HSU received a 5-star ranking in the group’s annual Campus Climate Index survey, which ranks universities from zero to five on LGBT-friendliness and inclusivity.
Out of the over 300 schools that participated, HSU was one of thirty to earn all five stars. Other schools that received the highest ranking were San Diego State, the University of Oregon, University of California, Berkeley and Stanford.
HSU earned a five out of five in nearly all of the eight LGBT factors surveyed: Policy Inclusion, Support and Instructional Commitment, Academic Life, Student Life, Housing, Campus Safety, Counseling and Health and Recruitment and Retention Efforts.
According to HSU Assistant Residence Life Director Jeremy N. Davis, the ranking is important to LGBT students considering attending Humboldt State.
“Prospective students realize that a sense of belonging and safety is important and can impact their academic success. A high ranking does not mean a campus is free from bias, but it demonstrates that visible efforts to make a campus inclusive is valued.”
HSU supports the LGBT community through the Office of Diversity & Inclusion, which develops policies that institutionalize campus diversity. The Safe Space Initiative also creates a supportive, safe environment for LGBT community members.
Other programs include the Rainbow Discussion Group facilitated by the Counseling Center, the Queer Student Union (QSU) and the Queer and Ally (Q&A) housing leadership group.
HSU began to offer gender-neutral housing to LGBT roommates in 2005. Last year, twelve students participated. The Department of Critical Race, Gender and Sexuality Studies (CRGS) also offers a degree in Multicultural Queer Studies.
Campus Pride is a North Carolina based non-profit organization for student leaders and campus groups that creates safer, more friendly LGBT learning environments.
For more information on HSU’s LGBT student programs, visit http://humboldt.edu/safespace/hsu.html. For staff programs, visit http://www.humboldt.edu/qweerss/.