Gender Open Housing Policy

The Residential Education Office and Nebraska Wesleyan University offers gender-open housing, defined as a housing option in which two or more students mutually agree to share a multiple-occupancy bedroom, suite, apartment or townhouse regardless of the students’ sex or gender, effective during the 2020-2021 academic year. Gender-open housing allows students increased choice in selecting roommates based on whom they feel the most comfortable and safe with, regardless of gender, to support and respect their various living needs. Further, this gender-open housing policy supports the university’s non-discrimination policy with respect to gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression. Residential Education will use a student’s self-defined gender when making housing placements.

We encourage students to maintain an open dialogue with their families so that they can be supportive of their student’s housing decision. Students over the age of 19 are legally able to make decisions about their housing contracts. Students under 19 should discuss housing plans with their families, as they must provide parental consent. Residential Education will not communicate directly with a student’s family about their housing placement without the consent of the student, regardless of age.