ENROLLMENT MANAGEMENT
PROFILES IN DIVERSITY
LGBTQ OUTREACH IN AN ENROLLMENT MANAGEMENT CONTEXTby Christopher W. Tremblay
T
he recruitment and enrollment of lesbian, gay, bi- sexual, transgendered and questioning (LGBTQ) students continues to evolve as colleges and uni-
versities strive to reach out to this growing population and identify appropriate and respectful ways of connecting with them. Over the last decade, research has emerged, actions at the college level have been taken, and trails have been blazed. Tis group of students deserves the right to be recognized and served.
AACRAO’S EFFORTS
Te American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO) is striving to become a leader in nationally recognized LGBT recruitment and enrollment efforts. As such, it provides a variety of resources in that regard, including a book chapter in a guide, a recognized LGBT Caucus, published LGBT articles and national conference presentations.
In 2008, AACRAO published a chapter enti-
tled, “Recruiting LGBT Students” in its The College Admissions Officer’s Guide. Te purpose of the chapter was to officially establish the “coming out” (if you will) of the direct recruitment of this specific population. Authors Einhaus, Viento and Croteau (2008) address a variety of issues and make the point that until the early 2000s, LGBTQ recruitment was fairly non-existent. In a section labeled “Diversity Issues in a New Context,” the three authors discuss how LGBTQ students enrich the diversity on a college campus. For example, they cite the need for “diversity-oriented admission practices,” one of which in- cludes practices inclusive of LGBT students. Additionally, results of a national survey of admission directors are shared and described, revealing only four percent of col- leges at the time targeting LGBTQ students in their direct recruitment efforts. Now would be the time to repeat this survey to further understand the changing nature of this enrollment landscape.
LGBTQ CAUCUS Tis caucus emerged within AACRAO in the 1990s to meet the needs of the growing LGBTQ population. Te
goal of the caucus is to unite LGBTQ and ally profes- sionals who are interested in supporting organizational initiatives that invite and assist LGBTQ students in enrolling in and being successful and safe in college. Each year, this caucus ensures that LGBTQ-themed sessions are present at the annual AACRAO meetings and con- ferences to assure representation in support of diversity and inclusion. Most importantly, this caucus (like all AACRAO caucuses) advocates for the needs of the LGBT population. At the more recent annual meetings, student panelists have shared their personal testimonials as a way to more fully understand and appreciate the challenges, barriers and opportunities from the eyes of an LGBTQ student.
INSIDE THE PRIDE GUIDES In 2007, I conducted research with Einhaus on the types of tools available to LGBTQ students during their college search and presented it at the 2008 AACRAO Annual Meeting. It showcased the print and electronic resourc- es, including Te Advocate College Guide for LGBT Students, the Campus Climate Index and publications by the Princeton Review and the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network. Together, these tools are used by prospective college-bound LGBTQ students to navigate the college admissions process through their context and to evaluate the LGBT students and resources on college campuses. Colleges and universities should benchmark themselves against these resources to see how a prospective LGBT student would view them based on these criteria.
PRIDE ON THE OTHER SIDE Two years later, inspired by the Inside the Pride Guides’ presentation and research efforts, I co-authored an article with Daniel Mathis in which we explored the emergence of targeted websites for prospective students. We con- ducted an environmental scan of colleges nationwide and offered a continuum on which many of the websites resid- ed, depending on the type of model they were. Tis article appeared in AACRAO’s College & University journal and was designed to demonstrate how colleges and universities
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