Oregon State University Jumps 25 Places to Claim the Top Spot in the 2014 Trojan™ Sexual Health Report Card Rankings

EWING, N.J., Oct. 20, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Oregon State University tops the Trojan™ Sexual Health Report Card for the first time in the history of the rankings, making an unprecedented jump from No. 26 to the No. 1 spot in the 2014 rankings. The 9^th annual study sponsored by the makers of Trojan™ Brand Condoms and conducted by Sperling's BestPlaces, calls attention to the state of sexual health on campuses nationwide by ranking them according to accessibility of sexual health resources and information available to students on campus.

After taking a dip in the 2013 rankings to No. 26, down from two consecutive years in the top 10, Oregon State University - made a significant comeback and nabbed the No. 1 spot, dethroning last year's leader, Princeton University. Princeton University finds itself at No. 13, dropping 12 spots since the 2013 rankings.

"Oregon State University has shown dedication to improving its resources and worked hard over the past year to get back into the top 10 and come out on top," said Bert Sperling, president of Sperling's BestPlaces. "With high scores in condom availability, student health center hours of operation and the usability and quality of their sexual health website, the campus is a model for schools nationwide."   

New Big Man on Campus
After years of an Ivy League and Big Ten Conference rivalry for the number one spot on the Report Card, the PAC-12 upset the status quo and dominated the rankings with three schools placing in the top 10. In addition to the aforementioned Oregon State University, the University of Arizona dropped one spot to finish at No. 4, while Stanford University made an impressive fifteen place jump, coming in at No. 5. The Ivy League and Big Ten Conferences tied for second, with two schools each placing in the top 10. The Big 12, ACC and Big East rounded out the top ten with one school each.   

"The PAC-12 schools' rise into the top ten demonstrates how the annual rankings help to improve the availability of resources and information on sexual health on campuses nationwide," said Sperling. "The outside focus and attention placed on these programs has prompted schools to develop stronger sexual health initiatives and increase students' access to resources."

Top 10 Schools

1.     Oregon State University
2.     The University of Texas At Austin
3.     University of Maryland-College Park
4.     University of Arizona
5.     Stanford University
6.     University of Michigan
7.     Brown University
8.     Columbia University in the City of New York
9.     Syracuse University
10.   University of Wisconsin

Rising Stars
The University of Oregon showed the biggest improvement, jumping 31 spots from No. 48 to No. 17, while the University of Central Florida came in at a close second, rising 30 spots from No. 82 to No. 52. The University of Maryland broke into the top 10, moving up 15 spots from No. 18 to an impressive No. 3. 

"Of all the advantages that participating in the Trojan survey provides, perhaps the most beneficial component is spurring the motivation for innovation," said Courtney Weaver, Assistant Director of Health Promotion at Florida Atlantic University – Boca Raton. "The results of the survey give us the opportunity to catch a glimpse of what other universities offer to their students, which gets us thinking about what we need to do to push our own educational practices to the next level. Our overall goal for sexual health education is to deliver it in a fun, engaging manner while still promoting healthy and responsible decision making. Taking part in this survey keeps us on our toes and thinking outside the box."

Taking the School Rivalries out of the Stadium
The Trojan™ Sexual Health Report Card adds another layer of competition to the country's top rivalries in college football. 

• The University of Southern California continues to dominate on and off the field, topping UCLA by 20 spots, ranking No. 68 compared to UCLA's No. 88.
• The University of Texas beats the University of Oklahoma by a landslide, with the Longhorns coming in at No. 2 compared to the Sooners' rank of No. 91.
• The University of Georgia and the University of Florida may fight over who leads who on the field, but when it comes to sexual health resources on campus, University of Georgia wins with a No. 15 ranking compared to the University of Florida's No. 20.

"The Trojan™ Sexual Health Report Card has been a great way to identify schools that provide their students with access to the best sexual health resources," said Mark Gromosaik, Group Product Manager for Trojan™ Brand Condoms. "It allows schools to see where they need to improve and motivates them to get better each year. We're impressed with schools such as Oregon State University, who made vast improvements to their campus sexual health resources, providing their students with the best access to information and services and coming out on top in the rankings." 

Condom Compliance Higher Among College Age Adults
Trojan™ Brand Condoms conducted a recent study[1] in which condom attitudes and behaviors among American adults were examined. The study took a deeper look at college age adults (18-22 years old) and compared their condom use to that of older adults (23-34) and found that college age adults reportedly use condoms more than older ones. 64 percent of college age adults reported using a condom the last time they had sex compared to 54 percent of those ages 23-34. When it comes to STDs, the study found that college age adults are less likely to have STD scares than older ones, with 79 percent of those ages 18-22 saying they have not had a scare compared to 69 percent of those ages 23-34.

Sparking Change on Campus
Students and school health administrators can obtain information on how to spark change on campus by downloading The Trojan™ Sexual Health E-Toolkit. The kit is an easy-to-use, downloadable resource with the information and resources they need to stay sexually healthy on campus. Visit www.FactsAboutCondoms.com to download the kit or obtain fact-based insights, tips and resources on all things sexual health.

Rankings & Methodology
The Trojan™ Sexual Health Report Card is an annual ranking of the sexual health resources and information available to students on campuses nationwide. Independent research firm, Sperling's BestPlaces, analyzed 140 major campuses drawn from conferences within the Bowl Championship Series and beyond. These schools include students representing all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

Sperling's BestPlaces researchers collected extensive data via student health center representatives, along with follow-up secondary research on those centers and services they provide on campus. Student health centers were graded on services across 11 separate categories, including the following:

• Hours of operation
• Allow drop-ins or require appointments for student scheduling
• Quality of sexual health information and resources on website
• Contraceptive availability -- free or at cost
• Condom availability -- free or at cost
• HIV testing on-site (On/off campus, cost)
• STI testing on-site (On/off campus, cost)
• Lecture/outreach programs and student peer groups for sexual health education
• Sexual assault programs, resources or services
• Overall website usability and quality
• Extra credit

ABOUT TROJAN™ BRAND CONDOMS
TROJAN™ Brand Condoms are America's #1 condom and have been trusted for over 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 30 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.

Complete Trojan™ Sexual Health Report Card Rankings

[1] Trojan™ Condom Compliance Survey 2014

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