Overview
The Board of Trustees of BYU-Idaho requires every student to have a current ecclesiastical endorsement to faithfully abide by the principles of the Honor Code. An ecclesiastical leader may withdraw a student's endorsement at any time or may decline to endorse a continuing student if the leader determines that the student is no longer eligible for the endorsement.
If an endorsement is withdrawn, or if a Continuing Ecclesiastical Endorsement (CEE) is denied, no confessional information is exchanged without authorization from the student.
The withdrawal of a student's ecclesiastical endorsement automatically results in no longer being eligible for enrollment or graduation even if they have completed all necessary coursework.
Excommunication or disaffiliation from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints automatically results in the withdrawal of the student's ecclesiastical endorsement.
Disaffiliation is defined (for purposes of this policy) as the removal of an individual's name from the official records of the Church.
Process for Requesting an Exception
The decision to withdraw an ecclesiastical endorsement or to deny a CEE may only be reviewed through appropriate ecclesiastical leaders. As a matter of practice, BYU-Idaho does not intervene in ecclesiastical matters or endorsements. However, a student may petition the Dean of Students Office to allow an exception to the ecclesiastical endorsement requirement. This exception does not affect the withdrawn endorsement. If granted, it only allows the student to finish the current semester. As part of the petition, the student must:
(i) contact the Dean of Students Office to request an exception;
(ii) prepare a written statement outlining the reasons why the university should allow an exception;
(iii) within 10 days of receiving notice that the ecclesiastical endorsement has been withdrawn or that a CEE has been denied; and
(iv) submit the written statement to the Dean of Students Office for consideration.
Petition for Exception Policy
When considering the petition, the Dean of Students will determine whether the student has observed and continues to observe the standards of the Honor Code or has demonstrated other reasons to warrant an exception to the university's ecclesiastical endorsement requirement.
The Dean of Students Office will not review the ecclesiastical leader's decision to withdraw or deny the endorsement or the process of making that decision. The Dean of Students and other university officials will not discuss confidential matters with the student's present or former ecclesiastical leaders unless the student voluntarily signs a Permission to Exchange Information allowing that communication.
The Dean of Students may also personally interview the student who may explain the circumstances and might justify an exception to the ecclesiastical endorsement requirement. The student is responsible for proving themselves to abide by the Honor Code with the exception of an ecclesiastical endorsement. If requested by the student, The Dean of Students' decision regarding the petition will be reviewed by the Vice President of Student Life, which that decision is final.
The Admissions Office provides a separate process for applicants who cannot obtain an ecclesiastical endorsement as part of their application for admission to the university.