吃瓜网

June 22, 2020

吃瓜网 University continues to earn high marks for inclusion, with a recent 鈥淧ride Index鈥� ranking of universities across the country illustrating the work the university has put into providing a supportive community for LGBTQ+ students.

For the second straight year, TU was given a four-star ranking by CampusPrideIndex.org.

鈥淎n inclusive, welcoming community isn鈥檛 just a goal at 吃瓜网 University, it is a pre-requisite for a quality, higher education experience,鈥� President Schatzel said. 鈥淎 diverse and inclusive classroom experience provides that our graduates have learned to both thrive and support others to thrive in an environment inclusive of race, ethnicity, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation and levels of able-ness.鈥�

TU ranks among the state鈥檚 leaders in the LGBTQ+ index 鈥� University of Maryland, College Park earned five stars and the top ranking nationally, while Johns Hopkins University and Goucher College join TU as four-star recipients.

But the ranking doesn鈥檛 comprehensively capture all the progress TU has made in providing a supporting community for its students.

Erin Rook, assistant director of LGBTQ+ student development and diversity, says that type of progress in a year is significant, but just a starting point.

鈥淚t is great to be recognized through the Campus Pride Index, but at TU we are working to intentionally go beyond the parameters of the index in creating an inclusive and supportive campus for all LGBTQ+ individuals,鈥� Rook said. 鈥淲e still have work we need to do, but we've made significant changes and additions to LGBTQ+ programming and initiatives in the last year and are excited for another year of pushing this work even further along.鈥�

In the past year, the list of accomplishments by TU faculty, staff and students working together through the Center for Student Diversity is far more impressive than the ranking, itself.

In the past 12 months, TU has:

• officially launched the campus-wide chosen name policy
• grown an LGBTQ Alumni Affinity Group
• launched 鈥淣ew and Q鈥� 鈥� a first-year/transfer student experience for incoming LGBTQ+ students
• created 鈥淨ueer and Questioning鈥� 鈥� a monthly support group for students, faculty and staff
• added LGBTQ+ programming for graduate students
• held the first Queer Leadership Retreat to promote leadership opportunities
• hosted programming on consent and sexual violence prevention, centered around LGBTQ+ identities and experiences
• attended an LGBTQ+ admissions fair in NYC
• developed the Bi+ Support Group for students through the Counseling Center
• launched the 鈥淔ull Spectrum鈥� lecture series to present research and increase campus access to LGBTQ+ academic scholarship and research opportunities
• developed the first Queer Wellness Week in a collaboration across campus constituencies
• promoted International Pronoun Awareness Day with a campus-wide initiative through social media.
• provided resources and training on LGBTQ+ experiences and identities through classroom and on-line training by CSD Queer Peer Program (formerly Pride Mentor Program) coordinators and both CSD and OIIE staff.
• developed partnerships with community organizations focused on supporting LGBTQ+ identities.

The index website notes that it was developed in 2007 as 鈥渁 benchmarking tool鈥� to foster safer, more inclusive campuses.

The 2020 ranking does not take into account a number of the measures listed above that TU has emphasized, including the development of affinity groups, trainings, resources and admissions efforts.

This story is one of several related to President Kim Schatzel鈥檚 priorities for 吃瓜网 University: TU Matters to Maryland and Diverse and Inclusive Campus.