Illinois college first U.S. institution of higher education to ask students specifically about sexual orientation and gender identity on college admissions form

(Charlotte, NC) – Campus Pride, a national non-profit working to create safer, more LGBT-inclusive colleges and build future LGBT and ally leaders, is praising the decision by administrators at Elmhurst College in Elmhurst, Ill., to specifically include a question about students’ sexual orientation and gender identity in their college admissions application.

Elmhurst College, a private four-year liberal arts college, is the first U.S. institution of higher education to ask a demographic question about identity on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity on a college admission form. Their decision reflects a conscious choice by administrators at the college to actively include lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) students in the broader life of the college and its campus.

“The move by Elmhurst administrators to include this question represents a distinct and unique paradigm shift in higher education to actively recognize out LGBT youth populations and to exercise greater responsibility for LGBT student safety,” said Shane Windmeyer, Campus Pride executive director. “For the first time, an American college has taken efforts to identify their LGBT students from the very first moment those students have official contact with them. This is definite progress in the right direction -- and deserves praise.”

The new college admissions application asks an optional question about how students identify their sexual orientation and gender identity. The question will be used to determine incoming students’ needs, potential interest in campus programs and to offer support resources. Further, the question will also indicate potential eligibility for the school’s Enrichment Scholarship, which can be awarded to students from underrepresented groups on campus.

The admissions application question asks, “Would you consider yourself to be a member of the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) community?” Students can answer “Yes,” “No,” or “Prefer not to say.” The question appears alongside other optional questions asking students about religious affiliation, languages other than English spoken at home and whether they have worked with a community-based organization in their college search process.

“In words and action, Elmhurst College stands by our commitment to welcome and affirm all persons with respect to race, ethnicity, class, gender, religion, faith perspective, nationality, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression into the full life of the college,” said Christine Grenier, Elmhurst College associate director of Admission. “Being able to reach out to LGBT students intentionally will allow us to connect to students earlier, help ease the transition to college and provide valuable resources on campus.”

Last January the Common Application, which represents nearly 400 colleges and universities, rejected a proposal to add similar identity questions to their standardized national admissions application citing cultural norms and that very few colleges have sought the information. The organization the same year added a question around religious affiliation for public and private campuses.

“Elmhurst College recognizes the value of all diversity to campus life,” said Windmeyer. “The college admission form is an essential way to gather data on prospective students and to communicate a message of inclusion, worth and value by the questions being asked. The bar has been set.”

Campus Pride provides resources and programs for colleges and universities seeking to make their campuses more welcoming and affirming for LGBT students. The organization also has online a search tool called the LGBT-Friendly Campus Climate Index. Nearly 300 colleges and universities are ranked on their LGBT-friendliness in policies, programs and practice. The Index is available to students free of charge online at www.CampusClimateIndex.org.

In addition, Campus Pride’s Fall 2011 LGBT-Friendly National College Fair Program gives schools the opportunity to actively reach out and recruit talented and driven students from across the country. The Fair’s tour begins this year in August in Charlotte and continues through November with stops in Chicago, Boston, Los Angeles and New York.

For more information about Campus Pride, please visit www.CampusPride.org. For more information on the LGBT-friendly Campus Climate Index, visit www.campusclimateindex.org. For more details on the LGBT-Friendly National College Fair Program, visit www.campusclimateindex.org/events/.