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All Gender Housing

What is all gender housing?

All gender housing is available for students who wish to reside together within a floor, room, or suite regardless of their gender, gender identity, or gender expression.

Where is all gender housing offered?

All gender housing is available in all housing styles across campus.

Who can live in an all gender area?

Any new or returning student who wants to, or is open to living with another student regardless of gender. This includes if you get along better with members of another gender, you have friends who want to live together regardless of gender, or if you are a transgender student who wants to live in a  comfortable and safe environment.

What is the difference between “all gender” and “co-ed”?

 Co-ed assumes there are two genders: male and female. All of our residence halls are co-ed by floor, wing or room. However, co-ed does not allow a person who does not identify as their biological sex or those who are transgender a comfortable space to live. All gender assumes there is a gender spectrum and allows for you to live with whoever you want regardless of gender, gender identity or gender expression.

What if parents don’t want their child to live in all gender housing?

We encourage you to have an open dialogue with your family so they can be supportive of your decision. We can only consider housing changes at the request of you, the student.

Can I have some examples of all gender housing?

In all gender housing, a double room will house two students of the same or different genders, any of whom could be cisgender or transgender. Roommates may be women, men, nonbinary people, or any other gender, in any combination. For instance, a room may house two men, two women, a man and a nonbinary person, a woman and a man, two nonbinary people, etc.

We want everyone who chooses to live here to understand that if your roommate leaves, your new roommate could be a person of any gender, gender expression or gender identity.

What about romantic relationships and couples living together?

All gender housing is not intended for romantic couples. We do respect the privacy of our students, so our procedures to live in an all gender area do not require you to disclose the reason for your roommate request. Couples, heterosexual or LGBT, are discouraged from living together.

How do I sign up?

We will only assign you to an all gender living area if you request it.

  • New students:
    • Refer to the housing preference form instructions webpage for more information.
  • Returning students:
    • Follow the instructions provided to you on the room selection process (RSP) webpage.

Do I have to sign a living agreement like on other special interest floors?

Yes. you must sign the All Gender Housing Living Agreement by the deadline indicated for your housing process.

Are there private bathrooms to use?

We do offer bedrooms with private bathrooms for you to use. View the single-use bathroom listing.

The campus is committed to ensuring there are restrooms that can be used by anyone of any gender identity or expression. View the listing of gender inclusive restrooms to learn more about the locations across campus.

Living agreement

The ultimate goal for All Gender Housing is to develop a community for all students who choose to participate to feel accepted and supported. This special interest housing option is open to students, regardless of gender identity and as space is available, who would like to grow not only as individuals, but as student leaders and active citizens in society.

  • I agree that it is my responsibility to work collaboratively with my peers in the All Gender Housing community toward successfully developing a living environment that is both accepting and open to all people, regardless of sex and/or gender identity.
  • I understand that All Gender Housing is a way for SUNY Cortland to promote inclusion on campus by providing an environment where students can feel accepted, welcomed and supported. I will utilize effective communication, especially when there is conflict and compromising; and, I will work on building strong relationships with my peers, so that I can become a student leader who is willing to engage with and learn from students who may be different than me.
  • Part of living in All Gender Housing will include: signing and agreeing to the terms and conditions of this agreement form, and sitting with a residence hall staff member through a Roommate Agreement Form meeting.
  • I also understand that should any of my room- or apartment-mates leave, I will be assigned a new room- or apartment-mate of any gender.
  • It is my responsibility to adhere to all college and residence hall policies in accordance with The Room and Board License and The Student Code of Conduct. I understand that failure to follow through on these expectations may result in the relocation of my housing assignment and/or further disciplinary sanctions. I also understand that if I no longer choose to live in All Gender Housing, a new housing assignment is not guaranteed.

Please agree to these statements if you intend to participate in our All Gender Housing option. Remember that by signing this form you agree to adhere to the expectations of this community, and you will actively work toward fostering this inclusive living environment for the other individuals involved.