University Business - June 2012 - (Page 24)

viewpoint Invisible Students, Missing Programs and Policies Taking responsibility for the safety and academic success of the LGBT population By Shane L. Windmeyer T here are more out lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) college students today than there have been at any other time in the history of higher education. In decades past, many young LGBT people experienced their coming out processes in college, yet today’s rising college freshmen have increasingly become more out and more vocal in high school and even in middle school. This new generation of LGBT students has likely endured harassment growing up and are now looking for something better in college—a place to learn, live, and grow, and most importantly, somewhere to be safe and out as LGBT young people. Despite the common perception that colleges and universities are relatively safe and accepting places for LGBT students, too many college administrators and staff remain ignorant or ambivalent toward their responsibility for the education and safety of the LGBT young people on campus. Ask a college official to identify who is out and LGBT on campus and you will likely hear references to the students in the LGBT campus group or a student leader involved in student government. You might even get a blank stare as if the question is too impossible to know. The assumption, which is not correct, is that all out LGBT college students are part of the club or involved in campus activities—or even worse, that it is not the college’s responsibility to know this information. College and university administrators, staff, and faculty are, indeed, re- A third of LGBT students, faculty, and staff consider leaving campus as a result of harassment. sponsible for the education and safety of all students. No one seriously debates otherwise and most administrators and staff would never disagree, but there exists an obvious gap between general awareness and on-the-ground, practical implementation of such wisdom. Harassment HigH, Protections Low In September 2010, our organization, Campus Pride, a national organization for LGBT students and campus safety, published our landmark research report, “The 2010 State of Higher Education for LGBT People.” It highlights the alarming degree of harassment faced by LGBT students on campuses today—and even worse, the lack of institutional commitment toward LGBT populations by colleges and universities. Only 13 percent of colleges have non-discrimination policies inclusive of sexual orientation and just six percent are inclusive of protections for transgender students. Institutional support in programs and services for LGBT students is below 7 percent nationally. All too often, the safety of LGBT students is left on the backs of these students who must undertake their own efforts to ensure their own safety, campus, and policy inclusion, programs, and support services. While we do not know the actual number of LGBT students who drop out of college or transfer due to harassment, the Campus Pride report cites that a third of LGBT students, faculty, and staff consider leaving their campus as a result of harassment on campus. identification and action The first step toward increasing campus safety, institutional support, and administrative accountability begins at the initial moment of contact with potential students. Colleges and universities cannot provide necessary services or maintain proper safety and campus climate without first knowing its students and who they are, including their LGBT students. Outreach to LGBT students should involve inclusive recruiting programs like Campus Pride’s National LGBT-friendly College Fair Program, hosted for the past five years in Los Angeles, Chicago, Boston, New York, and Charlotte. This year, the fair expands into Dallas, offering out LGBT and ally students the opportunity to connect directly with campuses that consider themselves LGBT-friendly and universitybusiness.com 24 | June 2012 http://www.universitybusiness.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of University Business - June 2012

University Business - June 2012
Contents
Editor's Note
College Index
Ad Index
Behind the News
Viewpoint
Marketing
Independent Outlook
Special Section: Thinking Green
4G: Is It Time for an Upgrade?
Unified Security: All Together Now
Collaborative Workflow
Campus Finance News
3 Student Aid Myths
Deepening the Donor Pool
Keeping Tuition Within Reach
Internet Technology
End Note

University Business - June 2012