A growing number of students are coming out as transgender at colleges and universities across the country. 
However, most institutions have been unable to come to terms with their specific needs, much less put in place measures to create a more trans-supportive campus environment. This divide has meant that transgender and other gender-expansive students regularly run into hostile classmates, uneducated faculty and student affairs staff, insensitive campus health care providers, and school policies and practices that are based on binary gender categories.
Much has to be done by colleges and universities to create a more welcoming campus climate for transgender people and comply with Title IX. We’ve compiled a summary of 3 suggestions that can help campuses create a safe and inclusive institution for trans students.
- Educate yourself:
A study conducted by McKinney, found that “Many student affairs professionals overall rarely acknowledge the gender identity issues faced by transgender students”. Staff and faculty need to educate themselves about transgender issues if they are to truly assist all campus students.
Faculty and staff looking to educate themselves can attend an LGBTQ ally training. This program will equip college officials with the relevant tools needed to support LGBTQ students. For a list of campuses offering ally training sessions, visit: http://out.ucr.edu/programs/alliessafezone.html
Active Listening:
One of the key services that faculty and staff members provide to students is actively listening to their concerns. College officials may have limited knowledge of transgender students or the overall community, but just allowing students to express themselves can be helpful. Some transgender students do not have anyone in their lives who is supportive of them, so simply need someone who will listen to them. Staff and faculty should aim to provide students with a safe place to share their experiences. Over a period of time, discussions may lead to a better understanding of trans experiences and issues that range from having the institution recognize the student’s chosen name, the need for gender-inclusive bathrooms, or how a medical transition is affecting the student’s career and academic progress.
- Ask Relevant Questions:
Staff and faculty should ask questions and learn from their transgender students. Many trans students are open to educating others about transgender individuals and their everyday challenges. Some good questions faculty and staff may want to ask transgender students are:
- Which pronoun do you (student) use for yourself, he/she/they/ze?
- What name would you like me to call you?
- What issues, if any, are you facing on campus?
- Are there adequate facilities on campus to meet your needs (e.g., restrooms and locker rooms)?
To know more about creating safe and inclusive campus facilities for transgender students, join expert speaker Genny Beemyn in a Live Webinar on Wed, May 25, 2016. During the session, Genny will share strategies that will make your campus safer and more welcoming for transgender students.
