UMass Amherst Recognized As One Of Campus Pride’s 2022 ‘Best of the Best’ Colleges And Universities for LGBTQ+ Students

The University of Massachusetts Amherst has been named to this year’s list of campuses creating a safe, welcoming environment for LGBTQ+ students, faculty and staff, according to Campus Pride, the preeminent resource for LGBTQ+ leadership development, diversity inclusion and advocacy within higher education. 

“Campus Pride created the Best of the Best List to recognize the outstanding accomplishments of these colleges and universities, creating safer, more welcoming campuses for LGBTQ+ people,” said Shane Windmeyer, Campus Pride executive director. “Students, prospective students, and their families, along with faculty and staff members, deserve to know whether they will be safe on campus, so they can make the best choices for their own academic success – and by creating inclusive, safe environments these colleges are taking responsibility for all students.”

UMass Amherst earned five out of five stars in the rankings for LGBTQ policy inclusion, support and institutional commitment, academic life, student life, housing and residence life, campus safety, counseling and health, and student recruitment and retention. Today’s announcement from Campus Pride features 40 four-year campuses from across the country. The Campus Pride Index (CPI) is the definitive national benchmarking tool measuring LGBTQ-friendly policies, programs, and practices. To earn a ranking of five out of five stars, campuses receive a percentage score from 90 to 100 based on their LGBTQ-inclusive policies, programs, and practices. The methodology to determine this year’s Best of the Best List was based on an overall score of 93% or higher. 

“We are seeing more and more colleges earn five stars because campuses are doing more to support their trans students. While all colleges can and should do more to be trans-inclusive, many institutions are taking important steps forward,” said Genny Beemyn, the coordinator of Campus Pride’s Trans Policy Clearinghouse and director of the UMass Amherst Stonewall Center. “With more and more colleges taking steps to become more LGBTQ+ inclusive, it is a real honor for UMass Amherst to continue to be seen as one of the most LGBTQ+-supportive colleges in the country.”

“The work Campus Pride does every day to foster safer, more welcoming campuses across the country is creating positive change for students, staff, and faculty, as this year’s Best of the Best list reflects that with 40 colleges represented, up from 30 last year,” said Tom Elliott, Campus Pride board chair. “At a time when LGBTQ+ rights and other civil rights are under assault in states across the country, including Texas and Florida, it is as important as ever to recognize the campuses in these states working to create spaces where the next generation of LGBTQ+ leaders can learn and flourish.”

Campus Pride’s 2022 Best of the Best Colleges and Universities list can be found online at http://campuspride.org/BestoftheBest. 

The Campus Pride Index full listing of LGBTQ-friendly colleges and universities is available at https://www.campusprideindex.org/.