Salt Lake Community College Ranked Number One as the Most Affordable LGBTQ College

Students cut the ribbon at the 2019 grand opening of the Gender & Sexuality Student Resource Center.

Student Loan Hero recently published the latest Pride Index ratings, and Salt Lake Community College is ranked number one as the most affordable LGBTQ-friendly college. Developed by the nonprofit group Campus Pride, the index examines LGBTQ resources and support on college campuses. The index looks at several factors, including equity, access and inclusivity on college campuses. Institutions are rated on a scale of one to five stars. The ranking system is recognized as the industry standard in higher education.

Heather Maggio, President of the Queer Student Association at SLCC, credits the superior ranking "to a great group of teachers and administrators who care for the LGBTQ students at this school." Heather says instead of "taking a victory lap in celebration of this accomplishment, they are pushing to be even better, questioning what more could be done."

Since Peter Moosman was hired in 2019 as coordinator, he and the Gender and Sexuality Student Resource Center (GSSRC) have worked hard to increase SLCC's Pride Index score with positive results. Over the last year and a half, SLCC has improved from three stars to four.

"It's exciting, says Peter. "I'm so grateful for my team (past and present) members who have helped get us this far. We still have much work to do at SLCC, and I'm hoping this will empower SLCC to take a more serious look at LGBTQ+ equity and take the important steps to continue to improve our institution."

A crowd checks out the new Gender & Sexuality Student Resource Center.

While affordability was a significant factor for both Heather Maggio and Lauren Hamilton-Soule in choosing SLCC, they attribute the GSSRC for helping to make their experience at the college a wonderful one. Lauren says, "I've had a great experience at SLCC so far, and the Gender & Sexuality Student Resource Center has been the biggest reason for that. It's been a place where I feel like I can be and express myself."

SLCC student Pete Benda describes the center as a home. "I love the SLCC GSSRC for the amount of love they offer. They provide food, snacks, drinks and the comfort of a welcoming home always at your fingertips. There I am allowed to be my authentic and thriving self."

The Gender & Sexuality Student Resource Center (GSSRC) works with LGBTQ+ students from college access to graduation. The center, housed at South City Campus SCM 1-140, supplies programming and events to engage the college community in topics and issues surrounding gender and sexuality. The GSSRC is available Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

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