Updated as of Aug. 29 at 8:25 p.m. to include additional information from Director of Gender and LGBTQIA Center Luis Garay.
Elon University has been recognized as one of the top colleges and universities for LGBTQIA+ students in the 2022 “Best of the Best” list from Campus Pride.
The national nonprofit resource works to make higher education safer and more inclusive for LGBTQIA+ communities on university campuses, according to Elon University’s Gender and LGBTQIA Center.
Elon is one of 40 four-year campuses on the Campus Pride Index tool to achieve five out of five stars. In order for a campus to earn that five-star ranking, it must receive a score from 90-100% based on the work being done to support LGBTQIA+ identities and communities through policies, programs and practices.
This year marks the eighth consecutive year Elon has made the list.
Luis Garay, the director of the GLC, said the Campus Pride Index is grounded in research. The list is centered around college students and according to Garay, does not provide information about faculty and staff.
“The type of things that are on the scorecard, they’re not just arbitrary, they’re really grounded in research of what LGBTQIA students need to be supported, in higher education” Garay said. “When it comes to wellness and wellbeing, obviously, having these things like a support group, totally makes sense. There’s things around student health insurance and those kinds of other things. They didn’t just come up with the list.”
The GLC recognizes the unique needs of each incoming class of LGBTQIA+ students, Garay said, and uses the index to guide and analyze the work being done.
“So, how do we need to use the Campus Pride Index to tell us, OK, here’s where we are … but how are we still able to be nimble and responsive and paying attention to LGBTQIA students' needs?” Garay said. “Just because we’re the ‘Best of the Best’ doesn’t mean we’re going to stop our work or stop advancing LGBTQIA inclusion work.”