Campus Pride’s “Factors to Consider in Choosing a University”

by Shane L. Windmeyer

Now is your time. Your anxious to move on. You have been waiting a lifetime for the next momentous step. There are so many questions:

• What do you want to be?
• Do you move far away? 
• Where do you live?
• Who does your laundry? 
• Where will you get the money?

The time is here. You are leaving high school and looking for the right match of a college/university.

But, what your looking for is not quite as clear — rather it is quite queer.  You want to find the perfect campus match that offers services surrounding lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning (LGBTQ) issues.  Things like queer studies classes, gay student groups, local gay hang-outs, gay support resources, gay supportive policies, or even a drag show. These are sadly not typically topics that come up on your official tour of campus… unless you ask!?

Finding a college or university that supports LGBTQ students can be exceedingly difficult–even for a potential student who has been openly gay in high school.  Closeted students even have a greater issue due to the fact that they are often fearful of asking such questions or being identified as LGBTQ.

Nevertheless, more colleges and universities are coming forward to create safer learning environments and are finding innovative ways to extend a rainbow welcome for LGBT students.  The choice for college can be quite queer if you know how to look and what questions to ask.

The following are key factors to determining the inclusiveness of a college or university to LGBTQ issues.  Use these key factors and suggested questions to  help determine the queer choice for you.

1. LGBTQ Policy Inclusion

Quite simply, if the college or university does not have policies that prohibit discrimination toward LGBT students, then leave quickly.  Such lack of inclusion in policy is your first warning sign.

Questions to ask:

• Does your campus include sexual orientation in the written non-discrimination policy statement?
• Does your campus include sexual orientation in written statements about diversity and multiculturalism?
• Does your campus include gender identity/expression in the written non-discrimination policy statement?
• Does your campus include gender identity/expression in written statements about diversity and multiculturalism?
• Does your campus provide domestic partner benefits for LGBT employees with same-sex partners and, or their families?

2. LGBTQ Support & Institutional Commitment

A big opportunity to gain major points on your gaydar scale to the perfect queer campus will be the level of LGBTQ support and institutional commitment.  You have to look a listen closely and ask more involved questions to find out truly how where the campus falls.  Do they get an A+ grade or a solid F grade?

Questions to ask:

• Does your campus have a Safe Zone program or Safe Space program (e.g. an ongoing network of visible people on campus who identify openly as allies for LGBTQ people and concerns)?
• Does your campus have a professional staff person who is employed to increase campus awareness of LGBTQ concerns/issues as part of his/her job description?
• Does your campus have a LGBTQ concerns office or an LGBTQ student resource center (e.g. an institutionally funded space specifically for LGBTQ education and support services)? If No, does your campus have another office or resource center that deals actively with LGBTQ issues and concerns (e.g. Women’s Center, Multicultural Center)?
• Does your senior administration actively demonstrate inclusive use of the words — lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning– when discussing community, multicultural and, or diversity issues on campus?

 3. LGBTQ Student Life

Are the next four to five years of your life going to be fabulous or a slow, tedious bore?  Well, answers to questions on LGBTQ student life and what the campus to offer is essential to a high gay point average.

Questions to ask:

• Does your campus sponsor regular, on-going campus-wide activities and events to increase awareness of LGBTQ issues/concerns on campus?
• Does your campus have regular, on-going social events specifically for LGBTQ students?
• Does your campus have a college/university-recognized LGBTQ campus student organization for all LGBTQ students and allies?
• Does your campus have any student organizations that primarily serve the social and, or recreational needs of LGBTQ students (e.g. Gay social fraternity, Lesbian Volleyball Recreational Club, Gay Coed Lacrosse Club, etc)?
• Does your campus have any student organizations that primarily serve the needs of  under-represented and, or multicultural LGBTQ populations (e.g. LGBTQ Latinos/Latinas, International LGBTQ students, LGBTQ Students with Disabilities, etc)?
• Does your campus have any student organizations that primarily serve the  religious/spiritual needs of LGBTQ students (e.g. Unity Fellowship for Students, Gays for Christ, LGBTQ Muslims, etc)?

4. LGBTQ Academic Life

Let’s focus on the main reason for attending  college or university.  LGBTQ inclusion even extends to the classroom. A campus that truly supports LGBTQ issues will hopefully give honest answers to these challenging questions of the queer academia.

Questions to ask:

• Does your campus have out LGBTQ faculty members?
• Does your campus have a LGBTQ-specific studies academic degree program? If No, does your campus have LGBTQ-specific courses offered through various academic programs?
• Does your campus integrate LGBTQ issues into existing courses when appropriate?
• Does your campus include LGBTQ issues new faculty/staff orientation programs and on-going training opportunities?
• Does your campus have an extensive collection of LGBTQ-related holdings in the campus library?

5. LGBTQ Housing

Many times financially it is advantageous to live on campus.  Often times. It is even required of new students on campus.  As an LGBTQ student, you must know the facts, your housing options and the ability to be who you are.

Questions to ask:

• Does your campus provide LGBTQ theme housing options or LGBTQ specific living learning communities in campus housing?
• Does your campus allow for students with same-sex partners to reside together in campus housing?
• Does your campus provide housing options that are sensitive to the needs of transgender students?
• Does your campus provide training sessions for housing employees on LGBTQ issues and concerns?

6. LGBTQ Campus Safety

It is seldom considered as an issue until something happens and by then it is too late.  You should consider up-front the level of safety for LGBTQ students and whether the campus has clear procedures and services to address LGBTQ safety concerns.

Questions to ask:

• Does your campus public safety officers do LGBTQ outreach efforts and meet with LGBTQ student leaders/organization?
• Does your campus have a clear procedure for reporting LGBTQ-related bias incidents and hate crimes?
• Does your campus have a bias incident and hate crime reporting system for LGBTQ concerns?
• Does your campus provide training sessions for public safety officers on LGBTQ issues and concerns and anti-LGBTQ violence?

7. LGBT Counseling & Health

Be wise. Don’t put yourself into a campus community that does not have the necessary services to support your health emotionally, physically and mentally. You must have the options for help when dilemmas arise that you may uniquely face as an LGBTQ student. These are questions often overlooked or never confronted head on.

Questions to ask:

• Does your campus have support groups for LGBTQ individuals in the process of coming out and for other LGBTQ issues/concerns?
• Does your campus have individual student counseling that is sensitive to  LGBTQ issues/concerns?
• Does your campus provide training for campus health care professionals to increase their sensitivity to the special health needs of LGBTQ individuals?
• Does your campus actively distribute condoms and LGBTQ inclusive safer sex information on HIV/STD area services and resources?

8. LGBTQ Recruitment & Retention Efforts

LGBTQ students are becoming an increasing population for colleges and universities to seek in increasing enrollment numbers.  Some institutions attend LGBTQ-themed college admission fairs and have specific LGBTQ programs to increase retention.

Questions to ask:

• Does your campus participate in a LGBTQ Admission Fair designed for outreach to incoming LGBTQ high school students?
• Does your campus have any scholarships specifically targeting LGBTQ students and heterosexual students who are supportive of LGBTQ equality?
• Does your campus include LGBTQ issues in new student orientation programs?
• Does your campus have a Lavender Graduation, Rainbow Graduation (e.g. a special commemoration for LGBTQ students and allies) upon completion of degree(s)?
• Does your campus have a LGBTQ Mentoring program to welcome and assist LGBTQ students in transitioning to academic life and other involvement on campus?

Find out more >> LGBTQ and Ally Student Leader Checklist
Get involved >> Campus Pride Index