The University of Iowa Wednesday announced that it will add new LGBTQ questions in its application for admissions, starting this fall.

Meanwhile, it also said that it is not mandatory for students to answer questions about their sexual orientation and gender identity. It's optional.

University of Iowa is the second U.S. institution of higher education to do so.

The university already has various measures in place to ensure gender and racial equality in the institution.

The UI in a press release claimed that it was the first college in the U.S. to officially recognize the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Allied Union (LGBT).

It also said that asking the applicants to declare their sexual orientations at the time of admission, reflects its foundational commitment to inclusion of all students regardless of one's origin or orientation.

"In the UI's strategic plan, The Iowa Promise, we state seven core values which guide every aspect of our mission: excellence, learning, community, diversity, integrity, respect and responsibility," said Michael Barron, assistant provost for enrollment management and executive director of admissions, in a release.

"The new LGBT question on our undergraduate application reflects our foundational commitment to inclusion of all students, no matter what their origin or orientation," he added.

On the other hand, the university believes that LGBTQ question will help in the students' success, besides their retention.

"LGBTQ students are important members of our campus community, and we want to provide them with an opportunity to identify themselves in order to be connected to resources and to build networking structures," said user interface chief diversity officer and associate vice president Georgina Dodge.

Students who do not wish to disclose their sexual identity will be allowed to maintain their privacy. "But for those who do, we want to demonstrate our appreciation of the diverse contributions they bring to our community," Dodge added.

"Our ultimate goal is to create an environment where all personal identities are celebrated, and increased visibility is certainly one way to help eliminate stigma," he said.

On the other hand, the university believes that LGBTQ question will help that the students success, besides their retention.