Gender Inclusive Housing
Babson is committed to providing a genuinely safe and inclusive residential communities that are not limited by the traditional understanding of gender.
Gender inclusive housing is currently available in McCullough, Pietz and Mandell Family Hall (upper class residence halls), and the College offers The Neighborhood, a residential living experience that fosters and creates fundamental support and sense of community to individuals with varying gender identities.
Please contact Josh Peipock, Director of Residence Education, with any questions you may have.
Gender Identity Terms and Definitions
Note that terms are always changing in the LGBTQ+ community. The terms below will be updated as often as possible to keep up with the rapid proliferation of queer and trans language.
Definitions Source: Trans Student Educational Resources
Gender Identity
One’s sense of being male, female, neither of these, both, or other gender(s). Everyone has a gender identity. For transgender people, their sex assigned at birth and their gender identity are not necessarily the same.
Gender Expression/Presentation
The physical manifestation of gender through clothing, hairstyle, voice, body shape, etc. (typically referred to as masculine or feminine). Many transgender people seek to make their gender expression (how they look) match their gender identity (who they are), rather than their sex assigned at birth. Someone with a gender nonconforming gender expression may or may not be transgender.
Transgender/Trans
An encompassing term of many gender identities of those who do not identify or exclusively identify with their sex assigned at birth. The term transgender is not indicative of gender expression, sexual orientation, hormonal makeup, physical anatomy, or how one is perceived in daily life.
Cisgender/Cis
The term for someone who exclusively identifies as their sex assigned at birth. The term cisgender is not indicative of gender expression, sexual orientation, hormonal makeup, physical anatomy, or how one is perceived in daily life.
Gender Identity & the Housing Application
When submitting a housing application all applicants will be asked to indicate their gender identity, should they wish to do so, in order for the College to better support the residential population.
Gender Inclusive Housing Policy
The Office of Residence Education and Housing at Babson College are committed to providing living learning environments that are welcoming to all gender identities. Gender inclusive housing at Babson College allows students to share a multiple occupancy room or suite regardless of a student’s sex or gender.
We offer gender inclusive housing in Mandell Family Hall, McCullough Hall, and Pietz Hall effective fall semester 2016. Students who are eligible to live in these buildings are able to apply. Only students who apply for gender inclusive housing will be placed into it. Couples are not banned from living together, however we strongly encourage students to consider if this is the best option for their living environment. We cannot guarantee that you will be able to change your housing if the relationship does not continue for the entire year.
If a vacancy occurs in a gender inclusive room or suite the vacancy can be filled with anyone that is open to a gender inclusive housing option. The occupants of the room and/or suite do not select who fills the vacancy. The occupant(s) of the room and/or suite can encourage individuals to apply for a specific vacancy, and the College will do its best to honor those requests. The College reserves the right to place someone interested in gender inclusive housing into a vacancy.
The Neighborhood
The LGBTQ+ Neighborhood is a themed living community open to students looking for a safe, inclusive, and supportive living experience. The Neighborhood is open to all undergraduate students who identify as LGBTQ+ and allies who have a reflective understanding of LGBTQ+ topics and will actively contribute to an inclusive community. This community is unique within Babson Residence Education and Housing as it allows for community development and connections across class years. Residents in The Neighborhood will live in a cluster of rooms on the same hallway and will have access to a gender inclusive bathroom.
Residence Education professional and student staff will support residents of The Neighborhood in building relationships, learning through programming, and participating in community building activities to create and maintain a safe and healthy living environment. All students living in The Neighborhood will participate in a retreat at the start of the Fall semester.
Applicants accepted into The Neighborhood will be assigned a room by Housing Operations in consultation with Residence Education. Room assignments will include double or triple rooms. Students will have an opportunity to express rooming preferences within the LGBTQ+ Neighborhood application. Please note that roommate requests must be mutual for consideration. Although assignment preferences are not guaranteed, the College will do their best to honor requests during the assignment process. Following the two-week room freeze period at the start of the semester students desiring a different assignment or roommate(s) are eligible to apply for a room change.
Program Requirements:
- Undergraduate student
- Commitment to creating a safe space for LGBTQ+ persons and respect of everyone’s gender and sexuality
- Value all social identities and how they intersect in individuals
- Willingness to learn
- Participation in community programs and events
- Attendance at retreat in Fall 2019 (Date TBD)
- Successful completion of Housing Application by applicable deadline
- Successful completion of LGBTQ+ Neighborhood Application
Questions about the LGBTQ+ Neighborhood should be directed to Josh Peipock, Director of Residence Education.
All Gender Restrooms on Campus
Please see the interactive map for information on the All Gender Restrooms on campus.
