A national organization that works to create a safer environment for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) students has included Ithaca College on its list of the top 50 LGBT-friendly colleges and universities. The listing by Campus Pride highlights the positive efforts to improve safety and academic life for LGBT students as well as the institutions leading the way.
The ranking is based on responses to the Campus Pride Index, a national benchmarking tool which self-assesses LGBT-friendly policies, programs and practices. In previous years, the nonprofit organization had only released a top 25 list.
“For six years in a row, Campus Pride has seen an increase in the number of campuses coming out as LGBT-friendly and making notable improvements to LGBT academic life, so we decided to honor 50 campuses with our national distinction,” said Shane Windmeyer, executive director of Campus Pride. “Today the Campus Pride Index has over 425 campuses featured online, and for the first time ever we have 56 campuses who achieved the highest 5 stars overall rating, the largest number to date.”
Ithaca College is among the institutions receiving 5 stars overall as well as 5 stars in each of the eight LGBT-friendly benchmarks, which include such areas as policy inclusion, support and institutional commitment, housing, safety, and counseling and health.
For more information on the Campus Pride Index and the top 50 list, visit www.campuspride.org. For more information on the Ithaca College Center for LGBT Education, Outreach, and Services, visit www.ithaca.edu/lgbt.
https://www.ithaca.edu/intercom/article.php/20140825173121191