GVSU named "Best in Michigan" for LGBTQ students

Grand Valley has been named the best university in Michigan for LGBTQ+ Students by Campus Pride and BestColleges.

The university is included in the 2020 ranking of "The Best Colleges for LGBTQ+ Students in Each State.” The ranking combines BestColleges’ criteria of academic support and affordability data in addition to the Campus Pride Index score, a national rating system that measures LGBTQ-friendly campus life.

Campus Pride considers eight LGBTQ+ inclusive factors to reach a measurement:

• Policy inclusion
• Support and institutional commitment
• Academic life
• Housing and residence life
• Campus safety
• Counseling and health
• Recruitment
• Retention

Jen Hsu-Bishop, director of the Milton E. Ford LGBT Resource Center, called it an “honor” to be recognized for the accomplishments achieved to welcome, support and celebrate LGBTQIA+ students at Grand Valley.

“This recognition is only possible because of the incredible care and hard work our LGBT Resource Center staff and many campus partners put into creating inclusive policies, programming, and practices,” she said.

Hsu-Bishop said there is always more work to do and she is confident with the support from university leadership and the campus community, they will continue to make GVSU a place where all LGBTQIA+ students can thrive.

The Best Colleges for LGBTQ+ Students in Each State ranking evolved from recognition that not all students have the opportunity to attend college out-of-state, but still deserve an inclusive educational environment.

The ranking serves as a guide for prospective LGBTQ+ students to identify schools that are culturally inclusive, affordable and in close proximity to their geographic location.

Campus Pride is a nonprofit educational organization for LGBTQ and ally college students, in addition to campus groups building future leaders and safer, more LGBTQ-friendly colleges and universities.

BestColleges helps students make educational decisions and find schools that best fit their needs through proprietary research, user-friendly guides and unique college rankings.