The CIA will make every effort to afford current residential students the option to live on campus with whomever they choose, regardless of biological sex, gender, or gender identity. Residential students may select to share a room with someone of a different gender through the room change process outlined under Room Changes. Gender-inclusive housing is offered when two students enter willingly into a roommate situation.
Romantic couples of any orientation are strongly discouraged from living together as it could take as long as six weeks to grant a room change if the relationship status changes.
In order to participate in gender-inclusive housing, the following guidelines must be met:
- Both students will mutually agree to live with each other.
- Both students will be vacating their room on the same date for instances such as, but not limited to externship, semester-away courses, or graduation. Students who adjust their exit date will need to find a new roommate or will be assigned a roommate based on their biological sex. This is especially critical during peak occupancy periods.
Gender-Inclusive Housing Option—NY
Gender-Inclusive Housing (GIH) is defined as a housing option in which two or more students share a multiple-occupancy room or suite, in mutual agreement, regardless of the students' sex, biological gender, gender identity, and gender expression. The intent of this housing arrangement is to give students the option to reside with another person of a different gender or sex in order to provide a welcoming and supportive living environment. Romantic couples of any orientation are strongly discouraged from living together as it could take as long as six weeks to grant a room change if the relationship status changes.
Students who exhibit behavior that is contrary to the spirit of their mutual agreement may be relocated to a different housing assignment on campus which likely will be with someone of the same sex at birth.
Assignment to gender-inclusive housing will be based upon availability. If a roommate/suitemate(s) cancel their housing or moves out of the room for any reason, the Residential Housing Office will fill the vacancy with:
- any student who indicates they will live in GIH
- assign a student of the same legal sex
- relocate/consolidate the current resident(s) to a different gender inclusive space that meets their needs.
If the student knows their roommate will be moving out; they may have the opportunity to request a specific roommate, through the room change process, pending the bed space has not already been assigned.
The Residential Housing Office encourages students opting into gender-inclusive housing to have a conversation with family members to make them aware and to ensure they support the student's decision. It is the student's choice to communicate with family.