The University ranked 28th on the 2009 Trojan Sexual Health Report Card, receiving an overall “sexual health” GPA of 2.94 ­— a significant improvement from its 2008 ranking of 53rd.

The survey was conducted for the condom manufacturer by Sperling’s BestPlaces, an independent research firm that ranked higher education institutions on the availability of sexual health information and services based on factors including students’ opinions about their health center, the usability of health centers’ Web sites, the existence of student peer groups and sexual awareness programs, and the availability of services such as Sexually Transmitted Infection testing and anonymous advice.

“It isn’t a measure of sexual health but really sexual health awareness and the benefit of services provided for the students so they can make their own best choices,” BestPlaces Founder Bert Sperling said, adding that overall, the survey is being more widely recognized as a resource to see how different student health centers compare.

While the University placed 28th, Virginia Tech lagged behind in 71st. Other peer institutions with comparable academic rankings, like the University of North Carolina and Harvard University, also finished behind the University, placing 35th and 62nd, respectively. The University of South Carolina, on the other hand, paced the field en route to a No. 1 ranking, while Depaul University brought up the rear in 141st place — the lowest ranking of any school listed.

The student survey was available via a Facebook link and asked students questions about issues such as how effective the health center was, how willing they were to use the health center’s services and if they thought the health center was trustworthy. A questionnaire was also sent out via e-mail and administered by telephone to each school’s health center to gain a better idea of the availability of resources on campus, Sperling said.

Student Health also conducts its own surveying to gauge opinions of its services, said Jamie Leonard, interim director of the office of health promotion. For example, whenever students use the office’s services, they are given an optional evaluation.

“The Office of Health Promotion hasn’t received any complaints, and I think in the 13 categories [that were rated in the survey] we are doing very well,” Leonard said.

The only category that probably negatively affected the University’s ranking was the availability of anonymous advice for students, Leonard said, because useful medical advice requires an exact knowledge of the patient’s condition. Peer Health Educators, a group of student volunteers, work to raise awareness around Grounds on a variety of health topics — including sexual well-being.

“We work really hard to publicize and raise sexual health awareness on-Grounds,” PHE Patient Education Intern Megan Johnson said, adding that PHEs give presentations to large groups like fraternities, sororities and dormitory buildings to promote measures such as condom use and STI testing. She added that advisers are available for one-on-one consultations about a variety of topics like birth control options.