Purdue earns high ranking on 2020 Best Colleges for LGBTQ+ Students listing

Purdue University is ranked 13th in the 2020 ‘Best Colleges for LGBTQ+ Students’ listing. Purdue offers numerous resources and programs for LGBTQ+ students, including a Lavender graduation ceremony, shown here. (2019 Purdue University photo prior to social distancing guidelines). Download image

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Purdue University was ranked 13th in the nation on BestColleges and Campus Pride’s 2020 listing of Best Colleges for LGBTQ+ Students. Additionally, Purdue was listed as the best college for LGBTQ+ students in the state of Indiana.

The rankings look at schools’ academic support and affordability data, along with the Campus Pride Index score, which is a national rating system that measures LGBTQ-friendly campus life. Campus Pride takes an exhaustive and multifaceted approach, considering eight LGBTQ+ inclusive factors to reach a measurement. The rankings also include descriptions of campus resources that provide support to students of various gender and sexual identities.

Purdue’s LGBTQ Center, a resource within the Division of Diversity and Inclusion that was established in 2012, was a key instrument in engaging the campus community with educational, outreach and advocacy programs. It also provided services and resources for students. Purdue’s offering of an LGBTQ studies minor and award-winning study abroad opportunities in LGBTQ+ history, identity and culture also was featured in the ranking.

 “We’ve seen over the past eight years phenomenal growth and participation in the center,” said Lowell Kane, director of student engagement and belonging and director of the LGBTQ Center. “We have seen an expansion of programs and services as well as policies and practices that illustrate Purdue’s commitment to welcoming and affirming everybody.”

“Every year we welcome more students who use the center’s resources and programs to enhance their Purdue experience and enrich their own lives and the lives and experiences of the LGBTQ community,” Kane said.

In addition to programs for faculty, staff and students, the center has seen the development of new LGBTQ+ student organizations, the growth of Purdue Employee Pride, and established center internships to engage experiential learning and expanded volunteer opportunities.

“All of these resources work in tandem to enhance the center and Purdue commitment to this dynamic and diverse population,” Kane said.

Writer: Matthew Oates, 765-586-7496 (cell), oatesw@purdue.edu, @mo_oates

Source: Lowell Kane, lowell@purdue.edu, @purduelgbtq

Note to Journalists: An image of a Purdue LGBTQ Center activity is available on Google Drive. Lowell Kane is available for phone and web-based conference interviews.