The Office of Diversity and Inclusion announced in a community-wide email on Tuesday, Sept. 26 that the college converted all existing single-user facilities into gender-inclusive restrooms over the summer. Part of an initiative to install and increase access to gender-inclusive restrooms on campus, the project is anticipated to be completed by the end of fall semester.

According to the email, the new changes came out of plans to “build a safer and more inclusive campus environment for our transgender, nonbinary and gender non-conforming community members.”

The gender-inclusive restrooms include facilities in residential, academic and administrative buildings. Some restrooms will bear temporary signs until permanent code-compliant signs can be installed.

“We believe that this change impacts and benefits our community as a whole, and we know that it is necessary to affirm our commitment to building a safer and more equitable campus environment,” the email read.

Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer Norm Jones, Associate Dean for Diversity and Inclusion Angie Tissi-Gassoway and Assistant Director of Residential Life Chris Campbell were contacted for the story but had not responded at press time.

The Queer Resource Center’s website contains more information about gender-inclusive bathrooms as well as their specific locations on campus. The email directed community members with questions to contact Tissi-Gassoway.