College to Ask About Sexual Orientation

[OneFinger]

Elmhurst College put a question on its admissions application that won’t appear on any other school's application.

 

"Would you consider yourself to be a member of the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered) community?”

 

That optional question makes Elmhurst the first school in the country to ask applicants about their sexual orientation or gender identity, the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

 

Full Article

 

So, would you answer that question on a college application? Is it really any of their business?

[orbital sander]

I would see no reason why they would need to know this information, other than demographics. It is definitely none of their business, but I am sure that some of us would not care one way or another. I know people who are not heterosexual and also do not consider themselves to be a member of the LGBT community either, so in some cases the question may be pointless.

[seeker630]

Elmhurst College put a question on its admissions application that won’t appear on any other school's application.

 

"Would you consider yourself to be a member of the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered) community?”

 

That optional question makes Elmhurst the first school in the country to ask applicants about their sexual orientation or gender identity, the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

 

Full Article

 

So, would you answer that question on a college application? Is it really any of their business?

 

I don't have a problem with it since the question is OPTIONAL. I suspect iit is just for demographics, as orbital says. I see applications where Race/ethnicity questions are optional.

[Zapped]

This is interesting.

 

From a college teacher's perspective, I can see two reasons why a college administration would want this information. When we're working to recruit a student (or prospective faculty member, for that matter), we identify particular interests and needs. So if Elmhurst has a good support system for LGBTQ students--a gay-straight alliance, a LGBTQ campus life office, etc.--they might make a special outreach to make sure voluntarily self-identified LGBTQ prospective students know that they will be welcomed, affirmed, valued, and supported. That could make a difference in enrolling a good student. It would be good for the student, and good for the school.

 

The other aspect, beyond enrolling a good student who happens to be gay or lesbian or whatever, would be that the institution is genuinely committed to creating a diverse student body, which benefits the entire campus community. So this would be part of making the college as attractive as possible to LGBTQ kids. I would bet that any applicant who checks the box will get some additional communication to enhance the recruiting process.

[fedssocr1]

They may also want to the info for housing purposes?

[Guest]

They may also want to the info for housing purposes?

 

If it's for housing purposes they should ask after the student accepts admission. I don't know this college, so I don't know why they're asking. I had some concerns when reading wikipedia when I read that it's a Christian- based college, but it doesn't sound like one of those fundamentalist places.

[uwsman2]

It's a liberal arts college that expresses interest in building a diverse student body and signalling to gay applicants that this is the place where they will feel accepted and supported. It's about sending a positive messages. Making the question optional also tells people that the college is sensitive to issues of personal privacy and will not pry into personal lives.