Ithaca College

Ithaca College is among only 19 schools nationwide to earn five stars — the highest rating — in the Campus Pride Climate Index National Assessment Tool. Campus Pride is a national nonprofit organization that works to create a safer environment for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) college students.

The index takes an in-depth look at LGBT-friendly policies, programs and practices at over 230 colleges and universities. The institutions are ranked from one to five stars, depending on their answers to a detailed, voluntary questionnaire submitted to Campus Pride. The annual index has become a staple in student and faculty research, campus organizing efforts and benchmarking for LGBT student safety and inclusion.Other institutions earning the five-star rating include Princeton University, the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Vermont, Carleton College, Oberlin College and the University of California, Berkeley.

Ithaca’s rating reflects the exceptional commitment and contributions of students, staff and faculty who together have created a campus community that honors and values sexual and gender diversity.

In the individual categories that make up the rating, Ithaca College scored particularly high for LGBT support and institutional commitment, student life, academic life, campus safety, and counseling and health.

To read the Ithaca College entry, visit http://www.campusclimateindex.org.