Gender Inclusive Housing

Gender inclusive housing is a housing option at The New School that enables two or more students to share a multiple-occupancy bedroom or suite, by mutual agreement, regardless of gender. Gender inclusive housing aligns with the university's non-discrimination policy and represents a full commitment to the principles of social justice with respect to sexual orientation, gender, and gender identity. Gender inclusive housing provides housing options for students who identify as transgender, are questioning their gender identity, or do not subscribe to gender classifications.
Gender inclusive housing applies to multiple-occupancy rooms on self-selected mixed-gender floors across campus and is available on multiple floors and in multiple buildings. Bathrooms are designated as inclusive in gender inclusive suites.
Suites and rooms are considered gender inclusive when they are inhabited by students of any gender who agree to live together during room selection or select the gender inclusive option on their housing application. If a vacancy occurs in a room in a gender inclusive suite, the remaining occupants may choose a student to fill the space, or the Housing and Residential Education office will assign a student to that space. If a room or suite is selected during room selection as a single-gender space, the gender of the space will be maintained and the unit will not be treated as a gender inclusive space unless all students in the space agree to make this change.
Gender Inclusive Housing Plan
Students who prefer to live in a gender inclusive space may apply for housing and select this as their first option. Room assignments for students who select this as one of their housing choices are made with this as a priority, along with their identified gender. The following are general guidelines that will be followed:
Students must be eligible for university housing.
Assignments will be made with a priority focus on placing students who select gender inclusive spaces.
If a vacancy exists in a gender inclusive room, the following steps will be taken to fill the empty bed:
The Housing Office will allow the remaining residents to identify a new roommate to fill the vacancy and will define the time allocated to find a new roommate. This window of time will vary depending on time of year and the status of the housing waitlist.
If the current residents are unable to find a student to fill the space, the Housing and Residential Education office will assign the open bed to another eligible student who has requested gender inclusive housing.
If Housing and Residential Education fills the space, it will be filled by someone who chooses gender inclusive housing.
FAQ
- What are the differences between co-ed and gender inclusive housing?
  
  The term co-ed reflects the assumption that there are two genders: male and female. It leaves little room for progressive theories on gender, and no room for those who do not identify as their legal sex or those who are transgender. Gender inclusive housing is based on the notion that there are more than two genders—in fact, an infinite number. Providing gender inclusive housing, as opposed to co-ed housing, allows for more inclusiveness and room for diverse identities.
- Where are the gender inclusive residence halls?
  
  Gender inclusive housing is offered in residence halls across campus. Continuing students will have the option of choosing their space in housing selection; incoming students will be assigned to gender inclusive spaces in halls appropriate to their student status (first year, upperclass, etc.).
- What if a student does not want to live in gender inclusive housing?
  
  Students must choose gender inclusivity on their applications in order to be considered for gender inclusive housing; students who do not want to live in gender inclusive housing simply need not indicate interest. Most housing at The New School will remain co-ed by floor and single gender by room and suite, and the usual rules for housing selection will apply.
- What is the duration of gender inclusive housing?
  
  Participants commit to living in gender inclusive housing for the full term of their housing agreement. Students may re-apply for gender inclusive housing for the following year if they meet housing eligibility standards.
- Can I live with my friends, no matter how any of us identify?
  
  Yes. Gender inclusive housing allows students to choose their roommates and suitemates. You can live with those you wish to live with.
- What if I change my mind?
  
  Students may request room changes by following the normal room change procedures, which are published each semester. Students who do not fulfill their commitment to live in gender inclusive housing for one full academic year may not be eligible for gender inclusive housing accommodations in the future.
- What happens to remaining suitemates if a vacancy in a gender inclusive space occurs?
  
  If a vacancy occurs, the Housing and Residential Education staff will work with the remaining suitemates to fill the space but reserve the right to place a waitlisted gender inclusive housing applicant in the suite. It may also be decided that the space should be left vacant, that two or more under-capacity suites should be combined, or that the room or suite should be converted to single gender. This decision will be made at the discretion of the Housing and Residential Education staff, but reasonable accommodations will be made whenever possible to best support the remaining students.
- What if parents don’t want their student to participate in gender inclusive housing?
  
  We encourage students to maintain an open dialogue with their families, so that the families will be supportive of the students’ housing decisions. Students over the age of 18 are legally able to make their own decisions about their housing.

Submit your application

Undergraduates

To apply to any of our undergraduate programs (except the Bachelor's Program for Adults and Transfer Students and Parsons Associate of Applied Science programs) complete and submit the Common App online.

Undergraduate Adult Learners

To apply to any of our Bachelor's Program for Adults and Transfer Students and Parsons Associate of Applied Science programs, complete and submit the New School Online Application.

Graduates

To apply to any of our Master's, Doctoral, Professional Studies Diploma, and Graduate Certificate programs, complete and submit the New School Online Application.

Gender Inclusive Housing