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Rutgers University was named one of the top 25 colleges and universities for inclusion of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender faculty and students, according to a new index. (Star-Ledger file photo)
NEW BRUNSWICK --Rutgers, Princeton and Montclair State Universities are ranked among the top 25 colleges and universities for inclusion of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender faculty and students, according to a new nationwide index of 191 schools.
Both the Rutgers-New Brunswick campus and Montclair State received a five-star ranking while Princeton received 4.5 stars in the the 2015 Campus Pride Top 25 LGBTQ-Friendly College and Universities. The rankings are based on the schools' responses to a self-assessment that asks about policies, programs and practices that apply to the LGBTQ community.
No other schools from New Jersey participated in the index, according to Campus Pride, a nonprofit organization working to create a safer college environment for LGBTQ students.
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The seventh annual list reflects higher standards for campuses, including more emphasis on transgender students and their safety, Campus Pride Executive Director Shane Windmeyer said.
The index includes about 50 questions covering academic life, safety, and housing options, among other categories.
Specific information for each school includes whether students can self-identify their gender on admission applications and whether there is a simple process for students to change their name on university records and documents.
Rutgers University met all of the criteria, but there is still more to accomplish, said Zaneta Rago, director of Rutgers' Center for Social Justice Education and LGBT Communities.
"My hope is that this announcement will also be a call for everyone to seek out further education, improve practices, challenge stereotypes, interrupt and report acts of bias, and reach out to our center for any help needed along the way," she said.
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