Climate Survey 2021

Capital University Law School proudly and intentionally seeks out LGBTQ+ prospective students through a variety of methods including: targeted emails to those who self-identify through the Law School Admission Council’s (LSAC) Candidate Referral Service; our annual sponsorship and presence at the Stonewall Columbus Pride Parade and Festival, which boasts attendance of over 800,000 people each year, and includes invitations to all prospective and admitted students; display and distribution of Capital Law and LSAC branded LGBTQ+ promotional materials at all law student recruitment events and Capital Law future student events; and annual and consistent participation in the LSAC’s LGBTQ+ Guide to Law Schools available at: https://www.lsac.org/discover-law/diversity-law-school/lgbtq-and-law-school/law-school-lgbtq-survey-results/capital

In 2020, Capital University Law School Office of Admission began offering students the opportunity to self-identify as LGBTQ+ in admission applications, in addition to opportunities to provide their chosen first name and gender identity. For the past several years we have accessed the information from the LSAC. Our Office of Professional Development allows students to utilize their chosen name and gender identity in Symplicity, the Law School’s career management system. Our Office of Records and Registration likewise allows students to utilize their chosen name and gender identity on class rosters. Beginning in 2021, we also offered students an anonymous, voluntary collection survey to indicate LGBTQ+ status.

Job postings are shared with local, regional, and national affinity groups/bar associations. 

Beginning in 2021, the University implemented an HR policy to ensure diverse hiring that states: 

● The search chair/hiring manager meets with the diversity officer (currently the director of Human Resources) to discuss diversity initiatives, including the formation of a diverse search committee, posting the position on job sites that target diverse applicants, and legal considerations. 

● The search chair/hiring manager will review the Non-Discrimination Policy with the respective search committee. 

● When considering candidates for final interviews, the final pool must include a person of color who meets the qualifications of the position for the process to proceed. The Human Resources director is available to discuss and implement additional strategies to attract a diverse candidate pool.  

● After a decision has been made on a hire, a final report must be sent to the Human Resources director that summarizes the diversity of the candidates interviewed and the pool of final candidates. 

Beginning in 2020, we also offered staff/faculty/administrators an anonymous, voluntary collection survey to indicate LGBTQ+ status.

Capital University’s employee medical benefits policy does include a specific section on Gender Dysphoria, which includes hysterectomies for Female to Male, as well as many other surgery treatments (outlined for both Male to Female and Female to Male). There is not anything in the policy that limits genders for the services mentioned. However, the assisted reproduction services are an exclusion for all – therefore equal, but can be considered not fully inclusive given the benefits offered under “Pregnancy – Maternity Services.”

Capital University’s parental leave policy (“Paid Parental Leave”) provides, as an employee benefit, for eight weeks of job-protected parental leave at full regular pay for parents, mother and/or father, to use within 12 months of the birth of a child or placement of a child through surrogacy, adoption or foster placements. A “parent” includes a biological, adoptive, step, or foster parent, or an individual who stands in loco parentis (or in the place of a parent).

Capital University’s employee medical benefits policy does include a specific section on Gender Dysphoria, which includes hysterectomies for Female to Male, as well as many other surgery treatments (outlined for both Male to Female and Female to Male). There is not anything in the policy that limits genders for the services mentioned. Services include:

■ Cross-sex hormone therapy:

– Cross-sex hormone therapy administered by a medical provider

– Cross-sex hormone therapy dispensed from a pharmacy

■ Puberty suppressing medication injected or implanted by a medical provider in a clinical

setting.

■ Laboratory testing to monitor the safety of continuous cross-sex hormone therapy.

■ Surgery for the treatment for Gender Dysphoria, including Genital Surgery and Bilateral Mastectomy or Breast Reduction Surgery.

Capital University Law School does not offer health benefits to any law student or to their spouse/registered domestic partner.

Doug Buzenski, Counselor for the Center for Health and Wellness has also completed numerous trainings and has clinical experience working with LGBTQ+ clients in various settings.

In 2020, the University expanded its partnership with The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center to include counseling services for all Capital students. OSU Wexner is committed to developing and training medical professionals to embrace DEI for all persons and to ensuring patients are treated with dignity and respect. https://wexnermedical.osu.edu/about-us/diversity.

Capital University Law School provides gender-neutral restrooms. Signage identifies the facilities as “All Gender Restroom” in compliance with campus signage rules.

Capital University Law School offers the course 846 – Sexual Minorities and the Law. Critical Race Theory also focuses on issues of identity and power.

Capital University Law School has an active, visible, and supported LGBTQ+ and ally student affinity organization called the Capital Equality Alliance. Student Affairs provides annual funding to Capital Equality Alliance. Provided in part by the generosity of donors and alumni, the Office of Professional Development will reimburse up to $50 of a student’s registration fee for job fairs and similar opportunities. Students have utilized these opportunities to attend events like Lavender Law, and other LGBTQ+ related professional fairs.