Identity group support for LGBTQ+ students, as well as for students of color or other minorities is mentioned in several of the publications included in the admissions packet as well as on our website which is referenced in the admissions packet.
We give applicants the option to self-identify as LGBTQ+.
We collect both the legal name and the preferred name of applicants.
We don’t have scholarships specifically for LGBTQ+ students, but we do have inclusion scholarships that take into consideration factors including LGBTQ+ status.
Our law school has paid the registration and transportation fee for LGBTQ students to attend LGBTW-specific job fairs or conferences.
In searches for all positions (staff and faculty) we include diversity as a preferred qualification. We tailor our recruiting advertising efforts based on the type of position and the specialty area for faculty, but as often as possible we advertise in places specifically targeted to diversity candidates. Recently, faculty postings have been placed with the LGBT Bar Association, Campus Pride, and US.jobsDiversity, among others. Additionally, while recruiting for faculty at the AALS Faculty Recruitment Conference we filter our searches to specifically include candidates in LGBTQ+ categories. For staff positions, the recruiting efforts have been through more unofficial means. We share staff job postings with colleagues who self-identify as LGBTQ+ and request that they share with their networks.
Syracuse University provides a wide variety of benefits of particular interest to LGBTQ+ employees, their legal spouses or same- or opposite-sex domestic partners and their children. These include: medical coverage for gender-confirming or affirming surgeries, mental health counseling and hormone therapy for transitioning individuals; a Faculty and Staff Assistance program to provide free counseling and resources; supplemental life insurance for same-sex domestic partners; paid time off policies that may be used for caring for or bereavement for family members including domestic partners; adoption assistance benefits to provide reimbursement for adoption-related expenses; and parental leave for the birth, adoption, or fostering of a child.
The University also provides all members of the SU community the ability to set a preferred name in the directory, which will display in most University systems including email.
In addition to pre-authorized services (determined on an individual basis), the Syracuse University Health Center strives to provide students with culturally competent and inclusive care. Services provided there include: hormone therapy; continuation and monitoring of hormone injections for those with a pre-existing prescription and care plan; training for self-injection of hormones; nutritional counseling for hormone therapy.
The University coverage for benefits-eligible staff and faculty includes: medical coverage for gender-confirming or affirming surgeries, mental health counseling and hormone therapy for transitioning individuals.
In addition to pre-authorized services (determined on an individual basis), the Syracuse University Health Center strives to provide students with culturally competent and inclusive care. Services provided there include: hormone therapy; continuation and monitoring of hormone injections for those with a pre-existing prescription and care plan; training for self-injection of hormones; nutritional counseling for hormone therapy.
Our law school provides a gender–inclusive restroom on every floor of our building. All 5 floors have a bathroom that is labeled “All Gender Restroom”. This is also an accessible restroom as well. This map is located on lgbt.syr.edu/trans and provides a the location of every All Gender bathroom on campus. There is not a written policy for this, however during new student orientations and prospective student tours, this is something that our Ambassadors in the building point out.
For a number of years, we offered LAW 710: Sexual Orientation and the Law, a course which covered a range of LGBTQ+ materials. The course instructor has since left the university. We now offer LAW 835: Women and the Law, which includes some discussion of trans-inclusive and focused issues.
Our students are included in the umbrella Syracuse University Student Code of Conduct as well as the Students Rights and Responsibilities. As indicated below sexual orientation and gender identity are included in the policy.
Policy 2 states:
Non-Discrimination Students have the right not to be discriminated against by any agent or organization of Syracuse University for reasons of age, creed, ethnic or national origin, gender, disability, marital status, political or social affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression, or any other protected class as described by law. In their individual roles as members of student organizations, students have the responsibility not to discriminate against others.
We do seek out LGBTQ+ prospective students. In addition to various questions on the application, we openly reference the resources available to LGBTQ+ persons and allies.