Ever since the University of Iowa was the first public university to enroll men and women on an equal level, it has prided itself on being at the forefront of civil rights issues.
And now they can add another first to their list, as on Wednesday they announced they are the first public institution to include an optional question about sexual orientation on their admission application.
Students can mark ‘yes’ if they identify with the LGBT community, but are not specifically asked if they are lesbian, gay or bi-sexual. There is, however, a new option to check ‘transgender’ when asked to supply gender.
“The new LGBT question on our undergraduate application reflects our foundational commitment to inclusion of all students, no matter what their origin or orientation,” said Michael Barron, assistant provost for enrollment management and executive director of admissions, in a post of the University website. The University began placing the LGBT question on their application on Dec. 1.
Admissions staff will email students who check ‘yes’ on the LGBT question, supplying housing options and ways to get involved on campus. The reason for the question, as supplied by the University website, is to make sure all students enrolled at the school are given the proper support network to succeed. It also allows the school to track retention and graduation rates.
The University of Iowa is the second higher education institution in the country to include such questions on their admission application. Last year, Elmhurst College, a private liberal arts institution in Illinois, placed LGBT questions on their application.
LGBT equality groups such as Campus Pride are praising the University’s move, but there is sure to be backlash from social conservatives and religious groups. Yet when the University of Iowa welcomed both male and female students on an equal field, other institutions of higher education followed suit — and they will most likely follow again.
