Improving Campus Climate for LGBT Students

Training Announcement

July 13–14, 2011
St. Paul, Minnesota

Creating Safe Campus Climates for Retention and Academic Success

Research demonstrates that a safe and welcoming campus climate for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) students is a strong predictor of LGBT students successfully completing college. Developing safer campus climates for LGBT students can also help prevent alcohol and other drug abuse and violence (AODV), and other forms of harassment and discrimination. During this two-day Training Institute, participants will build upon existing skills to improve their own campus climate, support effective AODV prevention on college campuses for LGBT college students, and learn how policies can bring about long-lasting positive changes that increase their retention and academic success.

The goals of the Training Institute are to:

1. Review research and best practices that will assist campuses in creating effective AODV prevention programs in order to strengthen learning environments and increase college retention rates for LGBT students.
2. Examine policies and legal strategies that may offer new approaches to build welcoming campus climates in order to strengthen learning environments and increase college retention and completion rates for LGBT students.
3. Share successful model campus programs, build upon existing skills, and receive training from practitioners in the field of AODV prevention and other areas related to improving campus climate and retention for LGBT students.

Who Should Attend?

Campus professionals interested in improving campus climate for LGBT students should attend this Training Institute. Participants are encouraged (but not required) to register in teams of 2–3 participants, and may include:

• Student affairs administrators
• Alcohol and other drug abuse and/or violence prevention practitioners
• LGBT resource center staff
• Campus attorneys
• Judicial affairs
• Health promotion staff
• Residence life staff
• Fraternity and sorority organizations
• Campus police and other first responders
• Campus mental health professionals and counselors
• LGBT student leaders
• Decision-makers and others responsible for ensuring student safety, retention, and academic success

Preliminary List of Training Institute Topics

• Alcohol and other drug abuse and violence research on LGBT college students: What do we know and how can we use it to strengthen campus climates?
• Using the “Dear Colleague” Letter and Title IX to create a safer campus climate
• Violence prevention, including cyberbullying, harassment, discrimination, and suicide prevention
• Bystander intervention: Teaching students on your campus to intervene safely
• Freshman orientation and college admissions protocols: Opportunities to send a strong message of support to LGBT students and their families
• Model campuses creating a safe and welcoming climate for LGBT students
• The important role of first responders
• Using a checklist to assess your campus climate and developing strategies you can implement on your campus

More Information and Registration

Cost: The Training Institute is free of charge. Participants pay their own travel, lodging, and food.

Agenda: The draft agenda is now available.

Attendance will be limited to 100 participants and, therefore, attendees are expected to participate in the entire event.

For more information, contact Tracy Downs at tdowns@edc.org.