InsideHigherEd.com reports today on proposed changes to the Common Application, an admissions application used by 415 colleges and universities across the country. The national non-profit group might add questions on sexual orientation and gender identity.

InsideHigherEd.com reports:

The Common Application is considering adding voluntary questions about applicants' sexual orientation and gender identity. The application is used by hundreds of colleges and universities -- including many of the most competitive.

The current norm in higher education is not to ask such questions, even on a voluntary basis. But with more students coming out in high school, and with some colleges explicitly taking steps to recruit gay applicants, some admissions officers and some advocates for gay students want to encourage colleges to ask the questions. But the possible switch could be controversial. The Common Application has conducted a nonbinding survey of its members and -- while not releasing results -- has indicated that the membership is split. (The association's board will decide the question.)

Some of the proposals include adding a drop down menu listing several sexual orientations. Such a form, InsideHigherEd.com reports, "would let students select gay/lesbian, bisexual, straight/heterosexual or "another identity" that could be listed." Another proposal suggests adding a blank text field allowing students to enter any identity of their own choosing.

The proposals on gender identity are a bit stickier. Some federal regulations require collection of information on students' male or female gender. InsideHigherEd.com reports: "On the issue of gender identity, the Common Application is considering options that would explain why the male/female question must be asked consistent with federal reporting requirements, but which would then go on to tell applicants that if there is a word that better describes their identity beyond male or female, they are welcome to add that."

Campus Pride Executive Director Shane Windmeyer was interviewed for the piece:

Shane L. Windmeyer, the founder of Campus Pride, a national group that works on behalf of gay students and sponsors college fairs at which gay students can meet college representatives, said it was past time for colleges to add such questions. "It is 2010," he said. "Colleges should take responsibility for their LGBT students at the front end of the admissions process. We have students from across the country who are already out when they apply, and this should just be part of the process. There is no reason these students should be invisible when it comes to applying for college."

Both Campus Pride and the Consortium of Higher Education LGBT Resource Professionals have been among groups urging adoption of the new questions in the Common Application.

Read InsideHigherEd.com's entire report...

What are your thoughts? Would you complete voluntary questions regarding your sexual orientation and gender identity? Tell us why or why not in the comment section below.