Evaluation of Services and Program Development at the LGBTQ+ Student Life Office at an Elite Private University in the Midwest of the United States

This study evaluates the services and programming of the LGBTQ+ Student Life Office at a prestigious private university in the Midwest United States. Employing two established evaluation frameworks—the Council for the Advancement of Standards in Higher Education (CAS) and the Campus Pride Index (CPI)—the research provides a comprehensive assessment of the center's operational effectiveness, with a focus on ally training, Safe Space and Safe Zone initiatives, counseling and health services, event frequency and quality, and user experience. Comparative analysis with five peer institutions further contextualized the center's strengths and highlighted opportunities for growth. Findings indicate that the center performs strongly in most categories, particularly in delivering inclusive programming and fostering a supportive environment. However, limitations such as insufficient online event visibility and the disconnection from the formal LGBTQ+ alumni network were identified. To address these gaps, we proposed a future event idea—a career fair in partnership with the business school—and a structured student feedback survey for long-term service evaluation. This project not only contributes to institutional improvement but also offers a replicable model for evaluating and enhancing LGBTQ+ services across higher education settings.