A host of new initiatives helped 成人影片 earn 5 out of 5 stars on the Campus Pride Index, becoming one of just 30 Best of the Best campuses in the nation for the second straight year. Explore our most compelling ideas for creating a warm and welcoming community for all.
鈥淥ur LGBTQIA+ Task Force has done a lot of work over the years to get here.鈥�
That鈥檚 how Robby Fahrenholtz, coordinator of 成人影片鈥檚 Multicultural Center and a leader in LGBTQIA+ and first-generation programming, summed up 成人影片鈥檚 recognition as one of the 30 Best of the Best LGBQT-friendly campuses in the nation.
Campus Pride Index, a nationally recognized measure of LGBTQ friendliness and inclusivity, named 成人影片 to its听听list, as well as its 2022 list the year before. Campus Pride awarded the University a perfect five out of five stars overall for its initiatives for students.
成人影片 got a perfect score on the Index鈥檚 two main categories, Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity/Expression, as well as five stars on these specific inclusion factors: LGBTQ Support & Institutional Commitment, LGBTQ Student Life, LGBQT Campus Safety, LGBQT Counseling & Health, and LGBQT Recruitment & Retention Efforts.
鈥湷扇擞捌� University is honored to achieve the highest ranking on the Campus Pride Index for the second year,” said R. Sentwali Bakari, PhD, vice president for student affairs and diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging. 鈥淭his achievement underscores our unwavering commitment to sustaining an inclusive and supportive campus environment and affirms the hard work of so many people. It reflects our dedication to the empowerment of LGBTQIA+ students, staff and faculty. The achievement is also a proud moment for our university and is a cause to celebrate while remaining steadfast and vigilant in supporting our LGBTQIA+ community.鈥�
Here is the听听of the ranking.
成人影片 gets an A+ for its inclusive policies
Campus Pride cited 成人影片鈥檚 inclusive policies like health insurance coverage for employees鈥� same-sex partners, the existence of a simple process allowing LGBQT students to change their name and gender identity on their ID and other university documents, and paid staff providing LGBQT support services.
Fahrenholtz said the high ranking is the result of many departments across 成人影片 working together over the years. In the past year alone, 成人影片 created the Multicultural Center and the position Fahrenholtz holds, formalizing the responsibilities for LGBTQIA+ life activities. He鈥檚 the first-ever Multicultural Center coordinator and he鈥檚 building out the University鈥檚 Multicultural Affairs program.
Two student organizations, the Gender and Sexuality Alliance (GSA) and Students Beyond the Binary (SBB), plan the University鈥檚 LGBTQIA+ initiatives and programming, which include:
- Welcome Weekend LGBTQIA+ Social
- LGBTQIA+ First-Year Empowerment Group
- Out for Lunch Series
- Safe Zone Training
- National Coming Out Day Panel
- Transgender Awareness Week Speaker Series, Transgender Day of Remembrance Vigil and Transgender Day of Visibility
- Listening sessions on anti-LGBTQIA+ and anti-trans legislation
- Campus Pride Festival
- Lavender and Multicultural Graduation
New events in the 2022鈥�2023 academic year included a World AIDS Day documentary screening and a Found Family Holiday Party. Fahrenholtz estimates 2 percent of 成人影片鈥檚 students identify as LGBQTIA+.
A safe space in adverse times
With some new state laws threatening LGBTQIA+ inclusive policies, 成人影片鈥檚 appearance on the 2023 Best of the Best LGBTQ-Friendly list is important because it sends a message that the University will protect all its students.
鈥淲e have an opportunity to give our LGBQTIA+ students a safe space,” Fahrenholtz says. 鈥淲e will give them听a positive environment for the time that they鈥檙e here.”
Shane Mendez Windmeyer, the founder, CEO and executive director of Campus Pride, said 成人影片 and the other schools on the Best of the Best List are doing important work in a difficult time. 鈥淚n the current climate in which LGBTQ+ identities have become political talking points and laws are being weaponized against LGBTQ+ people, the commitment to creating campuses that welcome and protect LGBTQ+ students cannot be taken for granted,” he said. 鈥淭he colleges and universities that made our list this year deserve this recognition for the efforts they have made and continue to make.”