College in US asks gender identity in its application

One private university in the United States has added a question about students’ gender identity in its application and this has caught public’s attention.

Elmhurst College, a private liberal arts school in suburban Chicago affiliated with the United Church of Christ, asked its prospective enrollees, "Would you consider yourself a member of the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) community?" in the new application.

“It is the first time in the country to ask an optional question about students’ gender identity or sexual orientation in the application,” reported a local media in Chicago.

"All of the information that we glean from our admission applications is used to provide a wide variety of opportunities, services and programming that is appropriate to each individual students," said Gary Rold, dean of admission at the university.

“I think students who don’t want to answer it simply won’t answer it. That’s O.K.,” said Rold. “If students say ‘Yes’ in the question, an underrepresented group is awarded enrichment scholarship which covers one third of tuition fee,” he added.