Promising results for first gay self-identification option on college app
Elmhurst College made national headlines this fall after becoming the first educational institution to allow applicants to self-identify as gay, lesbian, transgender or bisexual. So far, while it hasn’t led to a massive influx of LGBT students applying to the school, it does look like the option is being used by a number of students that is reflective of what is seen in the general population.
According to Elmhurst College, about 5 percent of the 2,204 prospective students who have applied so far self-identified as LGBT. Shane Windmeyer, a leader with student gay rights advocacy group Campus Pride, told Inside HigherEd that experts estimate some 3 percent to 10 percent of the population is LGBT, adding that Elmhurst’s 5 percent figure is promising and “an exceptional number for the first semester of doing something and Elmhurst should be proud.”
LGBT students admitted to Elmhurst College will be offered a diversity enrichment scholarship worth one-third of the annual tuition at the university. School officials say the information gathering and scholarships are meant to act as a means of providing support to students facing more than their fair share of difficulties and biases.
“Elmhurst works very hard to find ways to help students transition to college life,” explained Dean of Admissions Gary Rold, according to an open letter to students and alumni back in September. “Key to that transition is the identification of students with particular qualities who are looking for a friendly, supportive campus environment. For many years, we have sought information about ethnicity, race, faith tradition, national origin and language spoken at home, with the intent of facilitating the transition of the applicant to full membership in our campus community. We ask students about their interests, high school activities and the like so that they can be put in touch with valuable campus resources and programming, and to gauge their eligibility for certain scholarships. This year, we simply decided that the time had come for our campus to include self-identified LGBT students in this process. Creating a positive, welcoming environment for all of our students is part of our mission. It’s reflected in our core values.”
Advocates like Windmeyer say that even without a scholarship award, the LGBT self-identification question serves as a supportive nod of acceptance and acknowledgement for students looking at prospective schools.
