South Carolina Gamecocks Beat the Field, Rank No. 1 in 2009 Trojan(R) Sexual Health Report Card

Posted on October 27, 2009

Fourth Annual Trojan Sexual Health Report Card Ranks Access to Sexual Health Resources and Information at Major NCAA Colleges and Universities

PRINCETON, N.J., Oct. 27 /PRNewswire/ — The state of sexual health information and resources at major American colleges and universities was revealed today with the release of the 2009 Trojan® Sexual Health Report Card. The yearly ranking, which measures access and availability of sexual health information and resources across 141 colleges and universities, rates the University of South Carolina number one in making such information available, besting last year’s number one seed Stanford University (2), followed by the University of Connecticut (3), Columbia University (4) and Florida Atlantic University (5).

According to independent research firm Sperling’s BestPlaces, which fielded the study, positive feedback from students, and resources offered by the University of South Carolina health center helped the school rise to the top. Since the Trojan Sexual Health Report Card’s inception four years ago, the Gamecocks have finished no worse than 11th in the country.

“What really impressed us about the University of South Carolina, and what helped the school’s ranking was the high levels of trust students put in the campus health center,” said Bert Sperling, President of Sperling’s BestPlaces. “In fact, trust played a pivotal role in this year’s findings with centers that had higher levels of trust in student polls, like South Carolina’s, tending to score much higher.”

On the other end of the spectrum, DePaul University (141) ranks last in this year’s rankings. Brigham Young University (137), Baylor University (138), Providence College (139) and St. John’s University (140) round out the bottom five.

“Our goal with this study is to increase awareness, spark conversation and get people talking about and advocating positively for sexual health on college campuses,” said Bruce Tetreault, Group Product Manager for Trojan Brand Condoms. “Access to information and resources is critical in allowing students to make informed decisions about their sexual health. We applaud those schools that make this information available to students.”

Schools that improved their rankings include the University of Louisiana-Monroe, which jumped 80 spots to finish at number 29, following a surge of positive student opinion poll responses.

Other big movers in this year’s survey include Dartmouth College (2008: 68; 2009: 19), East Carolina University (2008: 78; 2009: 34), San Diego State University (2008: 105; 2009: 33), and the University of Maryland (2008: 63; 2009: 12).

Report Card Rivalries

The Trojan Sexual Health Report Card analyzes the 141 colleges and universities in the major NCAA conferences, and adds new context to some of the more heated collegiate rivalries.

From a conference wide standpoint, Ivy League schools continued their dominance in the Report Card rankings this year, as the conference most known for its academic prowess saw Columbia, Brown and Cornell University all land in the top ten. This is the first time three Ivies have landed in the top ten since the Report Card was created, and helped contribute to the conference’s 2.98 overall GPA (out of a possible 4.0).

The Big Ten ranked second overall (2.88 GPA) followed by the SEC (2.75), Pac-10 (2.75), ACC (2.73), MAC (2.63), Big 12 (2.58), C-USA (2.51), Mountain West (2.45), Sun Belt (2.38), WAC (2.31) and the Big East (2.17).

Some key findings include:

•    The University of Florida and the University of Oklahoma may have played a close BCS title game on the football field, but for sexual health resources, Florida ran up the score, coming in at 24th overall, compared to Oklahoma’s 81st place ranking.
•    The UConn Huskies, who had a banner year for their men’s and women’s basketball teams, staked their place in the top ten for the second year in a row, as the school achieved a 3.38 GPA, springing them to number 3 in this year’s rankings.
•    The University of Texas-Austin continued their conference dominance, as the Longhorns rank as the highest member from the Big 12, coming in at number 11. The Longhorns have cracked the top 20 of the Trojan Sexual Health Report Card two years in a row.
•    Sunny forecast for the Sunshine State: Five Florida Schools rank in the top 50 of the Sexual Health Report Card this year: Florida Atlantic University, University of Florida, University of Central Florida, Florida International University and the University of South Florida.

Methodology

To develop this year’s rankings, researchers at Sperling’s BestPlaces analyzed data from campus health centers and student opinion polls across 13 separate categories. Based on this analysis, each category was assigned a letter grade and a cumulative GPA was calculated, based on a four point scale.

Sexual Health Report Card Categories:

1.    Student opinion of health center
2.    Health center hours of operation
3.    Availability of patient drop-in vs. appointment only
4.    Availability of separate sexual awareness program
5.    Contraceptive availability and cost
6.    Condom availability and cost
7.    HIV testing, cost and locality (on- vs. off-campus)
8.    Other STI testing, cost and locality (on- vs. off-campus)
9.    Availability of anonymous advice via email / newspaper column
10.    Existence of lecture / outreach programs
11.    Existence of student peer groups
12.    Availability of sexual assault programs
13.    Website usability and functionality

Schools that did well in this year’s Report Card tended to score uniformly high across all categories, while those ranked towards the bottom were less consistent in category grades.

“The Trojan Sexual Health Report Card is an important tool in understanding the availability of sexual health resources and information on campuses across the country,” added Tetreault. “The fact is, only one in three sex acts among singles involves a condom(1). It is our hope that these findings will empower students to advocate for change to ensure sexual health resources and information, including condoms, are consistently and universally available.”

Trojan 2GO®, a new condom two-pack in a thin, protective and discreet plastic case, is the latest innovation from the makers of Trojan Brand Condoms. The new product, which is designed to go anywhere and standup to purses, wallets, pockets and backpacks, is sold at the checkout counters of many drug and convenience retail locations, making it a must-have accessory for any sexually active college student.

Trojan 2GO® is sold for an average suggested retail price of $3.99.

For more information on these products and the Report Card findings, people can visit www.trojancondoms.com. Full Trojan Sexual Health Report Card results are available at the bottom of this release.

(1) Trojan IU Compliance Study 2009; data on file

ABOUT TROJAN® BRAND CONDOMS
TROJAN® Brand Condoms are America’s #1 condom and have been trusted for more than 90 years. TROJAN® Brand Latex Condoms are made from premium quality latex to help reduce the risk of unwanted pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections. Every condom is electronically tested to help ensure reliability. There are over 29 varieties of TROJAN® Brand Condoms. More Americans trust the TROJAN® brand than any other condom. For more information visit www.trojancondoms.com.

ABOUT SPERLING’S BESTPLACES
Bert Sperling has been helping people find their own “Best Place” to live, work and retire for more than 20 years. His firm, Sperling’s BestPlaces, puts facts in the hands of the public so they can make better decisions about best places to live, work, retire, play, or relocate. His bestselling books, Cities Ranked and Rated and Best Places to Raise Your Family, are published by John Wiley & Sons. More information about Bert and his work is available at www.bestplaces.net.

Contact:
Bjorn Trowery, Edelman. 212-704-4556, bjorn.trowery@edelman.com

Allison Goldstein, Edelman. 212-704-4511, allison.goldstein@edelman.com

Complete Trojan Sexual Health Report Card Rankings

Overall Rankings

2009 2009 2008 School Conference
Overall rank rank
GPA

3.43       1       8 University of South Carolina    SEC
3.40       2       1 Stanford University             PAC 10
3.38       3       6 University of Connecticut       Big East
3.24       4       2 Columbia University             Ivy League
3.23       5      18 Florida Atlantic University     Sun Belt
3.21       6       9 University of Georgia           SEC
3.17       7      36 Michigan State University       Big 10
3.17       8       3 Cornell University              Ivy League
3.15       9      17 Brown University                Ivy League
3.15      10      20 Duke University                 ACC
3.15      11      16 The University of Texas At      Big 12
Austin
3.14      12      63 University of Maryland          ACC
3.13      13      13 University of Michigan          Big 10
3.12      14      26 University of Illinois          Big 10
3.11      15      41 Yale University                 Ivy League
3.08      16      15 Oregon State University         PAC 10
3.01      17      30 North Carolina State            ACC
University
3.01      18      14 Pennsylvania State University   Big 10
3.01      19      68 Dartmouth College               Ivy League
3.00      20       7 West Virginia University        Big East
2.98      21      42 University of Colorado          Big 12
2.98      22      11 University of Oregon            PAC 10
2.97      23      28 Ohio State University           Big 10
2.95      24      47 University of Florida           SEC
2.95      25      56 University of Central Florida   C-USA
2.95      26      12 Louisiana State University      SEC
2.94      27      38 Western Michigan University     MAC
2.94      28      53 University of Virginia          ACC
2.93      29     109 University of Louisiana At      Sun Belt
Monroe
2.93      30      31 Ball State University           MAC
2.92      31       4 University of Iowa              Big 10
2.91      32      24 Mississippi State University    SEC
2.90      33     105 San Diego State University      Mountain West
2.88      34      78 East Carolina University        C-USA
2.87      35      27 University of North Carolina    ACC
2.85      36      75 Florida International           Sun Belt
University
2.84      37      40 University of Southern          PAC 10
California
2.82      38      55 University of Kentucky          SEC
2.82      39      46 Colorado State University       Mountain West
2.81      40      49 The University of Alabama       SEC
2.80      41      51 University of California        PAC 10
2.79      42      50 Northern Illinois University    MAC
2.79      43      35 University of Wisconsin         Big 10
2.79      44      79 Texas A&M University            Big 12
2.78      45      21 University of Pennsylvania      Ivy League
2.77      46      58 Washington State University     PAC 10
2.76      47      84 Kansas State University         Big 12
2.75      48      64 University of Missouri          Big 12
2.74      49      22 Indiana University              Big 10
2.73      50      66 University of South Florida     Big East
2.73      51      33 Bowling Green State University MAC
2.72      52      32 Rutgers University              Big East
2.72      53      34 Tulane University of Louisiana C-USA
2.71      54       5 University of Denver            Sun Belt
2.71      55      45 Western Kentucky University     Sun Belt
2.71      56      48 University of Kansas            Big 12
2.70      57      76 University of New Mexico        Mountain West
2.70      58      23 University of Minnesota         Big 10
2.69      59      95 Miami University-Oxford         MAC
2.69      61      83 California State                WAC
University-Fresno
2.69      61      29 Princeton University            Ivy League
2.68      62      25 Harvard University              Ivy League
2.68      63      61 Ohio University                 MAC
2.67      64     n/a University of Nevada-Reno       WAC
2.67      65     108 University of Mississippi       SEC
2.67      66     101 Clemson University              ACC
2.66      67      65 Rice University                 C-USA
2.65      68      44 University of Miami             ACC
2.65      69      99 University of Louisville        Big East
2.65      70      39 University of Arizona           PAC 10
2.64      71      52 Virginia Tech                   ACC
2.64      72      70 Wake Forest University          ACC
2.62      73     126 Indiana University-Purdue       Independents
University-Indianapolis
2.62      74      62 Eastern Michigan University     MAC
2.62      75      73 University of Pittsburgh        Big East
2.61      76      19 Syracuse University             Big East
2.61      77      54 Purdue University               Big 10
2.60      78      69 University of Southern          C-USA
Mississippi
2.60      79      88 Florida State University        ACC
2.60      80      57 University of North Texas       Sun Belt
2.59      81      92 University of Oklahoma          Big 12
2.58      82      91 Southern Methodist University   C-USA
2.58      83      10 University of Wyoming           Mountain West
2.58      84      87 University of Memphis           C-USA
2.56      85      59 University at Buffalo           MAC
2.56      86      71 San Jose State University       WAC
2.53      87      43 Georgia Tech                    ACC
2.53      88      90 Northwestern University         Big 10
2.52      89      81 Central Michigan University     MAC
2.52      90     123 Texas Tech University           Big 12
2.52      91      74 University of Washington        PAC 10
2.51      92      60 Kent State University           MAC
2.50      93      85 University of Akron             MAC
2.49      94      93 The University of Texas-Pan     Independents
American
2.49      95      94 University of Houston           C-USA
2.48      96      37 University of Nebraska          Big 12
2.47      97      77 University of Nevada-Las Vegas Mountain West
2.47      98     102 Boise State University          WAC
2.47      99      82 University of Tulsa             C-USA
2.45     100      86 The University of Tennessee     SEC
2.42     101      72 University of Arkansas Main     SEC
Campus
2.38     102     110 Air Force Academy               Mountain West
2.38     103      96 Iowa State University           Big 12
2.36     104     100 University of Arkansas At       Sun Belt
Little Rock
2.35     105     107 University of South Alabama     Sun Belt
2.35     106     129 University of Cincinnati        Big East
2.33     107     104 University of Utah              Mountain West
2.30     108     111 University of Hawaii At Manoa   WAC
2.29     109     121 New Mexico State University     WAC
2.28     110      97 Utah State University           WAC
2.28     111      67 Oklahoma State University       Big 12
2.28     112      80 Vanderbilt University           SEC
2.28     113     119 Arizona State University        PAC 10
2.27     114     106 Texas Christian University      Mountain West
2.26     115      89 The University of Texas At El   C-USA
Paso
2.25     116      98 Middle Tennessee State          Sun Belt
University
2.19     117     131 Utah Valley State College       Independents
2.16     118     117 University of California-Los    PAC 10
Angeles
2.14     119     115 Auburn University               SEC
2.14     120     n/a The University of Alabama at    C-USA
Birmingham
2.13     121     124 Georgetown University           Big East
2.08     122     112 Savannah State University       Independents
2.05     123     133 University of Toledo            MAC
2.03     124     118 University of New Orleans       Sun Belt
1.94     125     114 Villanova University            Big East
1.93     126     127 Boston College                  ACC
1.93     127     120 Chicago State University        Independents
1.92     128     113 University of Idaho             WAC
1.90     129     130 Marquette University            Big East
1.75     130     136 University of Notre Dame        Big East
1.74     131     128 Marshall University             C-USA
1.71     132     116 Troy State University           Sun Belt
1.71     133     122 Seton Hall University           Big East
1.64     134     135 Louisiana Tech University       WAC
1.63     135     103 University of Louisiana At      Sun Belt
Lafayette
1.58     136     125 Arkansas State University       Sun Belt
1.57     137     132 Brigham Young University        Mountain West
1.54     138     134 Baylor University               Big 12
1.37     139     137 Providence College              Big East
1.24     140     138 St. John’s University           Big East
0.62     141     139 DePaul University               Big East

CONTACT: Bjorn Trowery, +1-212-704-4556, bjorn.trowery@edelman.com or Allison Goldstein, +1-212-704-4511, allison.goldstein@edelman.com, both of Edelman