Data & Donuts

 31% of LGBT+ identified college students leave college for a semester or longer 1  33% of LGBQ and 38% of T* students seriously consider leaving their institution permenantly 2  Top reasons for LGBT+ students to leave: ◦ Isolation ◦ Feelings of Alienation ◦ Invisibility ◦ Hostile/Chilly Environment  1 Sherrill, J. M., and C. A. Hardesty The Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual Students' Guide to Colleges, Universities, and Graduate Schools. New York: New York University Press.  2 Rankin, S., Weber, G., Blumenfeld, W. and Frazer, S state of higher education for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people, Charlotte, NC: Campus Pride.

 The problem: ◦ Retention of non-traditional students:  Graduate  Adult  Transfer

 Fall 2012, No Graduate student focused programs ◦ Graduate students made up: 22% of respondents and 50% of students who didn’t visit the LGBTRC  Fall 2013, began LGBT+ Graduate Coffee Talks ◦ 10% of respondents were Graduate students made up less than 5% of students who don’t visit the LGBTRC

 Data says… ◦ Adult students do not feel that the LGBTRC is their space  Why?  100% - Age  33% - Age alone  47% - Communication with those of a different generation  19% - Uncomfortable around students ages 18 or younger

 LGBT+ Adult Student Organization  Coffee talks  Intergenerational programming  Additional outreach at TASOs