College to Ask Students Their Sexual Orientation; Elmhurst College in Ill. Is First in Nation to Do So

The Ethics Daily website reports today (August 29, 2011) that an Illinois College -- affiliated with the United Church of Christ -- is poised to become the first school in the U.S. to ask prospective students about their sexual orientation.

Elmhurst College -- located just west of Chicago -- said its decision to add sexual orientation to the 2012-13 admissions applications is entirely optional and is aimed at promoting diversity on campus.

Dean of Admissions Gary Rold said, "We are trying to recruit students who are academically qualified and diverse, and we consider this another form of diversity."

The sexual orientation question -- located in the same section of the application that asks students about their religious affiliation -- asks: "Would you consider yourself to be a member of the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) community?"

Applicants who answer "yes" are eligible for a minority scholarship that covers one-third of tuition.