Washington, DC, January 17, 2012: Career Centers in higher education are gradually improving in providing services to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer ( LGBTQ ) students. However, OUT for Work's 2012 Career Center Certification Report indicates there is still much work to do with only six percent of the career centers surveyed earning an A+ Gold ranking.

The findings are based on a survey completed by 109 career resource centers in higher education. The survey is intended to gauge the current career tools, available resources, and programmatic efforts accessible to LGBTQ students through campus career centers. Career centers may earn an A+Gold, Gold, Silver, or Bronze certification ranking based on the responses from the annual survey.

See www.outforwork.org/resources/career_center/report/ for all findings of OUT for Work's 2012 Career Center Certification Report. [ Note: All university and college career center leaders are encouraged to contact OUT for Work to learn about the annual survey, and to participate in future years. ]

While modest, these results show progress over last year's scores. The University of Maine, The University of Pennsylvania, and The University of Texas at Dallas, for instance, surged from Silver level to a perfect A+ Gold ranking in just one year. The overall results indicate an increase in the proportion of Gold and Silver certified career centers and a decrease in the percentage of Bronze certified career centers from 2010 to 2011.

General findings show:

86.5 percent of the career centers surveyed provide tools, resources, information and/or advice to students on finding LGBTQ friendly employers;

37.5 percent of career centers at community colleges provide students with information in regards to 'coming out' on a resume; and

No career centers at Historically Black Colleges and Universities surveyed were yet found that perform outreach specifically to the LGBTQ student population.

"This year's report does a terrific job of breaking down the data demographically so that career centers are better able to compare standings amongst similar institutions," stated OUT for Work's Founder Riley Folds.

Current and future students, academic institutions, as well as employers are all encouraged to use the report as a means to support the needs of LGBTQ identified students. OUT for Work is committed to strengthening the tools, resources, and programs that career centers provide to their LGBTQ students by offering expert consultations, training opportunities, and resources to career center staff.

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About OUT for Work: OUT for Work functions as a complementary component in the total educational experience of LGBTQ college students; helping effect change in the development, evaluation, initiation, and implementation of career plans and opportunities. The nationally recognized nonprofit organization is dedicated to educating, preparing, and empowering LGBTQ college students as they transition from academia to the workplace.