Paper Title
MAPPING DIVERSITY AT UNIVERSITY: A QUANTITATIVE STUDY OF LGBTI INCLUSION

Abstract
Despite widespread nondiscrimination policies, LGBTI (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex) students in higher education continue to face significant barriers to full participation and well‐being on campus. This study demonstrates how proactive, evidence‐based diversity‐management frameworks, originally developed for the corporate sector, can be recalibrated to advance LGBTI inclusion within a university’s strategic plan. A campus‐wide survey (N = 2,448) was developed to map prevailing attitudes toward diversity and inclusion. The inclusion of LGBTI students in higher education requires more than symbolic gestures. To foster educational equity, universities must implement proactive, structurally embedded practices that affirm diverse gender and sexual identities. This study offers evidence-based recommendations for institutional leaders seeking to cultivate inclusive, supportive academic environments. Keywords - LGBTI students, higher education, diversity, inclusion, campus climate, trans students, belonging