What does Gender-Inclusive mean?
Gender-inclusive means that spaces or restrooms are available to anyone, and are not limited to a certain population. This is inclusive of any gender identity and/or gender expression. For residence hall restrooms, this means anyone, regardless of gender identity or expression, or sexual orientation can use that restroom. For residence hall spaces (rooms, suites, and apartments), this means that with the consent of all occupants, Residential Life will make assignments to rooms, suites, and apartments inclusive of all genders and gender expressions.
When it comes to single-gender restrooms, the University of Maine System does not discriminate based on sex or sexual orientation, which includes gender identity and expression. All students, employees, and campus visitors are welcome to use the restrooms that best fit their gender.
The University of Southern Maine is proud to offer a variety of housing options for our students. All of our communities, unless specifically noted, have the option for students to opt-in to a gender-inclusive room, which can be assigned by the Office of Residential Life. We also have gender-inclusive restrooms in each of our residence halls, as well as single-gender restrooms or single stall restrooms. Each restroom will be labeled clearly for ease of access. All of our common restrooms have individual stalls for both the toilets and showers with either locking doors or privacy curtains. A full breakdown of our housing options is detailed below. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.
Why do we have Gender-Inclusive housing and restrooms?
Our students have a variety of gender identities and gender expressions, and single-gender restrooms and rooms create situations in which some of our students do not have a safe option for a room or restroom. Creating gender-inclusive rooms and restrooms, while also maintaining single-gender options, is our effort to ensure that all of our students, regardless of gender identity or expression, or personal beliefs or values have access to both a residence hall room and restrooms that they feel safe in. Details for gender-inclusive housing are below. Note that restroom designations may change with the consensus of residents in the floor communities during the academic year. The initial placement of restrooms is meant to allow for each resident to have access to the restroom they are most comfortable using with no more than a single floor or single wing separating them from each type of restroom.
Anderson Hall – There are three residential floors (3-5) with mixed genders. Rooms are single-gender unless a gender-inclusive room is requested by individual students. There are two community-style restrooms on each residential floor and 2 single-stall restrooms in the lobby with a toilet and a sink each.
Upton/Hastings Hall- There are 3 residential floors (2-4) with mixed genders, divided into a wing and a main on each side of the building – the Upton side, and the Hastings side. Rooms are single-gender unless a gender-inclusive room is requested by individual students. There is one community-style restroom on each residential wing and main.
Robie/Andrews Hall – Robie Andrews is the oldest residence hall on campus, and as such, has a unique layout. Andrews has three residential floors (1-3) with mixed genders and Robie also has three residential floors (2-4) with mixed genders. Rooms are single-gender unless a gender-inclusive room is requested by individual students. There is one community-style restroom on each residential floor, apart from 4th Robie, which has two community-style restrooms. There is one single-stall restroom in the lobby with a toilet and a sink.
Woodward Hall – There are three floors residential floors (1-3) with mixed genders. Rooms are single-gender unless a gender-inclusive room is requested by individual students.
Upperclass Hall – There are 4 residential floors (1-4) divided into a South wing and an East wing. Each wing is made up of suites and apartments with individual restrooms in each suite or apartment. The suites and apartments can be single-gender or gender-inclusive, and the floors are mixed gender. The lobby also has three single-occupancy restrooms with a toilet and a sink, and the ground floor has two single-occupancy restrooms with a toilet and a sink.
Philippi Hall – There are 4 residential floors (G-3) divided into a West wing and an East wing. Each wing has two sections, one with suites with individual restrooms in each, and the other section with singles and doubles with 3 single occupancy restrooms with a toilet, sink, and shower. All of the floors are mixed gender and suites can be single-gender or gender-inclusive.
COMING FALL 2023
Portland Commons – The suites and apartments may be single-gender or gender-inclusive, and the floors will be mixed gender.
I have other questions that were not answered here. Who can I contact?
Contact Sarah Holmes, Assistant Dean of Students and Deputy Title IX Coordinator, at sarah.e.holmes1@maine.edu or 207-780-5767. Housing questions not answered above may be directed to Residential Life, usm.reslife@maine.edu.