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.