How do we compare to other colleges and universities?

Besides the publication of new college guides for LGBT students and their parents, a new tool has been created that helps students understand the atmosphere on a particular campus for LGBT students and allows colleges and universities a chance to see how they measure up with others in providing a welcoming and supportive climate for this population.

The Campus Climate Index, developed by Campus Pride in coordination with leaders in the field of LGBT affairs in higher education, allows a campus official to provide feedback about a range of policies, programs and services that affect the climate for LGBT students at their institution. While a report with recommendations is then sent to the campus official, general information for each campus that participates in the questionnaire is made available on the Campus Climate Index website *unless the campus opts out of having this information public.

Approximately 100 campuses have responded so far, and those who have been rated with 3 stars or higher are recognized on the "Honor Roll." The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) is among those schools on the Honor Roll.

Still, you may ask, how do we compare to other colleges and universities?

Texas:
University of Texas at Austin - 3.5 stars
University of North Texas - 3 stars
University of Texas - Pan American - 2 stars
Texas State University - San Marcos - 3 stars

Aspirational Peers:
University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee - 3.5 stars

Out-of-State Peers:
Boise State University - 3 stars
Eastern Michigan University - 4.5 stars

The aspirational and out-of-state peers were determined by the information sheet available from the UTSA Institutional Research website.

It appears that UTSA is on par with other Texas schools but does not stand out among its peers. Some Allies have seen the brief article on the Chronicle of Higher Education's website on September 25, 2007, and came to that conclusion while pointing out that we still have work to do so that we can get to the 5 stars.

Guides to LGBT-friendly college and university campuses

While college and university students are returning to campus to begin the new academic year, juniors and seniors in high school will soon be receiving the outreach mailings from colleges and universities (if they aren't already) and will have the chance to interact with recruiters and representatives at college fairs at their high school or in their community. But for those students who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) or in the process of discovering this identity (along with their parents), how does a student choose what college or university best fits this part of their life?

In August 2006, the first college guide devoted to colleges and universities with services and resources for LGBT students was released. The Advocate College Guide for LGBT Students by Shane L. Windmeyer and published by Alyson Books offers a look at 100 campuses from across the country that offer what LGBT students may find most important to them - a welcoming and supportive environment with social and academic opportunities along with services especially geared toward LGBT students. This guide shares comments from students and reviews the climate from a campus, local and state perspective to help students better find the best fit. Of the 100 campuses, there are 32 states including Texas represented, but only two institutions in Texas - The University of North Texas and The University of Texas at Austin.

On Tuesday, September 11, another guide will be available (and is currently available for pre-orders). The Gay and Lesbian Guide to College Life published by the Princeton Review features an in-depth look at the experiences of LGBT students and ways they may find success on campus.

From the Barnes and Noble website:

Based on a survey of more than 1,000 college students around the country, The Gay and Lesbian Guide to College Life addresses everything from dorm life to activism and provides candid, sensitive, and empowering advice on how to thrive in college. Testimonials from students, interviews with administrators and student leaders, and a list of resources make the advice in this guide especially meaningful and useful.

This book may also provide administrators, faculty and staff a glimpse at the lives of LGBT college students, which we are not always in touch with. Such guides are only the beginning of resources to help students measure the LGBT-friendly atmosphere of a campus they are interested in and influence the higher education choice of so many students.