Contact:
Jenni King
412-268-2900

For immediate release:
August 29, 2006

Carnegie Mellon Named Among 100 Best Campuses For Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Students

PITTSBURGH—Carnegie Mellon University was named one of the 100 Best Campuses for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) students in "The Advocate College Guide for LGBT Students," the first comprehensive campus guide to highlight the most LGBT-friendly campuses in the United States. The guide, published Aug. 1, cited Carnegie Mellon's positive environment, programs and services, and LGBT student coalitions as cause for the distinction.

"We are extremely honored that our campus was selected and recognized as LGBT friendly," said Emmeline Altschul, president of Carnegie Mellon's LGBT rights advocacy group, Allies. "At a school this diverse, making each student feel accepted and providing support for them is of the utmost importance. We are grateful to our students, faculty and staff for their continuing support to meet all student needs."

The guide profiles 100 colleges and universities from across the country that offer resources and create a positive living and learning environment for LGBT students. Campus PrideNet, the leading national organization for LGBT resources in higher education, developed the criteria and a questionnaire for nominations to gather feedback from LGBT students, faculty and staff regarding personal experiences and opinions about their campus.

After receiving nominations from 680 campuses and conducting more than 5,500 online interviews, Campus PrideNet selected 100 campuses for the book. Campuses were rated on institutional policies, commitment and support, academic life, housing, student life, counseling and health services, safety, and recruitment and retention efforts.

"The top 100 colleges and universities profiled in 'The Advocate College Guide' lead the way for the rest of higher education to be LGBT-friendly. These campuses take to heart the value of supporting all students," said Shane L. Windmeyer, executive director of Campus PrideNet and author of "The Advocate College Guide for LGBT Students."

For more information about Campus PrideNet or to order a copy of "The Advocate College Guide for LGBT Students," visit www.campuspride.net.