College Student Experiences with an LGBTQ Ally Training Program: A Mixed Methods Study at a University in the Southern United States

Abstract

In recent years, many universities across the United States have instituted “ally” programs that have been designed to promote awareness and support of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning (LGBTQ) persons. While such ally programs have emerged at many colleges and are certainly publicly visible, little empirical research has investigated the impact that ally programs have on college students. The current study explores college student experiences with an LGBTQ ally training program located at a large university in the southern United States. Using a mixed methods approach, I analyze both qualitative responses (N = 66) and quantitative survey data (N = 804) to examine ally training program experiences. Results indicate that both awareness of the program and participation in the ally training program are related to supportive attitudes toward LGBTQ individuals.

KEYWORDS:

• Allies
• ally training program
• college students
• higher education
• LGBTQ
• mixed methods

Acknowledgments

I would like to thank Kathy Moxley for her dedication to campus ally programming, Adrienne Brune for her help with data collection for this project, the faculty who graciously allowed me to enter their classrooms, and Dr. MaryLou F. Worthen for her assistance with editing this manuscript. I would also like to thank the two anonymous reviewers for their contribution to the revisions of this manuscript.