UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State again has been recognized in Campus Pride’s "Best of the Best" LGBTQ-friendly Colleges and Universities list, receiving an overall 5 out of 5 stars on the Campus Pride Index for 2021.
“We are so excited to be included in the Campus Pride 'Best of the Best' again this year. Being recognized by Campus Pride is an amazing testament to the hard, collaborative work of students, faculty, staff and administration,” said Sonya Wilmoth, director of the Center for Sexual and Gender Diversity, a unit of Penn State Student Affairs. “This honor showcases the dedication to furthering and broadening the work around diversity, equity and inclusion on our campus.”
This years “Best of the Best” list included 30 institutions that demonstrate LGBTQ-friendly policies, programs and practices. Penn State is one of only 7 in the mid-Atlantic region to be recognized. To be chosen for the list, an institution must score in the highest percentages in LGBTQ-friendly benchmarks.
Penn State scored 5 out of 5 in various areas, including but not limited to: LGBTQ support and institutional commitment, LGBTQ student life, LGBTQ campus safety, and LGBTQ counseling and health. View Penn State’s current Campus Pride Index report card here.
“Penn State students continue to push us to think more holistically about our work. Supporting them is really what moves the work forward and makes us stronger as a campus. Although the strides we have made over the years are many, we know that the work to create an inclusive campus for students with diverse genders and sexualities is on-going. We are committed to doing the work and ensuring that our sexual and gender diverse students are supported and valued in the Penn State community,” said Wilmoth.
To learn more about the Center for Sexual and Gender Diversity, or to get involved, visit the website.
Campus Pride is the leading national nonprofit organization for student leaders and campus groups working to create safer, more LGBTQ-friendly learning environments at colleges and universities. The Campus Pride Index is a free online benchmarking tool for prospective students, families and those interested in higher education.