National organization gives Grand Valley high marks for LGBT-friendly campus

A national nonprofit organization dedicated to making college campuses safe for LGBT students gave Grand Valley high marks for administrative policy changes and creation of the LGBT Resource Center.

Campus Pride gave Grand Valley a four-and-one-half star rating, out of five stars, on its LGBT Friendly Campus Climate Index. The rating followed an internal survey facilitated by the LGBT Resource Center that polled campus departments on efforts to create a welcoming and respective environment for LGBT students and their allies.

“This is a huge step forward for the Grand Valley community and West Michigan,” said Milt Ford, director of the LGBT Resource Center. “This new designation reflects recent changes at the university, including establishing the LGBT Resource Center in its new and expanded location.”

Colette Seguin Beighley, assistant director of the LGBT Resource Center, said the survey was conducted after Grand Valley’s Board of Trustees approved an expanded anti-discrimination policy and household member benefits last year. Prior to this study, Grand Valley’s rating was three stars.

Only 18 campuses in the country achieved a five-star rating. Beighley noted that Grand Valley was rated higher than its peer institutions. More information about the survey is available on the LGBT Resource Center Web site at www.gvsu.edu/lgbtrc.

Campus Pride was founded in 2001 to develop resources, programs and services to support LGBT and ally students on U.S. college campuses.