Call for Participation for national survey released today for LGBT college students, faculty & staff with a chance to win $500 cash and a free RSVP Vacation Cruise

CHARLOTTE, NC, March 2, 2009 – Do you consider your campus to be gay-friendly? Does your campus have work to be done on transgender issues? What does it mean to be a lesbian, gay, bisexual or a transgender (LGBT) student, staff, or faculty member on your campus? LGBT students, faculty, staff, and administrators are encouraged to respond to the Call for Participation for Campus Pride’s National LGBT College Climate Survey announced today. Go online to http://www.campuspride.org/research.

Campus Pride seeks undergraduate and graduate students, staff, faculty, and administrators who identify as LGBT people to participate in the National LGBT College Climate Survey. The survey is housed under the Q Research Institute for Higher Education (QRIHE), the national center for the scholarly study of LGBT people in higher education.

The QRIHE is owned and operated by the national nonprofit organization Campus Pride. The Research Director is Dr. Susan R. Rankin of The Pennsylvania State University and Associate Research Director is Dr. Warren J. Blumenfeld of Iowa State University. Institutional Review Board approval has been granted nationally for this study. In accordance, participation is confidential and data specific to individual higher education institutions will not be identified in the final analysis. Once completed, any participant will have the opportunity, if chosen, to register for $500 cash and a free cruise aboard RSVP Vacations.

“Nationally there is much work to be done to better serve LGBT students and the larger campus community. Our goal is to provide an assessment that can create positive change and safer, more inclusive LGBT colleges and universities,” said Rankin, QRIHE Director & Senior Research Associate. “Campus Pride’s National LGBT College Climate Survey offers an annual, comprehensive means to provide valuable information for program planners and policy makers in tackling emerging issues on campus."

Campus Pride’s National LGBT College Climate Survey is a comprehensive assessment to document the experiences of students, faculty, staff and administrators who identify as LGBT at America's colleges and universities. The comprehensive assessment examines emerging issues, trends, and changing demographics of LGBT people in higher education. Research allies include ACPA –College Educators International, Consortium of Higher Education LGBT Resource Professionals, Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, Human Rights Campaign, NASPA – Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education, National Gay & Lesbian Task Force, National Youth Advocacy Coalition and RSVP Vacations. For more information, please contact Campus Pride by email info@campuspride.org or call 704-277-6710.

Believe In -- Campus Pride is the leading national nonprofit organization 501(c)(3) for student leaders and campus organizations working to create safer, more LGBT-friendly colleges and universities. It exists to give "voice and action" in building future LGBT and ally leaders. More info online at www.campuspride.org.

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