific types of courses (workshops, internships, etc.) used by all departments regardless of the subject/prefix associated with the course. Lastly, a Policy Statement was added.
  • Evaluation and Performance Management of Academic Administrators (Policy 4530) : The revised policy introduces principles of consistency in evaluation across all levels of academic administrators, including associate deans and vice provosts, ensuring alignment with Policy 4520 (Dean Evaluation). This revision seeks to establish a comprehensive and equitable framework for evaluation, aligning with Boise State University’s strategic objectives and current leadership roles. The revision is informed by best practices from the American Association of University Professors (AAUP), benchmarks from other Idaho institutions, and current trends in academic leadership evaluation.
  • Clinical Faculty (Policy 4490) : This policy adds section 6.7, which allows units to offer faculty development leave for non-tenure-track faculty, depending on department, school, and/or college policies and availability of funding. Units are not required to offer such leave.
  • Teaching Faculty (Policy 4730): This policy adds section 6.5, which allows units to offer faculty development leave for non-tenure-track faculty, depending on department, school, and/or college policies and availability of funding. Units are not required to offer such leave.
  • University Signage (Policy 9100): This policy revision removes a standing representative from University Advancement for the University Sign Committee and instead allows for a representative from the Boise State University Foundation to be included, as needed, if the signage implates gift and donor relations.
  • Maintaining Effective Learning Environments (Policy 3240): This policy was significantly revised to provide a temporary dismissal process from the learning environment and a permanent course dismissal process. The permanent dismissal process requires the instructor to submit a statement of facts to the department chair, the college dean, and the Office of the Dean of Students. The instructor must then notify the student via their student email of the dismissal. Additionally, student responsibilities were also added, requiring the student to comply immediately with the instructor’s directive and to meet with their instructor to review the dismissal and identify the conditions for returning to the learning environment. Lastly, section 7 was added, outlining an automatic procedural review process by the Office of the Dean of Students for all permanent dismissals.
  • Telecommuting (Policy 7600): This policy was significantly revised primarily to ensure that employees who are telecommuting outside the state of Idaho complete a telecommuting agreement form. Employees who work outside the state of Idaho are subject to different state tax laws and other employment-related laws, such as additional leave benefits, etc. Completing the telecommuting agreement form ensures that HR/Payroll has the employee set up correctly for state taxing purposes and knows if other employment-related laws apply.
  • Emeritus Classified and Professional Employees (Policy 7480) : This policy was revised to add a nomination process under section 3.2. Previously, any classified or professional staff member who completed the form was granted emeritus status. This did not reflect the spirit or intent of granting emeritus status for retirees who have made substantial contributions to the university, nor did it align with the faculty emeritus status nomination process and eligibility criteria.
  • Reporting Waste, Violations of Law, Rule, Regulation, or University Policy (Policy 7030) : This policy has not been reviewed since 2013. While a number of revisions were made, the majority of the changes mirror the language in Idaho Code Title 6, Chapter 21 (Idaho Protection of Public Employees Act). The exception to this is the language under Section 4.b. where the ways to report are listed. Several reporting options are listed, including anonymous reporting, to help support employees who need to make a good-faith report.
  • 293/493 Internships and 590 Practicum/Internships (Policy 3060): The policy was revised to add the following substantive changes. Added department and internship coordinator responsibilities to the policy in addition to their authorities. Clarified what department minimum GPA requirements mean- Minimum GPA requirements do not automatically disqualify a student from doing an internship but rather should prompt a conversation between the student and internship coordinator. Added the elements of high impact experiential learning developed and vetted by our Experiential Learning Network to an internship. 
  • Capital Projects and Space Management (Policy 9280): The revised policy makes broad changes to project planning, space management, and approval processes. The definition of Preventative Maintenance was updated to align with state code. The former Facilities Planning Council was replaced with the Facilities and Space Planning Allocation Committee, which now has outlined responsibilities and membership. Capital project procedures were adjusted to require higher levels of approval before review, with additional leadership involvement for large projects. Financial thresholds for exemptions, presidential review, and external council oversight were all increased. New sections were added to address capital project fees and research space allocations, including the creation of a research space advisory committee. Space allocation procedures were also updated so that Campus Operations reviews requests and provides recommendations before they are considered by the FSPA Committee.
  • Animals on Campus (Policy 9160) : This policy was revised to create a request and approval process for bringing a pet to the employee’s office area. Currently, there is no process around this, which creates liability for the university should the animal bite someone or cause damage to university property. In addition, it placed more burden on employees and students requesting Emotional Support Animals and, in some instances, Service Animals.
  • Clery Act Compliance (Policy 12000): This policy was reviewed under the four-year review cycle, resulting in several substantive changes. Under “Additional Authority,” the title of the Jeanne Clery Campus Safety Act was updated. The policy statement was revised to add hazing to the list of reportable statistics in compliance with the Stop Campus Hazing Act. In section 4.2.2, hazing was also included as a reportable crime statistic that must be documented in the Annual Security and Fire Safety Report. Additionally, a new section was added outlining procedures for reporting and investigating hazing incidents.
  • Naming University Facilities and Programs (Policy 11000): This policy was revised primarily to remove the Vice President for University Advancement as a responsible party and to update their role on the Naming Committee. It also adds the Boise State University Foundation Service Agreement as an additional authority reference. Under section 4, a representative from the Foundation may now participate on the committee only in their role under the Service Agreement for fundraising, and the Treasurer was added to the committee due to their responsibility for bond compliance. Section 5.1 was also updated to require the Naming Committee to approve names that follow established conventions for mountain ranges, rivers, and trees, while naming of semi-permanent or small buildings under 5,000 square feet must be reviewed and approved by Campus Operations.
  • Donor Records (Policy 11050): This policy was revised, changing the responsible party on the policies from University Advancement to the Office of the President. The Vice President for University Advancement’s title was also changed throughout to the CEO of the University Foundation.
  • Alumni Association Chapter Recognition (Policy 11040): This policy was revised, changing the responsible party on the policies from University Advancement to the Office of the President. The Vice President for University Advancement’s title was also changed throughout to the CEO of the University Foundation.

Approved New Policies

  • Assessment of Faculty Teaching (Policy 4750): Boise State University created this policy to establish a consistent, fair, and transparent framework for evaluating faculty teaching. With most faculty engaged in teaching but no prior university-wide standards, the policy moves beyond sole reliance on student evaluations by requiring multiple forms of evidence. It aligns with Faculty Senate revisions to ensure evaluations are multidimensional, incorporating instructional artifacts and professional development alongside feedback from students, peers, and supervisors. The policy also formalizes existing departmental practices, clarifies expectations for faculty with heavy teaching roles, and provides consistency across departments in how teaching is assessed.