Students from the LGBT community despite recent legal changes and a steady increase of support within the cultural sphere continue to face many hardships in their collegiate lives. Hate crimes haven’t become non existent derogatory comments inspire fear and distrust; a lack of support from university officials is sometimes enough to make even the most committed scholars head home. From our investigations, larger schools tend to be less accommodating of LGBT students. Perhaps it’s because of how many specific needs and groups these institutions have to cater to, but there’s simply not an excuse. University of Connecticut, a small liberal arts school in New London, consistently achieves high rankings for its treatment of LGBT students. For starters, respected professor Jen Manion leads the LGBT student group.
Her influence has helped the group scale to new heights year after year. The typical liberal arts scholar also tends to be open minded, creative and empathetic in their right brained nature. Couple this with a passionate administration, and you’ve got one of the most welcoming campuses in the USA.
University of Connecticut offers various LGBT specific courses, which explore areas like queer theory and gender rights. There are also gender inclusive and single occupancy restrooms in academic buildings to further break down the barriers. We love seeing that the faculty and staff are also continually offered new training opportunities regarding sexual orientation issues. Some students become very close with their professors feeling like you have someone trustworthy to turn to can make all the difference. The LGBT resource center a “luxury” that some colleges don’t yet have features its own paid-staff who offer support, plan activities and schedule educational events. Between the resource center, peers and the faculty encountered day in and day out, there’s never a need to feel alone.
The university also has very stringent rules regarding how incidents of bias and hate crimes are reported. Campus police forces are kept updated on such procedures. Policies regarding non discrimination are in place, while a standing advisory committee deals directly with LGBT issues. A big win for University of Connecticut comes in the form of student health care, which can be extended to same sex partners. This is a significant topic of debate not just amongst universities, but in the world at large. Sadly, this infrastructure doesn’t exist at every college.
Transitioning into collegiate life as an LGBT student can seem daunting, which is why a special mentorship program was created to help with the process. LGBT scholarships and an active LGBT alumni group show that this university is committed to you from the time you enroll to the life you lead long after graduation. A network of support is ready and waiting.
University of Connecticut has been very outspoken about how important it is to them to provide a safe space for LGBT students. They want this portion of the undergraduate body to be unburdened from not feeling accepted, so that they can reach their full potential as academics and young adults. You’ll encounter a thorough program at this school, and should never worry about expressing who you truly are. What should you spend your time on then? You could take peace of mind in how safe the campus is or contemplate five things a former student wishes she’d known before she chose to attend the school. Knowledge is power, future Camels.
Ryan James is a ’13 alumnus of Ohio University’s College of Arts & Sciences with a bachelor’s degree in writing and media. He currently works as a copywriter for a Fortune 500 e-commerce corporation based in Columbus, OH.