OK, so it's not the U.S. News and World Report on colleges, but the University of Connecticut just whupped Yale, Harvard and Princeton in the Fourth Annual Trojan Sexual Health Report Card.
According to the study, UConn ranked third in the availability of sexual health resources and information, compared with Yale at No. 15, Princeton at 61 and Harvard at 62.
What does it mean?
The annual report card is prepared by an Oregon-based research firm called Sperling's BestPlaces — the firm that brings you research on the best places to live, work, relocate — that evaluates the availability of sexual health information and resources on 141 campuses throughout the country. The study was done for Trojan Brand Condoms.
"The study is about sexual awareness and making information available," said Bert Sperling, president of Sperling's BestPlaces. "It's not about sexual activities or about sexually transmitted diseases."
The researchers consider a range of factors, including contraceptive availability and cost (both UConn and Yale got a letter grade of B); the existence of lecture and outreach programs (UConn, A; Yale, B); the cost and availability of testing for sexually transmitted diseases (UConn, B; Yale, A); and the usability of college health websites (UConn and Yale, both a B).
Sperling said that in the category reflecting student opinion of the health center, UConn actually had the highest numeric grade of all the schools — a 3.57.
Amanda Sullivan, a sophomore who works as a volunteer in the university's "sexpert" program — students who conduct educational programs for their peers — said that at UConn, "We're very open about sexuality on campus and just letting people know there are different types of sexuality and it's better to be safe with sexuality than to not talk about it at all."
In recent years, UConn's rating has increased, while Yale's has moved up and down. In 2007, UConn ranked 87th, then went up to sixth last year. Yale was ranked first in 2006, then 41st in 2008, then bounced back this year.
Sperling said that, in general, finishing in the top 40 "is not a bad thing at all," while the top 25 colleges offer excellent programs and resources.
At the bottom of the list were schools such as DePaul University, Providence College and Brigham Young University. At many of the schools at the bottom of the list, Sperling said, "There really was no mention of sex whatsoever on the school's website: It was don't ask, don't tell."
Craig Roberts, who is chairman of the sexual health and clinical care coalition for the American College Health Association, said that the study "may have some value," but he believes that privately funded studies are always suspect. "I would call into question the veracity of their data and their methodology," said Roberts. Of such research, he said, "It's a marketing tool."
Sperling defended the quality of his firm's research, saying it took different approaches to researching various categories of its study. When considering the usefulness of a college's Web pages on health, the firm had a team of students evaluating the websites. For other questions, the firm used what he called "a targeted Facebook campaign."
The researchers also attempted to contact the college or university health center to check on the existence of various health services or resources, but they don't always hear back from every college or university, Sperling said.
At the University of Connecticut, Joleen Nevers, health education coordinator, said that she has been at the university for 10 years. "We strive to always provide excellent services for our students," she said.
Nevers said she is pleased to receive "positive feedback." Nevers oversees a comprehensive program that conducts extensive outreach, providing students with information on safe sex, abstinence, stress relief and other topics.
Luke Russell, a senior, who also works as a volunteer in the university's "sexpert" program, said, "I really do think we do have an excellent program."
A comment was not available on short notice from Yale University. Derek Tam, a junior, said, "I think Yale does have a very comprehensive system to deal with these issues."
According to the study, UConn ranked third in the availability of sexual health resources and information, compared with Yale at No. 15, Princeton at 61 and Harvard at 62.
What does it mean?
The annual report card is prepared by an Oregon-based research firm called Sperling's BestPlaces — the firm that brings you research on the best places to live, work, relocate — that evaluates the availability of sexual health information and resources on 141 campuses throughout the country. The study was done for Trojan Brand Condoms.
"The study is about sexual awareness and making information available," said Bert Sperling, president of Sperling's BestPlaces. "It's not about sexual activities or about sexually transmitted diseases."
The researchers consider a range of factors, including contraceptive availability and cost (both UConn and Yale got a letter grade of B); the existence of lecture and outreach programs (UConn, A; Yale, B); the cost and availability of testing for sexually transmitted diseases (UConn, B; Yale, A); and the usability of college health websites (UConn and Yale, both a B).
Sperling said that in the category reflecting student opinion of the health center, UConn actually had the highest numeric grade of all the schools — a 3.57.
Amanda Sullivan, a sophomore who works as a volunteer in the university's "sexpert" program — students who conduct educational programs for their peers — said that at UConn, "We're very open about sexuality on campus and just letting people know there are different types of sexuality and it's better to be safe with sexuality than to not talk about it at all."
In recent years, UConn's rating has increased, while Yale's has moved up and down. In 2007, UConn ranked 87th, then went up to sixth last year. Yale was ranked first in 2006, then 41st in 2008, then bounced back this year.
Sperling said that, in general, finishing in the top 40 "is not a bad thing at all," while the top 25 colleges offer excellent programs and resources.
At the bottom of the list were schools such as DePaul University, Providence College and Brigham Young University. At many of the schools at the bottom of the list, Sperling said, "There really was no mention of sex whatsoever on the school's website: It was don't ask, don't tell."
Craig Roberts, who is chairman of the sexual health and clinical care coalition for the American College Health Association, said that the study "may have some value," but he believes that privately funded studies are always suspect. "I would call into question the veracity of their data and their methodology," said Roberts. Of such research, he said, "It's a marketing tool."
Sperling defended the quality of his firm's research, saying it took different approaches to researching various categories of its study. When considering the usefulness of a college's Web pages on health, the firm had a team of students evaluating the websites. For other questions, the firm used what he called "a targeted Facebook campaign."
The researchers also attempted to contact the college or university health center to check on the existence of various health services or resources, but they don't always hear back from every college or university, Sperling said.
At the University of Connecticut, Joleen Nevers, health education coordinator, said that she has been at the university for 10 years. "We strive to always provide excellent services for our students," she said.
Nevers said she is pleased to receive "positive feedback." Nevers oversees a comprehensive program that conducts extensive outreach, providing students with information on safe sex, abstinence, stress relief and other topics.
Luke Russell, a senior, who also works as a volunteer in the university's "sexpert" program, said, "I really do think we do have an excellent program."
A comment was not available on short notice from Yale University. Derek Tam, a junior, said, "I think Yale does have a very comprehensive system to deal with these issues."
