Campus Climate Index

1. Campus Climate Index University of Northern Iowa 2011-2012

2. About the index • Campus Pride • 2001 • National nonprofit • Focused on creating a safer college environment • Campus Climate Index • National assessment tool • LGBT friendliness • Online information • Campus profile • Stars for each score • Climate Summary Scores (out of five stars) • Overall • Sexual Orientation • Gender Identity/Expression

3. Overall Campus Climate Score 58%

4. Sexual Orientation Score 75% Visibly include issues of sexual orientation in the campus framework for diversity.

5. Gender Identity/Expression 48% Strengthen commitment to transgender issues. Enact more trans-inclusive programs and services.

6. Campus climate index subscores • LGBT Policy Inclusion • LGBT Support & Institutional Commitment • LGBT Academic Life • LGBT Student Life • LGBT Housing & Residence Life • LGBT Campus Safety • LGBT Counseling & Health • LGBT Recruitment & Retention Efforts

7. LGBT Policy Inclusion 70% Further examine the needs of the LGBT community.

8. LGBT Support & Institutional commitment 52% Relying too heavily on LGBT & Ally student leaders and/or faculty and staff who volunteer time to educate the campus about sexual orientation and gender identity.

9. Opportunities to increase support & institutional commitment • Full-time, professional staff member devoted to LGBT support and campus awareness • LGBT concerns office or student resource center • Another office on campus that actively deals with LGBT concerns (ie Women’s Center, Multicultural Center, etc.) • Standing advisory committee that deals with LGBT concerns • LGBT alumni group • Active use of “sexual orientation” and “gender identity” by senior administrators when discussing diversity issues

10. LGBT Academic Life 50% Consider the ways that we can make the classroom experience more inclusive and LGBT friendly.

11. LGBT Student Life 72% Ask students their perspectives and needs for student involvement, social activities, and educational events.

12. LGBT Housing & Residence Life 56% Score indicates steady progress being made. Pay specific attention to developing trans-sensitive housing accommodations and equitable policies.

13. LGBT Campus Safety 84% Score indicates progressive efforts taken to address safety concerns.

14. LGBT Counseling & Health 46% Our campus lacks necessary services and has definite areas to improve for addressing LGBT emotional and physical health needs.

15. Opportunities to increase counseling and health services • Offer support groups for LGBT individuals • Provide training for health-center staff to increase sensitivity to LGBT health care needs • Distribute female condoms along with the male condoms • Enable transitioning transsexual students to have their hormone replacement therapy covered by the student health insurance

16. LGBT Recruitment & Retention Efforts 32% Our campus demonstrates a lack of LGBT recruitment and retention efforts

17. Opportunities to increase recruitment and retention efforts • Offer more scholarships specifically for LGBT and ally students • Include sexual orientation and gender identity/expression issues in new student orientation programs • Offer special graduation ceremony/events for LGBT students and allies • Offer an LGBT mentoring program to welcome and assist new LGBT students transitioning to academic and college life

18. Current Challenges • Limited institutionalized forms of support • Transgender student needs • Health Care • Housing • Restrooms • Social safety, inside and outside the classroom

19. Current Opportunities • New GA Position in the Dean of Students Office • Participation in the Campus Climate Index • GA working with diversity fellows to identify LGBT student needs and propose changes • Online Safe Zone Ally Program • New LGBT student organization, Transgenda • Increasing number of gender-neutral and single occupancy restrooms in academic buildings