We have a variety of gender-inclusive housing options throughout our system. Graduate and undergraduate students can be placed in a gender-inclusive room in one of our many residential communities on campus and undergraduate students can also opt into our Gender Inclusive Living Experience (GILE).
What are the different room types available for gender inclusive living within Michigan Housing?
Residence hall assignments may include:
- Single or double rooms with a private bath
- Single or double rooms with a gender-inclusive bathroom in close proximity
- Single or double rooms with an attached bathroom (shared with another single or double room)
Apartment assignments may include:
- One-bedroom apartment with a kitchen and private bath
- Two-bedroom apartment with a kitchen and shared bath
Where are the gender-inclusive bathrooms located in Housing?
There are gender-inclusive bathrooms located throughout the residential communities. Please contact gender.inclusive.housing@umich.edu for additional information or specific inquiries.
Why is it important to offer Gender-Inclusive housing options?
Michigan Housing is committed to providing a safe, inclusive, and supportive living experience for all students living in the University of Michigan's residential facilities. The majority of the university's residential system limits living arrangements to same-gender roommate pairings, which does not meet the needs of some students. Gender inclusive housing options allow students who identify as transgender*, gender non-conforming*, cisgender* and similar the ability to choose a roommate of any gender or gender expression. Gender inclusive housing options help further develop a residential climate that is positive, respectful, and inclusive for all residents. Gender inclusive housing is voluntary.
Who can live in the Gender Inclusive Living Experience?
This housing option is open to all undergraduate students. The purpose of the Gender Inclusive Living Experience is to provide a safe space for transgender*, gender non-conforming*, cisgender*, and similarly identified students. Students who have an understanding of gender identity* and gender expression and are willing to actively contribute to an inclusive community can live in the Gender Inclusive Living Experience.
How are roommates chosen?
Applicants are encouraged, but not required, to self-select their roommate. If you are unable to identify a roommate, Michigan Housing will pair you with a roommate during the assignment process. You may also wish to consider completing the roommate finder on the Housing website to assist in finding a roommate.
How will the bathrooms work?
The Gender Inclusive Living Experience will have a gender-inclusive bathroom. This means that the bathroom will not be restricted to a specific gender. The Gender Inclusive Living Experience will also be close to gender-specific bathrooms. GILE community members who feel comfortable using gender-specific bathrooms are asked to utilize them. Bathrooms that meet the needs of all members of the community will be available. Gender Inclusive living options outside of GILE are located near gender inclusive and gender-specific bathrooms.
What if I still have questions?
If you have any questions or wish to discuss your interest or preferences, please send an email to gender.inclusive.housing@umich.edu.
- Transgender is a term used for people whose gender identity, expression or behavior is different from those typically associated with their assigned sex at birth, including but not limited to transsexuals, cross-dressers, androgynous people, gender queer and gender non-conforming people.
- Gender non-conforming refers to a person whose behavior or appearance does not conform to predominant cultural and social expectations about what is appropriate for their gender.
- Gender identity is an individual's internal sense of being a man, a woman, both, neither, two-spirit, multi-gender, bi-gender, or another configuration of gender. Since gender identity is internal, one's gender identity is not necessarily visible to others.
- Gender expression is the external manifestation of one's gender identity, usually expressed through clothing, haircut, voice and other forms of expression.
- Cisgender is a term used to describe people who, for the most part, identify as the gender they were assigned at birth. For example, if a doctor said “it's a boy!” when you were born, and you identify as a man, then you could be described as cisgender.
Interested in Gender Inclusive Housing? Visit the GILE page Or complete the Gender Inclusive Housing Form.