Campus Pride applauds Ohio State for adding optional LGBTQ identity question on college admission form

Ohio State becomes one of a dozen colleges and universities to ask  an optional question on admission and enrollment forms for purposes of academic success, enrollment and retention

Campus Pride applauds Ohio State for adding an optional LGBTQ identity question on their college admission form for the 2015-16 application cycle.   Ohio State uses the Common Application.  The optional question will read: “Do you identify as a part of the LGBTQ Community?”  Because the Common Application does not have the LGBTQ identity question as an option, Ohio State chose to move forward by including the question on their supplemental application for the Common Application.

The Ohio State University shared this announcement:

“The Ohio State University is fully committed to the value of diversity in higher education. It has become standard for universities to ask about an applicant’s race, ethnicity, gender or  veteran status in order to organize support services. Ohio State also seeks to better understand the LGBTQ population and improve their overall college experience. The university researched the inclusion of questions related to this effort on our admissions application on the recommendation of LGBTQ advocates, which included faculty, staff and students, within the university community. Beginning with the 2015–16 application cycle, Ohio State will ask optional questions on all undergraduate and graduate applications about whether the applicant considers themselves members of the LGBTQ community. Responding to the questions will be optional, and an applicant’s response will not affect his or her application.

The information will be used to help Ohio State gather data about LGBTQ students and track their academic success, enrollment and retention rates, and better understand what support services, resources and activities the university can provide to serve students in the LGBTQ community.  As one of the nation’s premier land grant universities, we are committed to providing access to a diverse population, including LGBTQ students, and establishing an intellectually vibrant and socially just community.”

Campus Pride maintains an up-to-date listing of colleges and universities that include LGTBQ Identity Questions as an option on admission applications and enrollment forms.   In 2013, Campus Pride issued in partnership with ACPA-College Student Educators International a position paper titled “An Institutional Responsibility: Tracking Retention & Academic Success of Out LGBT Students.”  The statement posits: “In order to best serve the needs of out LGBT college students, it is imperative that colleges and universities give these students the option to self-identify at the point of college admission or other enrollment activity. This way the campus can take responsibility for the LGBT student experience, their academic retention, safety, and success from the beginning like we do other campus populations.”

Campus Pride is the leading national educational organization for LGBTQ and ally college students and campus groups building future leaders and safer, more LGBTQ-friendly colleges and universities. The organization provides resources and services to thousands of college students and nearly 1400 campuses annually. Learn more online at CampusPride.org