SDSU Named Best of the Best for LGBTQ Students

San Diego State University is listed as Campus Pride Index’s Best of the Best Colleges and Universities in the United States for its support of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) students.

Only 30 four-year institutions were included on the list, which is considered the definitive benchmarking tool tracking LGBTQ-friendly institutions. To be included on the “Best of the Best” listing, institutions must have the highest percentages in the LGBTQ-friendly benchmarks for policies, programs and practices.

“We are so proud of this recognition, which celebrates our SDSU community as a leader in both commitment and action to support our LGBTQ community,” said SDSU President Adela de la Torre.

“Our LGBTQ students, faculty, and staff are deeply connected across the University, and have worked for decades to ensure a campus culture and environment where they can feel supported and successful,” de la Torre said. “This is what it means to move beyond simple inclusion, to true connection. And this is exactly what is needed so that every member of our LGBTQ community can fulfill their greatest potential.”

SDSU received a perfect 5 out of 5 score to make the list, becoming the only public university in California to receive the high score. SDSU was also only one of two California schools to make the list, along with Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. All told, only five other schools in the west region made the list.

“LGBTQ youth and families want to know what campuses are doing when it comes to inclusive policies, programs and practices. The ‘Best of the Best’ highlights the Top 30 this year across six regions throughout the country,’” Shane Windmeyer, executive director of Campus Pride and creator of the Campus Pride Index, said in a release highlighting the top institutions.

SDSU’s perfect score is a credit to its major and minor in LGBTQ+ studies, Pride Center, Pride ERG, various training programs, awareness initiatives and other efforts illustrating SDSU’s  progressivism in support of LGBTQ+ students, said J. Luke Wood, Vice President for Student Affairs and Campus Diversity.

“Achieving this level of recognition is not credit to one division, department or program but instead reflects an university-wide commitment to supporting our LGBTQ+ students,” Wood said. “We also recognize that while a perfect score is aspirational, this meaningful work must and will persist in support of the LGBTQ+ students we serve now and others to come.”

And SDSU has for years been nationally recognized as a LGBTQ+-friendly university. Earlier this year, SDSU was among the “Best Colleges for LGBTQ+ Students” in a list co-developed by the Campus Pride Index and BestColleges, and ranked No. 14 nationally.

Anne Guanciale, the Pride Center director, said: "There are several avenues on campus for students to get connected, and affiliated student organizations work closely to offer a variety of support and community connections. Across campus, there are a lot of faculty and staff that really care about LGBTQ+ students' success and wellbeing."