UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State was again recognized as a leading university for LGBTQ students according to the Campus Pride Index, continuing the University’s success from 2021 with another 5-out-of-5-star rating.
"We are so thrilled to be named one of the top LGBTQ-Friendly Campuses for 2022 by Campus Pride,” said Sonya Wilmoth, director of Penn State’s Center for Sexual and Gender Diversity, a unit of Student Affairs. “We take a tremendous amount of pride in this distinction as being a welcoming and supportive campus for our sexual- and gender-diverse students, faculty and staff."
Campus Pride’s list of the “Best of the Best” LGBTQ-friendly schools features 40 academic institutions. Penn State is recognized as one of nine colleges and universities in the mid-Atlantic region. According to Campus Pride, these institutions are chosen for their ability to cultivate "a safe, welcoming environment for students, faculty and staff alike.”
In addition to its overall rating, Penn State scored 5-out-of-5 stars in a variety of specific categories, including LGBTQ Counseling and Health; Support and Institutional Commitment; Student Life; and Campus Safety.
To earn a ranking of 5-out-of-5 stars, campuses receive a percentage score from 90 to 100 based on their LGBTQ-inclusive policies, programs and practices. The methodology to determine this year’s Best of the Best List was based on an overall score of 93% or higher.
"Although we have accomplished a great deal, work in these areas will continue as we aspire to meet the needs of an ever-changing student body,” Wilmoth said. “This is truly a University-wide accomplishment. We acknowledge the many folks across the University who have contributed to the work around policy inclusion and inclusive academic and student life as well as the overall institutional commitment."
Campus Pride is a leading national nonprofit organization for student leaders and campus groups working to create safer, more LGBTQ-friendly learning environments at colleges and universities. The Campus Pride Index is a free online benchmarking tool for prospective students, families, and those interested in higher education.