Trans Students On Campus: Are They Welcomed?

Do universities want transgender students? The short answer is yes, and this is supported by federal law in the US. Title IX of the 1964 Civil Rights Act prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex, and the US Department of Education has stated that this includes gender identity. This means that transgender students should be treated in accordance with their gender identity and not singled out.

However, transgender students still face barriers to acceptance and inclusion in higher education. Only about 10% of colleges and universities have trans-inclusive non-discrimination statements, and transgender people are three times more likely to fear for their physical safety on campus. Many trans students experience discrimination and harassment, which can impact their academic success and retention.

Despite these challenges, there are a number of colleges and universities that have implemented trans-friendly policies and programs, and are working to create more inclusive communities for transgender students. These institutions recognize the importance of supporting and empowering transgender students, and are taking steps to address their unique needs and experiences.

Transgender students' rights and protection under the law

In the United States, transgender students are protected under federal law from discrimination on the basis of sex and gender identity in educational institutions. Title IX of the 1964 Civil Rights Act prohibits discrimination based on sex, and the U.S. Department of Education and the Department of Justice have affirmed that this includes gender identity. This means that transgender students should be treated in accordance with their gender identity and not singled out to use separate facilities or accommodations. Additionally, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) protects the privacy of student educational records and allows students to amend these records to match their legal documents.

At the state level, some jurisdictions have laws that outlaw discrimination based on sex and/or gender identity in public accommodations, including educational institutions. For example, Illinois has the Illinois Human Rights Act, which explicitly protects the rights of transgender, non-binary, and gender non-conforming individuals to be free from discrimination. This Act ensures that students can attend school and participate in activities free from harassment and that schools accommodate their gender-related identity in various aspects such as restrooms, locker rooms, dress codes, and housing.

Despite these legal protections, transgender students may still face challenges and discrimination in higher education. Many trans students experience discrimination and harassment, which can impact their academic success and retention. Colleges and universities are encouraged to create transgender-inclusive communities and explicitly include gender identity and expression in their non-discrimination policies. Additionally, colleges and universities should allow students to use their preferred names and pronouns on campus records and offer gender-inclusive housing and restroom options.

Transgender-inclusive policies and their impact on student well-being

Transgender-inclusive policies in educational institutions have a positive impact on the well-being of transgender students. In the absence of such policies, transgender students are more likely to experience bullying, harassment, and violence, which can lead to poor mental health and well-being.

The impact of transgender-inclusive policies

Transgender-inclusive policies can improve the well-being of transgender students by providing them with a safe and supportive environment. These policies can include:

• The use of preferred names and pronouns: Addressing transgender students by their preferred names and pronouns can make them feel validated and respected.
• Gender-inclusive restrooms and housing: Single-sex restrooms and housing can make transgender students feel uncomfortable and excluded. Providing gender-inclusive options can help create a more welcoming environment.
• Anti-discrimination policies: Including gender identity and expression in nondiscrimination policies can protect transgender students from discrimination and harassment.
• Training for staff and faculty: Educating staff and faculty about transgender issues can help create a more supportive environment and reduce transphobic language and acts.
• Transgender-inclusive curricula: Including transgender topics in the curriculum can raise awareness and promote understanding of transgender identities.

The impact of the lack of transgender-inclusive policies

The absence of transgender-inclusive policies can have negative consequences for the well-being of transgender students. They may experience:

• Bullying and harassment: Transgender students are at a higher risk of being bullied, harassed, or victimized by their peers due to their gender identity. This can lead to feelings of isolation and a negative impact on mental health.
• Inadequate support from staff and faculty: Transgender students may feel that school staff and faculty are indifferent or unsupportive of their needs, which can make them feel ignored and invalidated.
• Restrictive cultural representations of gender: Transgender students may face challenges when gendered spaces, such as bathrooms and locker rooms, do not align with their gender identity. This can make them feel uncomfortable and excluded.
• Disclosure of personal information: Transgender students may be concerned about the confidentiality of their gender identity, especially when administrative documents contain their sex and birth name.

Case studies and personal stories

• A transgender man named Jay, who competed in equestrian sports throughout high school and college, shared his positive experience of coming out to his team. His teammates and coaches were supportive, and he felt accepted and safe.
• A non-binary former collegiate swimmer and current collegiate swim coach, Mika, shared their experience of struggling with gender dysphoria due to being referred to as part of the women's team. However, when they came out to their coaches and teammates, they were supportive and quickly adapted to using their preferred name and pronouns.
• A transgender woman named JayCee, who is a powerlifter and former collegiate athlete, shared their story of being prohibited from competing in a state bench press competition due to their transgender identity. They and their allies protested the competition, and a young gender non-conforming kid thanked them for their bravery and standing up for the transgender community.
• A transgender man named Emet, who is a former field hockey player and current coach, shared their experience of having to stop playing on the women's team due to starting hormone therapy. They felt excluded and missed being part of the team, highlighting the importance of inclusive policies that allow transgender students to participate according to their gender identity.

Recommendations for institutions of higher education

To create more transgender-inclusive environments and improve the well-being of transgender students, institutions of higher education can take the following steps:

• Explicitly include gender identity and expression in nondiscrimination policies: This will send a clear message that discrimination and harassment against transgender students will not be tolerated.
• Allow students to use their preferred names and pronouns on campus records: This will help validate and respect the gender identity of transgender students.
• Provide gender-inclusive alternatives to male/female options: Offer gender-inclusive restrooms, housing, and other spaces to accommodate the needs of transgender and non-binary students.
• Train staff and faculty on transgender issues: Educating staff and faculty about transgender identities, appropriate language, and how to create a supportive environment for transgender students.
• Develop transgender-inclusive curricula: Include transgender topics in the curriculum to raise awareness and promote understanding among all students.

Discrimination and harassment faced by transgender students

Transgender students face discrimination and harassment in universities, which can have a detrimental impact on their academic success and retention. The U.S. Transgender Survey (USTS) found that 24% of respondents who were out as transgender or perceived as transgender in college reported experiencing verbal, physical, or sexual harassment, with 16% of those harassed leaving college as a result. Similarly, the National Transgender Discrimination Survey (NTDS) reported that 35% of transgender individuals in higher education experienced negative treatment by students, teachers, and staff, including harassment and bullying.

Transgender students face barriers to attendance, such as harassment, financial issues related to transition, and lack of financial aid, which can force them to leave their educational institutions. Students of color and transgender women are especially likely to face these barriers. Furthermore, transgender students often come from families with lower annual incomes and rely more on financial aid.

Even before college, transgender students may face discrimination in secondary school, which can leave them with a history of victimization by the time they enter higher education. National survey data suggests high rates of harassment (78%) and physical assault (35%) against transgender students during grade school, causing nearly one in six students to leave school. In college, transgender students continue to face pressures to conform to socially constructed gender norms in terms of appearance, dress, and pronouns, which can cause chronic stress and negatively impact their well-being.

Sex-segregated restrooms and housing are institutional features that exclude and expose transgender students to harassment, causing them significant stress. Transgender students often face the challenge of being assigned housing based on their legal gender rather than their gender identity, leading to discomfort for both themselves and their roommates. Additionally, transgender students often encounter paperwork and records that do not align with their gender identity, with few institutions allowing them to use their chosen names and pronouns.

While federal laws such as Title IX of the 1964 Civil Rights Act prohibit discrimination based on sex, including gender identity, in educational institutions, these laws are not always enforced. The rescission of guidance by the Department of Justice and the Department of Education regarding transgender student protections under Title IX has emboldened some schools and students to discriminate against transgender students.

Transgender-friendly colleges and their admissions policies

In the United States, the admission of transgender students to women's colleges has been a subject of debate. While some colleges have changed their policies to favour admitting transgender students, there is little uniformity in the details of these policies.

Some colleges, such as Hollins University, Cedar Crest College, and Historically Black Women's Colleges Spelman College and Bennett College, only admit students who live and identify as women, regardless of their gender assigned at birth. However, these colleges allow admitted students who come out as another gender to continue their studies and graduate.

Other colleges have more inclusive policies. For example, Mount Holyoke College in Massachusetts "welcomes applications from female, transgender and nonbinary students". Similarly, Mount Saint Mary's University in California accepts applications from individuals who identify as women, transgender women, intersex individuals who do not identify as male, and non-binary individuals.

Mills College in Oakland, California, was one of the first women's institutions to adopt a formal admissions policy regarding transgender and transitioning students. They accept trans men who have not changed their legal gender markers, as well as transgender women and non-binary students.

In 2013, Smith College, one of the largest women's colleges in the United States, denied acceptance to a transgender woman, Rose Wong, because she had marked her biological gender identity as male on her FAFSA form. Following protests and a petition, Smith College amended their policy in 2015 to include the admission of trans women.

When considering transgender-friendly colleges, it is important to look at both the college's policies and the wider state laws, as these can vary significantly and impact the safety and well-being of transgender students. For example, while California is considered a safe state for transgender students, with many transgender-friendly colleges, other states such as Florida and Texas have active anti-trans laws or bills in legislation.

To find transgender-friendly colleges, it is recommended to research local sources, such as the Campus Pride Index, and reach out to the school's LGBTQ+/Campus Pride Organisation to ask questions about the environment on campus, support for the LGBTQ+ community, and the school's participation in local pride events. It is also important to ask college admissions offices about their policies regarding sexual identity and gender-inclusive housing, nondiscrimination for trans/queer students, and the ability to change names on campus records.

Transgender students' experiences in higher education

Applications and Admissions

At the application stage, transgender and non-binary individuals may face unique challenges. In the UK, for instance, transgender applicants are more likely to have experience in care and tend to have lower grades than their non-transgender peers. Additionally, transgender and non-binary students are more likely to have a disability. These factors can create obstacles in the application process and impact their chances of acceptance into higher education institutions.

Discrimination and Harassment

One of the most pressing issues facing transgender students in higher education is discrimination and harassment. Research in the US shows that 24% of transgender students who were openly transgender or perceived as transgender in college experienced verbal, physical, or sexual harassment. This mistreatment led to 16% of those affected leaving college. Furthermore, 35% of transgender individuals in college, graduate school, professional school, or technical school reported high rates of negative treatment, including harassment and bullying, by students, teachers, and staff.

Housing and Facilities

Sex-segregated housing and restrooms in colleges and universities can be a source of discomfort and exclusion for transgender students. Many transgender individuals feel forced to live according to the sex on their ID rather than their gender identity, causing significant distress. Non-binary students, in particular, face challenges in accessing safe and comfortable housing options due to the binary gender choices in housing assignments.

Records and Documentation

Transgender students often face bureaucratic hurdles when it comes to records and documentation. Many institutions only offer male and female gender options on forms and records, failing to differentiate between sex and gender. Changing one's gender marker can be difficult and may require legal changes to official documents. Additionally, using one's chosen name instead of their legal name on records and documents is often a complicated and inefficient process, if offered at all.

Mental Health and Wellbeing

The experiences of discrimination and harassment take a toll on the mental health and overall wellbeing of transgender students. More than half of transgender students report poor mental health during their time in higher education. Feelings of rejection are common, with 56% of transgender applicants feeling rejected by others, compared to 26% of non-transgender applicants. The stress and isolation caused by unsupportive environments can lead to mental health issues, with half of transgender students and nearly half of non-binary students considering withdrawing from university due to mental health concerns.

Academic Success and Retention

The challenges faced by transgender students can impact their academic success and retention rates. Experiences of harassment, financial issues related to transition, and lack of financial aid create barriers to attendance and completion of degrees. Additionally, the stress of navigating unsupportive environments can lead to poor academic outcomes. However, colleges and universities have the potential to empower transgender students and enhance their academic and personal success by providing supportive resources and fostering inclusive communities.

Financial Support

Transgender and non-binary students may encounter barriers to financial support during their time in higher education. They are more likely to have considered withdrawing from university due to financial concerns, and they earn significantly less 15 months after graduation compared to their non-transgender peers.

Career Prospects

Transgender students may face challenges in their career pursuits after completing their education. One transgender woman interviewed shared that after transitioning, she applied for ten roles but was unsuccessful, attributing this to her presentation as a transgender woman.

Positive Experiences

Despite the challenges, many transgender and non-binary students report positive experiences in their university settings. Some institutions have implemented inclusive policies, provided supportive resources, and fostered safe and empowering environments for transgender students. These efforts contribute to the overall wellbeing and academic success of this student population.

Frequently asked questions