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

2. About the index Campus Pride Campus Climate Index
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. 70% LGBT Policy Inclusion
Areas where there are no’s. Opportunity to identify gender identity on applications for admission or housing. Representations or inclusion of issues or concerns in admission materials or housing guidelines.
Further examine the needs of the LGBT community.

8. LGBT Support & Institutional commitment
52%
When leadership waivers from year to year, the quality of the campus experience can change substantially.
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%
Ways to infuse the history and study of LGBT people and issues into the curriculum. Some faculty do this already, but this is difficult to measure.
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%
Available housing in keeping with gender identity/expression, gender neutral or single occupancy restrooms,
Score indicates steady progress being made. Pay specific attention to developing trans-sensitive housing accommodations and equitable policies.

13. LGBT Campus Safety
84%
Examples are bias incident team, methods for supporting victims, outreach to LGBT groups regarding safety, training for officers on LGBT issues, iowa non-discrimination law
Score indicates progressive efforts taken to address safety concerns.

14. LGBT Counseling & Health
46%
Students say they love the counseling center
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
Other examples of one would be a budget line, a resource center, a full time position

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