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Duke Named a Top Campus for LGBT Students

"The Advocate College Guide for LGBT Students" heralded several initiatives, including same-sex partner benefits and programs at the LGBT Center

Duke University has been named one of the top 20 institutions for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students in "The Advocate College guide for LGBT Students," a book that features the 100 most LGBT-friendly campuses across the nation.

According to the book, Duke was selected as a top 20 campus -- schools were not given a specific numerical ranking -- based on its innovative LGBT initiatives and programs, its community support and its positive atmosphere. Some of the initiatives that account for the ranking include same-sex benefits, the inclusion of sexual minorities in non-discrimination policies and LGBT Center programs. Notable LGBT Center programs at Duke include SAFE, a training initiative that has created a broad network of allies across campus; and a new "cybercenter" that allows students at Duke who are not openly gay to connect to a supportive peer system in an online environment.

A celebration and open house will be held at 4 p.m. Aug. 28 at the LGBT Center, located in the garden level of the West Union Building.

lgbtcenter
Watch video about the LGBT center programs.

"I believe this ranking indicates a transformation in the culture on the Duke campus for LGBT students, staff and faculty in the direction of becoming more inclusive and more supportive of sexual minorities," said Janie Long, director of Duke's Center for LGBT Life. "The fact that those outside the campus are acknowledging this shift is, indeed, encouraging."

The book, released Aug. 1, features 100 U.S. colleges and universities that extend programs, offer resources, and create safe spaces and welcoming environments for LGBT students. Campus PrideNet, the leading national organization for LGBT and ally student leaders, developed the criteria for the rankings, with support from a team of experts from the National Consortium of Directors of LGBT Resources in Higher Education. A questionnaire was sent to LGBT students, faculty and staff to gauge their on-campus experiences. After receiving nominations from 680 campuses and conducting more than 5,500 online interviews, judges selected 100 campuses for the book based on institutional policies, commitment and support, academic life, housing, student life, counseling and health services, campus safety, and recruitment and retention efforts. Individual campus profiles in the book include information on size, tuition, admission application deadlines, gay-affirmative policies, events, LGBT student groups and resources, housing for LGBT students and more. "The members of the LGBT campus task force, the LGBT center staff, the Duke administration and the many allies on campus are to be commended for efforts that are bringing about this change in climate at Duke," Long said. "I hope we can use this momentum to further make this great campus one that is safe and inviting of all people."

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For more information about Duke's Center for LGBT Life, visit http://lgbt.studentaffairs.duke.edu.

For more information about Campus PrideNet or "The Advocate College Guide for LGBT Students," visit www.campuspride.net.