GLBT Center
From WolfWikis
The GLBT Center is a part of the Department of Campus Activities
Contents |
Mission Statement
The mission of the NC State GLBT Center serves the mission of NC State University by creating, maintaining, and strengthening an inclusive and safe campus environment for people of all sexualities and gender identities. This is accomplished through awareness and educational programs, individual consultation and referral, student organization advisement, advocacy, ally support and development, and community outreach on and off campus. The Center supports success by working to create a campus that is both diverse and inclusive and conducts ongoing assessment to monitor its progress in this regard.
Main Functions
- Provide a safe and welcoming space for the GLBTQI and ally communities.
- Serve as a resource center.
- Educate the GLBTQI and larger university communities.
- Represent the GLBTQI community and serve as its advocate.
- Promote ally development through Project SAFE and other programs.
History
In the 2006-07 academic year, the GLBT Subcommittee of the University Diversity Advisory Council (UDAC) submitted a proposal to create a gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) center. The UDAC, Student Senate and Faculty Senate endorsed the Proposal for a GLBT Center. On Wednesday January 23, 2008 the GLBT Center officially opened with a ceremony attended by an estimate of 150 people from the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and ally communities.
A recent survey placed NC State in the bottom 20 schools nationally, based on how welcoming the campus is perceived to be for GLBT students. The spring semester of 2003 marked the first official assessment on campus of the climate for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender students. The Transgender Needs Assessment was conducted by a doctoral student and focused on giving voice to GLBT student perspectives of campus climate.
NC State’s 2004 Student Diversity Climate Survey collected data on a wide range of climate issues. All undergraduate and graduate students were invited/encouraged to provide input, and a total of 3296 undergraduates and 1320 graduate students did so.
- Of the 3146 undergraduates who declared their sexual orientation:
- 96.79% identified as heterosexual
- 3.15% identified as gay, lesbian, or bisexual
- .06% identified as transgender.
- Of the 1282 graduate students who declared their sexual orientation:
- 95.4% identified as heterosexual
- 4.29% as gay, lesbian, or bisexual
- .31% as transgender.
The 2004 campus climate survey revealed that GLBT students are the most likely of all students to feel threat of harm to themselves or their belongings and to experience the highest levels of verbal harassment, particularly in residence halls. These results run counter to our mission at NC State University, and the kind of campus culture we strive to maintain.
The university has had GLBT programs and services (established in 2004), provided part-time by a graduate student in the Department of Campus Activities. Numerous faculty and staff members have been providing voluntary programmatic and advising support to the student organization for almost twenty years.
We are currently members of the Consortium of Higher Education LGBT Resource Professionals and the American College Personnel Association (ACPA) Standing Committee for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Awareness.
Programs & Services
AEGIS
AEGIS (Accepting and Embracing Gender Identity and Sexuality) is our GLBT student organization on campus. Their purpose is to provide communication and support to the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender communities at NC State University. All undergraduate and graduate students are welcome to participate in their activities. The mission is to cultivate a campus environment that provides a safe and positive college experience for all students regardless of perceived or realized sexual orientation. More information can be found on the AEGIS website.
Project Safe
Project SAFE is an ally training program conducted multiple times throughout the year by experienced and trained facilitators. Each session is approximately 3 hours, and is designed to cover a broad array of material. Each participant receives a complete set of Project SAFE materials to keep. To learn more about Project SAFE and to register for an upcoming training session go to the Project SAFE Website. The expectations of Project SAFE training sessions are:
- Promote a learning environment
- Active participants
- Sharing of knowledge, thoughts, and ideas
- Openness to diversity and individual differences
Everyone Welcome Here Series
Everyone Welcome Here is a series of programs and events that occur throughout the year to promote awareness about issues facing the GLBT community. There is something for everyone. Some past programs/events included: brown bag lunch programs, HIV screening, film showings, panel discussions, and social events. Through these programs and events we hope to educate the campus community and promote awareness. An expansive series of this nature would not be possible without the generous support of campus and community partners.
We encourage everyone to attend! Watch for more information regarding the fall 2009 schedule by visiting the GLBT Center website.
We would like to thank previous sponsors:
- College of Physical and Mathematical Sciences
- College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
- College of Engineering
- Parents and Families Services
- Union Activities Board (Diversity and Issues/Ideas Committees)
- University Housing
- Multicultural Student Affairs
- Caldwell Fellows
- College of Education
- Human Rights Campaign
- College of Natural Resources
- Inter-Residence Council
- NC State Women's Center
- College of Humanities and Social Sciences
- West Campus Diversity Committee
- Replacements, Limited
- Presbyterian Campus Ministry
- Greek Life
- Avent Ferry and Wood residence halls
- Student Government Diversity committee
Mentor Program
Our mentor program was a new initiative starting in the Fall of 2008. The goal of the program is to match an undergraduate GLBT student with an out professional member of the GLBT community. This person could be someone that works full-time on campus, or a member of the local community. The GLBT Center will host a social in the fall after the semester starts so that mentors and mentees can meet each other. From that point the pairs will schedule their own time to meet on a monthly basis. Each month the GLBT Center will pay for lunches in an on campus dining facility if the pair chooses to meet during lunch.
If you are interested in participating in the program please email us at glbtcenter@ncsu.edu. You can also stop by the Center and talk with a staff member as well. For more information visit the GLBT Center website.
Speakers Bureau
In conjunction with AEGIS we have a Speaker’s Bureau program available. We will provide a brief lecture, handouts if necessary, and a panel of trained individuals to answer questions. If you would like a panel of GLBT individuals to come and speak to a class or student organization, visit the Speaker's Bureau webpage to fill out our online request form. Don’t miss this opportunity.
Our Intern for the GLBT Center coordinates this program and will be in touch with you regarding logistics and confirmation.
Alumni Constituency Group
In the Fall of 2007 a GLBT constituency group was formed through the NC State Alumni Association. Our kick-off event was held during Homecoming 2007 after the annual parade on Friday. We have plans for the group to be involved with Homecoming each year and other social opportunities. Watch for more information about upcoming events. If you are interested in being kept apprised of events/activities please sign up for our newsletter on the GLBT Center homepage.
Coffee Talks
Coffee Talks is a weekly discussion group led by a trained person from the Counseling Center. It is a time for students to come by and have discussions about various topics, meet other students, share concerns, or just hang out with friends. This valuable program was initiated by a graduate student intern with the NC State Women’s Center and a staff member from the Counseling Center in 2004 as a way to have informal interaction among members of the GLBT community. It has been in existence ever since. Due to space limitations and growth of the program, the weekly Coffee Talks will be held in another room in Talley Student Center outside of the Women’s Center. Please check the Talley Student Center daily room reservation schedule in the elevator for the location each week.
The best way to be kept informed about the schedule is to be a member of the AEGIS student organization listserv. For more information please visit the AEGIS website or email us at glbtcenter@ncsu.edu. Coffee Talks are held on Thursdays from 5:30 pm to 9:00 pm in Talley Student Center during the fall and spring semesters.