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News Release

Last modified: Wednesday, August 22, 2012

IU Bloomington on Campus Pride list of top 25 LGBT-friendly colleges and universities

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Aug. 22, 2012

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Indiana University Bloomington is included in the 2012 top 25 LGBT-friendly colleges and universities, released today by Campus Pride and Huffington Post.

The list is based on data from the Campus Pride Index, which includes nearly 350 publicly available campus climate reports online, taking an in-depth look at policies, programs and practices toward lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students, faculty and staff.

"We at IU Bloomington are extremely proud of this recognition," said IU Bloomington Provost and Executive Vice President Lauren Robel. "It represents a longstanding commitment to inclusiveness and support for gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender students and their allies, and it is an endorsement of the important work done by IU's GLBT Student Support Services staff."

Launched online in the fall of 2007, the index has become a staple in student and faculty research, campus organizing efforts and benchmarking for LGBT student safety and inclusion on campus. Colleges are rated from one to five stars. Last year IU Bloomington earned accolades as one of only 33 colleges and universities to receive five stars.

"I am thrilled that IU has been named to the top 25 LGBT-friendly colleges and universities in the nation" said Mike Shumate, president of IU's GLBT Alumni Association. "This ranking serves as an important factor for students and their parents in selecting the students' top university choices. It is also another confirmation that IU is committed to ensuring that all our students can learn and strive for their aspirations in a safe, welcoming and respectful environment."

Campus Pride Executive Director Shane Windmeyer praised the schools on the top 25 list and also credited the 300-plus other colleges and universities that have "come out" as LGBT-friendly on the index. Windmeyer, who earned a master's degree in education from IU in 1997, received the inaugural IU GLBT Alumni Association Distinguished Service Award in January 2012.

"I'm pleased with this rating, and I appreciate the strong support the GLBT Office continues to receive from the campus," said Doug Bauder, director of the IU GLBT Student Support Services Office. "But equally proud of Shane Windmeyer, whose ground-breaking work has impacted campuses around the country."

Campus Pride's Campus Climate Index takes into account answers by students, faculty and staff to highly detailed, comprehensive questions assessing LGBT-friendly policies, programs and practices.

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