New Directions for Student Services Journal focuses on value of Campus Pride Index with article featuring benefits of national benchmarking tool

The use of data to gain understanding of “non-dominant” campus populations is one of the themes that the editors of New Directions for Student Services explore in their most recent edition titled: Using Data-Informed Decision-Making to Improve Student Affairs Practice. The authors expand on, and point to, some everyday uses of data in approaches to student engagement for higher education professionals. This is particularly salient for those seeking a greater understanding of diversity on college campuses who may feel overwhelmed at the idea of data-driven change. The editors posit that there are many barriers for incorporating relevant data into the higher education experience for students, but that there are simple ways to analyze a university’s own collected data by narrowing the focus of what someone seeks to pull out of data. (Goodman and Cole, 2017)

An additional piece of helpful advice, and where Campus Pride comes in, is using data resources which are already available to inform practices on college campuses.

The featured article, Improving the Campus Climate for LGBTQ Students Using the Campus Pride Index, presents ways in which the Campus Pride Index can guide campuses in improving their climate for LGBTQ students.

Data-informed resources such as the Campus Pride Index speak to several of the campus life experiences that students have related to their LGBTQ identities. This speaks not only to campus climate as an important indicator of LGBTQ student success, safety, and happiness, but also to the importance of LGBTQ policies. Data available from the Campus Pride Index can be used by college campuses to gain a greater understanding of the LGBTQ population, focus on needed resources for the community, inform recruitment efforts, and inform advocacy for policy changes. (Garvey, Rankin, Beemyn, and Windmeyer, 2017)

The important distinction is that the Campus Pride Index is not only a useful tool for students seeking safe and affirming institutions of higher education, but it is also vitally important in continuing to set the bar higher for standards of service to the marginalized LGBTQ populations.

The article provides detailed information on the Campus Pride Index, which assesses college campuses for eight distinct policy, program and practice categories: LGBTQ policy Inclusion, LGBTQ support and Institutional Commitment, LGBTQ Academic Life, LGBTQ Student Life, LGBTQ Housing, LGBTQ Campus Safety, LGBTQ Counseling and Health, and LGBTQ Recruitment and Retention Efforts. The article also asserts that the Campus Pride Index sets a what should be the national standard for college campuses. (Garvey, Rankin, Beemyn, and Windmeyer, 2017)

*Thank you to Goodman and Cole, Jossey-Bass (as well as Wiley Periodicals, Inc.) the editors of New Directions for Student Services: Using Data-Informed Decision Making to Improve Student Affairs Practice, Number 159 Autumn 2017 edition. Campus Pride’s contribution to the journal can be found in chapter 5, pages 61-70. Access to the Journal can be found at: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ss.20227/full

Jason C. Garvey, Susan Rankin, Genny Beemym, and Shane Windmeyer are the authors of the article, Improving the Campus Climate for LGBTQ Students Using the Campus Pride Index.

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.