PRINCETON, N.J., Oct. 23 (UPI) -- Columbia University in New York tops the annual Trojan Sexual Health Report Card for student accessibility to sexual health resources, the condom maker says.
The study, sponsored by makers of Trojan Brand Condoms, said for the second year in a row, Columbia University earned perfect scores in categories such as HIV testing for students, contraceptive availability, as well as the newly implemented "extra credit" category, which incorporated student testimonials to gauge sentiment on campus.
Sperling's BestPlaces analyzed more than 140 major campuses drawn from conferences within the Bowl Championship Series and beyond in all 50 states. Rounding out the Top 5 were the University of Illinois At Urbana-Champaign, Princeton University in New Jersey, Brown University in Rhode Island and Oregon State University.
Sperling's BestPlaces researchers collected extensive data via student health center representatives, along with follow-up secondary research on those centers and students on campus. Student health centers were graded on services across 13 separate categories, including:
-- Student opinion of Health Center.
-- Hours.
-- Allow drop-ins or require appointments.
-- Separate sexual health awareness programs for students.
-- Contraceptive availability, free or at cost.
-- Condom availability -- free or at cost.
-- HIV testing on-site (On/off campus, cost).
-- Sexually transmitted infections on-site (On/off campus, cost).
-- Anonymous advice for students available.
-- Lecture/outreach programs for sexual health issues.
-- Student peer groups.
-- Availability of sexual assault programs.
-- Web site functionality.
Ranked in the bottom five were: Seton Hall University, Chicago State University, the U.S. Air Force Academy, Brigham Young University and DePaul University.
