NIU is receiving national recognition as one of the 100 Best Campuses for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender students and is featured in the 2006 Advocate College Guide for LGBT Students.
NIU earned the distinction based on its record of creating a positive living and learning environment for LGBT students. Colleges and universities selected for the book were reviewed for their institutional policies, commitment and support, academic life, housing, student life, counseling and health services, campus safety, and recruitment and retention efforts.
The book profiles 100 colleges and universities from across the country that offer resources and have taken action to address needs of LGBT students on their campuses. Campus PrideNet, a national organization for LGBT and ally student leaders, with support from a team of expert LGBT professionals from the National Consortium of Directors of LGBT Resources in Higher Education, developed the criteria and a questionnaire for nominations to gather feedback from current LGBT students, faculty and staff regarding personal experiences and opinions about their campus.
NIU was one of 680 campuses nominated for the honor, and was selected after an extensive online interview process – more than 5,500 interviews were conducted.
The list of 100 is broken down in multiple indexes such as region, state, type of institution and size. Individual campus profiles include information on size, tuition, admission application deadlines, gay-affirmative policies, events, LGBT student groups and resources, housing for LGBT students and more.
For more information about Campus PrideNet or to order a copy of The Advocate College Guide for LGBT Students, visit www.campuspride.net.
“College Made Easy”
The Advocate, August 29, 2006
"Guide grades colleges on gay-friendly factor” (PDF format)"
Chicago Tribune, October 16, 2006
"Book names NIU among nation’s top campuses for LGBT students"
Northern Today, October 30, 2006
"LGBT community welcomed at NIU"
Northern Star, October 30, 2006
"NIU's LGBT rank a glowing improvement"
Northern Star, October 31, 2006
"NIU among the best for LGBT students"
February 21, 2007