Transgender Resources : Programs and Services for Our Transgender Community
The university has also established a number of programs and services to support its commitment to an inclusive environment for transgender students, staff, faculty and alumni.
Safe Place Project
The Safe Place project "promotes the creation of a safe space defined by equality, free from discrimination and hate. It is a public proclamation of support and affirmation of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning members of the community." Departments and individuals are provided the opportunity to post a placard in their office to show support for the LGBT community. For additional information, contact safe_place@cornell.edu.
Universal Restrooms
The university has established a number of universal restrooms throughout the campus to provide for gender free facilities. In many cases, these facilities are also handicap accessible and have diaper changing stations, toddler seats. For the locations of the universal restrooms:
Anabel Taylor , Ground Floor (male/female/handicap accessible)
Caldwell Hall, Two in the Basement (male/handicap accessible and women/handicap
accessible)
Carpenter Hall , First Floor (male/female/handicap accessible/diaper changing
station)
Gannett, First Floor (multi-gender figure/handicap accessible)
Martha Van Rensselaer Hall, First Floor (male/female/handicap accessible)
Olin Hall, First Floor (male/female/handicap accessible)
Sage Hall, Basement near the copy center (male/female/handicap accessible)
Sibley Hall, First Floor near east side staircase, (male/female/handicap
accessible)
Space Sciences, Fourth Floor (male/female)
South Balch Hall, First Floor (male/female)
North Balch Hall, First Floor (male/female)
Tjaden Hall, Third Floor (male/female/handicap accessible)
Willard Straight Hall, Fourth Floor near the International Lounge (male/female/handicap
accessible)
Student Housing
Cornell University is committed to accommodating transgender students in on-campus housing.
Accommodating Transgender Students in On-Campus Housing
Cornell University makes housing and roommate assignments based upon students' biological sex. If you identify as a transgendered student and require a particular housing accommodation please contact Sharron Thrasher, the Director for Student Affairs and Diversity (SA&D) in Campus Life at (607) 255-5511. The Director for SA&D will discuss your needs with you either over the phone or in person. She will then consult with the Director of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual &Transgender Resource Center and the Director of Community Development (Residential Life) to determine how best to match your needs with the housing options available. Each request will be reviewed individually and with a commitment to provide a housing accommodation that is the most appropriate fit for you. (Housing options may be limited as a function of space availability.)
Many residence halls do have gender-free restrooms. The exact locations may change. Please contact residence hall staff for the locations of the current gender-free restrooms.
Records Issues
Changing your name on record:
- for Cornell students: contact the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Resource Center (LGBT RC).
- for Cornell staff and faculty: submit a copy of your social security card reflecting your new name to the local HR representative or bring your social security card to HR Records at 337 Pine Tree Rd., East Hill Plaza. Other forms of identification will not be accepted.
Cornell is committed to making the experiences of transgender faculty, staff, students, and alumnae/i as positive and supportive as possible. Unfortunately, due to differences in law effecting transgender people on federal, state, and local levels, we are not always able to do everything in the most convenient manner. Record-keeping is one of the areas in which federal government requirements limit what we are able to do. The name and gender recorded in our students and employee databases must coincide with the name and gender listed in the records of the Social Security Administration. If the records do not match, the SSA will notify us and instruct us to correct the discrepancy, which we must do.
We realize that although legal name changes are relatively straight forward in most jurisdictions, legal gender changes are much more complex and usually require surgical intervention, which can make them impossible for some people. Although Cornell must use your legal name and gender in our official records, we want to assure you that any discrepancy between your records and the name and gender you use in your day-to-day life should not create problems for you at Cornell. We are committed to a maintaining a safe, respectful, and supportive environment. Your records are confidential and we are happy to help you discuss any discrepancy between your records and your presentation with your supervisors, advisors, or other Cornell personnel, and to consult on any questions about how to handle the issue in the workplace, classroom, residence hall, or any other Cornell environment.
To discuss issues related to legal name and gender, please contact Gwendolyn Dean, Coordinator-Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Resource Center at gd35@cornell.edu.