Ithaca College

Ithaca College has been included among the “2012 Top 10 Trans-friendly Colleges & Universities” by Campus Pride, the nation’s leading educational organization for student leaders and campus groups working to create a safer college environment for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) students. The list was compiled in collaboration with “The Advocate,” a publication that focuses on the LGBT community.

This transgender-specific resource listing was created in part from data compiled annually since 2007 in the Campus Pride Index, which takes an in-depth look at LGBT-friendly policies, programs and practices.

“Unfortunately, trans-friendly policies, programs and practices are often the ‘last frontier’ of creating a truly LGBT-friendly campus,” said Shane Windmeyer, executive director of Campus Pride. “These campuses, however, are forward-thinking and doing an excellent job to ensure the safety and well-being of transgender students on campus. All students deserve to feel safe on campus, and now other colleges know that these are the campuses to look to when it comes to trans-friendly best practices.”

The rest of the top 10 list includes New York University; Princeton University; University of California, Los Angeles; University of California, Riverside; University of Massachusetts, Amherst; University of Michigan, Ann Arbor; University of Oregon; University of Pennsylvania; and University of Vermont.

The profile on Ithaca notes that — with on-campus housing issues a critical concern for transgender students — the college has instituted a special housing process whereby a trans student can indicate the best living situation for them, and the college will seek to accommodate their request. IC has further distinguished itself by establishing a program in its speech clinic to assist male-to-female and female-to-male transgender people who are transitioning to have their voices sound more like other people of their gender.

Ithaca College has consistently ranked highly in the Campus Pride Index and was listed last spring as having one of the nation’s 10 most LGBT-friendly college sports programs. In 2011, the college’s Center for LGBT Education, Outreach, and Services celebrated its 10th anniversary. The center actively fosters the academic success and personal growth of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students and offers college-wide services to enhance the campus community’s understanding and appreciation of LGBT people and themes.

For more information on Campus Pride, visit www.CampusPride.org.