The organization, Athlete Ally, a leading national nonprofit working as a leader in sport and LGBTQI+ equality, announced that Grand Valley State has earned a perfect 100 score on the Athletic Equality Index (AEI), making GVSU the first-ever in NCAA DII to go through the process and post a perfect score. 
 
Overall, the Lakers are now just one of 20 schools to receive a perfect score and can be mentioned with the likes of Arizona, Boston University, California, George Mason, Illinois, Miami, Ohio State, Pennsylvania, Southern Cal and Texas, as a leader in all areas of sport.
 
"We are honored and humbled to be recognized by Athlete Ally as the first Division II institution with a perfect Athletic Equality Index score," said Callie Youngman, GVSU assistant volleyball coach and the lead point person for the AEI process. 
 
"Grand Valley State athletics has a rich history of championship excellence and being at the forefront of innovation and the student-athlete experience in NCAA Division II. 
Being the first in NCAA Division II to partake in the Athlete Ally's Athletics Equality Index and joining an elite group of institutions in earning a perfect score aligns with our commitments, values and traditions. The Laker Inclusion Team recognizes inclusion as a central tenet of providing the best student-athlete experience possible and we believe that the AEI framework is helpful to not only our baseline policies and practices for LGBTQ+ equity but also to inform our work for intersectional inclusion. Athlete Ally was an outstanding key partner and we had support from a variety of offices and divisions across campus throughout the AEI process, so this was truly a 'team effort.' This is a moment to celebrate as well as a source of momentum to continue in the work we have left to do as an athletic department and GVSU community," added Youngman. 
 
Launched in 2017 and updated in 2019, this first-of-its-kind report provides a comprehensive look at how NCAA athletic departments are supporting their LGBTQ+ student-athletes, coaches, administrators, staff, and fans.
 
In the Athletic Equality Index, Athletic Departments are measured by the following policies, practices and resources:
 
• Nondiscrimination Policy
• Transgender Inclusion Policy
• Sexual Misconduct Policy
• Fan Code of Conduct
• Partnerships / Collaboration
• LGBTQ+ Educational Resources
• Staff Training
• Student-Athlete Training
 
A leader on and off the field of play, Grand Valley State has captured 13 NCAA DII Directors' Cup titles, commonly referred to as the national all-sports trophy, since 2003 and 22 consecutive GLIAC Presidents' Cup titles. 
 
About Athlete Ally
Athlete Ally believes sport will change the world when it welcomes and empowers all people. As a leading national nonprofit working at the intersection of sport and LGBTQI+ equality, Athlete Ally works to end the structural and systemic oppression that isolates, excludes, and endangers LGBTQI+ people in sport. We educate individuals and institutions to understand obstacles to inclusion for LGBTQI+ people and how they can build an inclusive culture. We work to ensure sport governing bodies, teams and leagues adopt policies that reflect the diversity of their constituents. We incubate athlete activism to advance LGBTQI+ equality in and through sport. For more information, visit www.athleteally.org or follow us on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.