Gender Inclusive Housing

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The University of Connecticut seeks to provide a living environment welcoming to all gender identities. Since 2008, Gender Inclusive Housing has allowed for students of any gender to live together. Most students living in Gender Inclusive Housing are assigned to the 5th and 6th floors of Brock Hall in Alumni Quadrangle in traditional double rooms. Undergraduate students of any class standing who are guaranteed housing, may request to live in this community. (Other institutions with similar communities use labels such as LGBT Housing, Spectrum, etc.)

Values and Expectations

  • Participants must commit to maintaining a comfortable and safe living environment free from discrimination based on gender identity, gender expression and sexual orientation.
  • Students will respect assigned roommates’ different motivations for choosing this community.
  • Students will promote and use inclusive language as well as the chosen names and gender pronouns of community members.
  • Students will demonstrate openness and desire to develop their own understanding about gender identity, sexual orientation, and other identities.
  • It is the student’s choice to communicate with parents or family members about the decision to live in and participate in the GI Community. Residential Life and the Rainbow Center encourages this conversation between parents or family members and students about the housing choice so that they can be in support of the student’s decision. Residential Life and the Rainbow Center values the rights of its students and will not provide their personal residential information to anyone, including family members and/or guardians.
  • Students will educate their guests about the values and community expectations of the gender inclusive community.
  • Students understand they will be removed from the environment if they fail to abide by these standards.

Definitions

  • Co-ed floor/building: A floor or community in a residence hall for students of any gender.
  • Single-sex building: A building that is designated as male or female. A building in West Campus and East Campus are identified to house only female students.
  • Single-sex floor (co-ed building): A floor or community in a residence hall that is designated as male or female.
  • Gender Inclusive: A floor or community that allows for students of any gender to live together regardless of assigned sex.  Students who are assigned to this community must request to live in the community and accept the values and expectations.

Gender Transitioning Students

Students who are undergoing a gender transition process can find resources available at https://rainbowcenter.uconn.edu/transgender-uconn-quick-answers/

Who chooses the Gender Inclusive Community option?

The Gender Inclusive Community exists for a range of students, including those who do not live as the gender assigned they were assigned at birth; students who do not identify with any gender; students who identify as lesbian, gay or bisexual; students who wish to be allies to the transgender community; and students who appreciate the learning and growth stemming from experiences with gender diversity.

Like most universities, UConn discourages students of any sexual orientation who are in a relationship from living together in a residence hall space.

How does Residential Life manage vacancies in the community?

If there are anticipated vacancies, Residential Life will communicate to the current Gender Inclusive Community that we have available spaces if they know of others that may be interested in living in the Gender Inclusive Community.

If we continue to have vacancies, we would consider consolidating the Gender Inclusive Community from 2 floors to 1 floor as well as reaching out to self-identified allies to offer them the opportunity to live in the community.  Allies must also complete the Gender Inclusive Community Acceptance Form prior to assignment. If you have additional concerns feel free to contact Residential Life staff.

How can students indicate interest in the Gender Inclusive Community?

Students can select Gender Inclusive on their housing application (same section as Learning Communities). If a student has already submitted their application, they can write to livingoncampus@uconn.edu to indicate their interest in the community.

How are students assigned in the Gender Inclusive Community?

The Gender Inclusive Community allows for students of any gender to live together. Students can request a specific roommate- that roommate must also be in the Gender Inclusive Community and the request must be mutual.

What do the bathrooms look like in the Gender Inclusive Community?

Bathrooms in the Gender Inclusive Community are all-gender bathrooms. They are multi-stall, multi-shower facilities. All students in the community have access to the bathrooms at any time. The showers have individual stalls with shower curtains and toilets have individual stalls that lock.

What if a student identifies as transgender or non-binary and does not wish to live in the Gender Inclusive Community?

Residential Life works with transgender students and student who identify who identify outside of the gender binary on a case by case basis to assist them in finding compatible roommates and housing assignments that meet their needs.

Students who do not wish to live in the Gender Inclusive Community can reach out to Residential Life by emailing livingoncampus@uconn.eduand a staff member will reach out to the student to begin the conversation.

Why do we collect information about being an Ally?

This is located in MyHousing under preferences.LGBTQ Ally: I am open to being a roommate to a student who identifies as Lesbian, Gay, Bi-Sexual, Transgender, Queer, Questioning (LGBTQ). If a student indicates that they are an ally, we may reach out to them to help identify them as a possible roommate for a student who identifies in the community and may want to live in a different location.  Identifying as an ally will not cause automatic placement in the Gender Inclusive Community.

Is Gender Inclusive a Learning Community?

No, the Gender Inclusive Community is considered to be Special Interest Housing. Becoming a Learning Community creates an academic component to the community that students have not expressed interest in for various reasons.  Therefore, it is considered a Living Community which offers the space to live together without additional Learning Community specific staffing, coursework or requirements.

Contact Information and Additional Resources

If you would like to contact the Hall Director that works with students in the Gender Inclusive Community, please email Susie Scarbeck at susie.scarbeck@uconn.edu.

To discuss housing selection, housing assignment or room change details for the Gender Inclusive Community, please email Nate Knight at Nate.knight@uconn.edu. 

UConn's Rainbow Center also has additional resources and services to support students in the LGBTQIA+ and Allied Community.