UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State has once again been named one of the Campus Pride "Best of the Best" Top 30 LGBTQ-friendly colleges and universities, in recognition of its overall ratings related to LGBTQ-inclusive benchmark measures, for 2018.
Penn State received an overall five out of five stars in the Campus Pride Index based on institutional policies and dedication to sexual and gender diversity.
Brian Patchcoski, director of Penn State’s LGBTQA Student Resource Center, said he is excited that Penn State has once again received this honor.
“This recognition showcases the hard work of students, faculty and staff working together to make the Penn State experience an ever more inclusive one,” said Patchcoski.
Campus Pride, a national nonprofit organization, works with students, faculty, staff and administrators at over 1,000 campuses annually, to help support and better the quality of campus life for those in the LGBTQ community, according to their website.
Campus Pride’s “Best of the Best” Top 30 LGBTQ-friendly colleges and universities lists each university and breaks down their scores on multiple inclusion factors. Penn State scored five out of five in various areas, including, but not limited to: sexual orientation and identity recognition, gender identity/expression resources and support, and overall campus safety relative to sexual and gender diversity.
Patchcoski said that this recognition showcases Penn State’s support of and dedication toward furthering University innovation and its intention to fuse diversity, equity and inclusion — throughout the student experience.
"This recognition helps us and the University find ways to think about what it really means to support the 'whole' student with varied identities – not just sexual and gender diversity," he said.
To be chosen for the list, an institution must score in the highest percentages in LGBTQ-friendly benchmark policies, practices and programs.
"With the help of Penn State students and all that they bring to our campuses," Patchcoski said, "the students and their initiative to push us further as a University will only continue to make Penn State stronger.
“This honor is in recognition of them and their desire for Penn State to innovate and grow its understanding of diversity, equity and inclusion, while also broadening the perception and understanding of who ‘We are’ as a University and campus community.”
View Penn State’s current Campus Pride Index report card here. To learn more about the LGBTQA Student Resource Center and/or to get involved, please visit here.