Atlanta's Emory University has received a 5-star rating in the latest LGBT Friendly Campus Climate Index, according to a media release issued by the university earlier today.

From Emory's Office of LGBT Life: “True to the institution’s commitment to diversity in all its forms, Emory University established a number of policies and procedures that create more access for students of all sexual and gender identities. To better communicate this commitment, President James Wagner was featured in an It Gets Better Project video last spring with a message of strength and hope on behalf of the entire university.”

Emory is also home to some 10 LGBT student and faculty organizations and regularly hosts events specific to the LGBT community.

Other Georgia schools included in the index were the University of Georgia (3 of 5 stars), Agnes Scott College (4 of 5 stars), Kennesaw State University (4 of 5 stars), Georgia Gwinnett College (3 of 5 stars), Southern Polytechnic State University (1.5 of 5 stars), Clayton State University (1.5 of 5 stars) and Valdosta State University (1.5 of 5 stars).

The index uses eight factors to rank universities and colleges across the country, including LGBT policy inclusion, support and institutional commitment, academic life, student life, housing programs, campus security, counseling and student recruitment. The annual Index is composed by Campus Pride, a national organization dedicated to creating LGBT-friendly learning environments in the nation's schools, colleges and universities. For more information, please visit www.campusclimateindex.org.