Home News Five MN schools receive high marks on LGBT climate index

Five MN schools receive high marks on LGBT climate index

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Five MN schools receive high marks on LGBT climate index
Source: Essygie

Source: Essygie

Five Minnesota colleges and universities have earned a perfect “5 stars” score from Campus Pride’s Campus Climate Index.

The University of Minnesota – Twin Cities, Augsburg College, Carleton College, University of Minnesota – Duluth, and Macalester College all received 5 stars on the climate index.

The LGBT collegiate nonprofit ranks schools on 8 criteria: LGBT Policy Inclusion, LGBT Support & Institutional Commitment, LGBT Academic Life, LGBT Student Life, LGBT Housing & Residence Life, LGBT Campus Safety, LGBT Counseling & Health, and LGBT Recruitment and Retention Efforts.

Other schools that were ranked on the index include:

  • Hamline University with 4.5 stars
  • Century College with 4 stars
  • St. Cloud State University with 4 stars
  • St. Olaf College with 3.5 stars
  • Gustavus Adolphus College with 3.5 stars
  • Minnesota State University with 3.5 stars
  • University of Minnesota – Morris with 3 stars
  • Metropolitan State University with 3 stars
  • Minneapolis Community and Technical College with 1 star

Many of the schools on the list were lacking in various areas, but one area that popped up consistently was a lack of adequate health insurance for trans* students. Specifically, from the index: “Insurance coverage for students transitioning from M to F and F to M to cover hormone replacement therapy”

Ten schools — including some receiving 5 stars on the index — did not provide health insurance that covered medically necessary care for trans* students. They were:

Minnesota State University, Augsburg College, Carleton College, St. Olaf College, SCSU, Hamline University, Metro State, Gustavus Adolphus, Century College, and MCTC.

The schools on the index do so voluntarily through a self-assessment of the criteria, and Campus Pride works with schools to improve their scores.

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Andy Birkey has written for a number of Minnesota and national publications. He founded Eleventh Avenue South which ran from 2002-2011, wrote for the Minnesota Independent from 2006-2011, the American Independent from 2010-2013. His writing has appeared in The Advocate, The Star Tribune, The Huffington Post, Salon, Cagle News Service, Twin Cities Daily Planet, TheUptake, Vita.mn and much more. His writing on LGBT issues, the religious right and social justice has won awards including Best Beat Reporting by the Online News Association, Best Series by the Minnesota chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists, and an honorable mention by the Sex-Positive Journalism awards.