The Trans Committee at UNC Charlotte was brought together to investigate how to make this University a more supportive environment for students who identify as trans. The committee’s goals are to:
- Assess current campus policies and procedures to make them more accessible for trans identified students.
- Assist trans identified students with navigating the current campus resources.
- Ultimately work to add “gender identity” and “gender expression” to the nondiscrimination policy at UNC Charlotte (Policy Statement #98).
The Trans Committee works to make campus more welcoming and more manageable for trans students by providing them with the information, resources and tools to excel here at UNC Charlotte. The goal of this committee is actually not necessarily to change policy, but to simply be aware of how current policies affect trans students and communicate these policies.
One of the most notable accomplishments the committee has made is assisting in the the creation of this one-stop website featuring information, resources, and departmental policies statements. In addition to this brief summary you will find an outline of notable accomplishments by the Trans Committee.
- Brought trans activist and performing artist, Kate Bornstein, to campus to speak to the campus community
- Held the first Transgender Taskforce meeting after sparked interest from the Safe Zone Ally program
- Hosted a webinar with Jessica Pettitt on Transgender Inclusion in Higher Education; Jessica Pettitt came to campus for two days of training with Trans Committee members, campus and community partners
- Shortened name to Trans Committee and began the process of individual departments investigating policies and procedures to ensure compliance
- Connected UNC Charlotte to community organizations including Time Out Youth, the Charlotte Gender Alliance, and the Carolina Transgender Society to bridge the gap in support services between the campus and community
- Brought Gender Identity/Expression resolution to the attention of the SGA Senate, who passed the addition of "gender identity and/or expression" to Policy Statement #98 regarding the school's non-discrimination policy
- After the SGA resolution, Faculty Senate unanimously voted to add "gender identity and/or expression" to Policy Statement #98 regarding our non-discrimination policy
- UNC Charlotte officially changed their non-discrimination policy to include gender identity and/or expression
- Launched a monthly support group for trans students and their allies, including community members from the Charlotte Gender Alliance, Time Out Youth, and the Carolina Transgender Society, as an opportunity to share information, stories, and connect
- Launched website with information, resources, and departmental policy statements for trans students
- Brought the founding Executive Director of the National Center for Transgender Equality, Mara Keisling to campus for some consulting work and a keynote campus event to assist with fine-tuning our own campus policies for trans inclusion; funded by the Chancellor’s Diversity Challenge Fund and campus partners
- Initiated, formalized and submitted updated policies including the Committee’s election process, Students’ Preferred Name Policy, a proposal for Gender Non-Specific Housing, and Critical Incidents Reporting Policy
- Formed a sub-committee to expand availability of gender-neutral restrooms on campus and collaborated with the Office of Disability Services to designate restrooms on campus that are both Gender Neutral and accessible
- Helped transition of support group for trans identified students into a university-recognized student organization called Transport
- Created an official policy with Rec Services, now University Recreation, for trans students to participate in Intramural Sports in the gender to which they identify
- Updated University's Non-Discrimination Statement to be more protective of trans students; includes protections for gender identity, expression, and Transition status
- Launched new interactive website to help people locate trans affirming restrooms on campus; five new trans affirming restrooms are built in the Student Union, CHHS, and Belk Gym
- UREC announces that it will have four single stall showers and spaces within traditional Men/Women's locker rooms in its new facility to help trans people find spaces for fitness
- The Levine Scholars Program admits three trans identified freshman students and undergoes a self-assessment to make certain that their programs are affirming
- Assist in University passing a Name Change policy that allows trans students to have their actual names on campus ID, which will eventually allow these names to appear in Banner and on graduation materials