Williams College is committed to providing a welcoming environment for all of our students, including those who identify somewhere on the LGBTQ spectrum. Our work is fueled by active students, staff and faculty committed to making Williams, and the world, a better place for people to self-identify and celebrates their whole selves. LGBTQ life at Williams is integrated into all aspects of this living learning community. LGBTQ people are celebrated and thriving in athletics and academics in the Dean’s office and dining services. The LGBTQ population is incredibly diverse: LGBTQ students are active members of the Black Student Union, the Muslim Student Union, the hockey team and the dance department. Our lives are celebrated throughout the curriculum; be it in Women’s Gender and Sexuality Studies, in Latin@ Studies, in Economics, Art, or English.
Colleges & Universities
The Campus Pride Index is an overall indicator of institutional commitment to LGBTQ-inclusive policy, program and practice. How is this calculated?
| Region: New England | |
| City/State: Williamstown, MA | |
| Locale: Rural Community (less than 5,000) | |
| Student Population (FTE): 2,126 | |
| In-State Tuition: $48,030.00 | |
| Out-of-State Tuition: $48,030.00 | |
| Institution Website: http://lgbt.williams.edu/ |
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Institution Type: |
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| Baccalaureate College/University Private Institution Liberal Arts College Residential Campus |
LGBTQ Student Opportunities
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Colleges and universities want LGBTQ students, faculty and staff to be out and proud as part of the diversity of the campus community. The Campus Pride Index provides campuses the opportunity to come out as LGBTQ-friendly and take responsibility for continually improving their LGBTQ campus climate.
The Campus Pride Index features LGBTQ student opportunities by highlighting the positive work within higher education across the country. Prospective students and families may choose the best LGBTQ campuses searching the tool based on area of study, cost, location, type of campus and LGBTQ-inclusive policy, programs and practice for their college search.
Reminder: Learn more by signing-up for FREE to participate in Campus Pride's LGBTQ-friendly National College Fair Program in eight different cities and the Campus Pride National Online College Fair.
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Commitment to LGBTQ Issues
Our Synopsis
The Gender and Sexuality Resource Center (GSRC) –a project of The Davis Center– is a space to learn about gender, sex, and sexuality. The center is not just for women and gay people; the GSRC is for everyone who has a gender or sexuality (that is everyone!). The GSRC celebrates all sexualities and consensual decisions about sex. You can find information about choosing to wait to have sex, and about safer hookups. You can find information about online dating, and surviving sexual assault. The GSRC is also the only place to get safer sex supplies (condoms, dental dams, and more) 24/7. Just swipe into the Jenness House and go upstairs. The GSRC offers regular programing including: Anything But Straight in Athletics (for LGBTQ athletes) Fabulous! Gender Identity Discussion Group Pride Peers ThursGAY lunch LGBT Advisory Roundtable At Williams College we also have: Queer Student Union The Williams College Bisexual, Gay, Lesbian, and Transgender Alumni (BiGLATA) The Dively Committee
Highlights & Organizations
Overall Campus Pride Index Score
The Campus Pride Index has a strong theoretical research foundation in LGBTQ current programs, practices and policies for safer, more inclusive campus learning environments. The index tool has been tested extensively since 2001 and recently updated with new, higher LGBTQ national benchmarks in 2015.
The Campus Pride Index is a vital tool for assisting campuses in learning ways to improve their LGBTQ campus life and ultimately shape the educational experience to be more inclusive, welcoming and respectful of LGBTQ and ally people. The index is owned and operated by Campus Pride, the leading national nonprofit organization for student leaders and campus groups working to create safer, more LGBTQ-Friendly learning environments at colleges and universities. Campus Pride commends the campuses participating in the index and their willingness to come out, be visible and actively advocate for improving higher education for LGBTQ people.
Williams College
LGBTQ-friendly break-down by inclusion factors
| Sexual Orientation Score | 4.5 of 5 |
| Gender Identity/Expression Score | 4.5 of 5 |
| LGBTQ Policy Inclusion | 4 of 5 |
| LGBTQ Support & Institutional Commitment | 5 of 5 |
| LGBTQ Academic Life | 4.5 of 5 |
| LGBTQ Student Life | 5 of 5 |
| LGBTQ Housing & Residence Life | 3 of 5 |
| LGBTQ Campus Safety | 5 of 5 |
| LGBTQ Counseling & Health | 4.5 of 5 |
| LGBTQ Recruitment & Retention Efforts | 3.5 of 5 |
| Sections greyed out mean the campus does not offer those services | |
LGBTQ-Friendly Report Card
LGBTQ Policy Inclusion
| Non-discrimination statement inclusive of sexual orientation | |
| Non-discrimination statement inclusive of gender identity/expression | |
| Health insurance coverage to employees’ same sex partner | |
| Accessible, simple process for students to change their name on university records and documents | |
| Accessible, simple process for students to change their gender identity on university records and documents | |
| Students have option to self-identify sexual orientation on admission application or post enrollment forms | |
| Students have option to self-identify gender identity/expression on admission application or post enrollment forms |
LGBTQ Support & Institutional Commitment
| Resource center/office with responsibilities for LGBTQ students | |
| Paid staff with responsibilities for LGBTQ support services | |
| Ally program or Safe Space/Safe Zone | |
| Actively seek to employ diversity of faculty & staff including visible, out LGBTQ people | |
| Standing advisory committee that deals with LGBTQ issues | |
| LGBTQ alumni group |
LGBTQ Academic Life
| LGBTQ studies program | |
| LGBTQ specific course offerings | |
| Actively recruit faculty for LGBTQ-related academic scholarship | |
| New faculty/staff training opportunities on sexual orientation issues | |
| New faculty/staff training opportunities on gender identity issues | |
| LGBTQ faculty/staff organization |
LGBTQ Student Life
| LGBTQ & Ally student organization | |
| LGBTQ & Ally graduate student organization | |
| LGBTQ social fraternity/sorority | |
| Regularly plans LGBTQ social activities | |
| Regularly plans educational events on transgender issues | |
| Regularly offers educational events surrounding intersectionality of identities for LGBTQ people | |
| LGBTQ-inclusive career services |
LGBTQ Housing & Residence Life
| LGBTQ living space, theme floors and/or living-learning community | |
| Roommate matching for LGBTQ students to find LGBTQ-friendly roommate | |
| Gender-inclusive housing for new students | |
| Gender-inclusive housing for returning students | |
| Gender-inclusive/single occupancy restroom facilities in campus housing | |
| Gender-inclusive/single occupancy shower facilities in campus housing | |
| Trains residence life and housing staff at all levels on LGBTQ issues and concerns |
LGBTQ Campus Safety
| Procedure for reporting LGBTQ related bias incidents and hate crimes | |
| Active ongoing training for hate crime prevention | |
| Active outreach to LGBTQ students and student organization | |
| Trains campus police on sexual orientation issues | |
| Trains campus police on gender identity/expression issues | |
| Supports victims of LGBTQ sexual violence and partner violence |
LGBTQ Counseling & Health
| LGBTQ counseling/support groups | |
| Trans-inclusive trained counseling staff | |
| Free, anonymous and accessible HIV/STI testing | |
| LGBTQ-inclusive health information and safer sex materials available | |
| Trans-inclusive student health insurance policy which covers ongoing counseling services | |
| Trans-inclusive student health insurance policy which covers hormone replacement therapy |
LGBTQ Recruitment & Retention
| Annually participates in LGBTQ admission fairs | |
| LGBTQ student scholarships | |
| LGBTQ mentoring program to welcome and assist LGBTQ students in transitioning to academic and college life | |
| Special Lavender or Rainbow Graduation ceremony for LGBTQ students and allies | |
| Admission counselors receive LGBTQ-inclusive training and resources |
