All student organizations, including those for LGBTQ+, students of color, and other minorities, are presented on the law school’s orientation website for new law students.
Yes. LGBTQ+ students may choose to self-identify on the application for admission.
Yes. Students have the ability to give a preferred name on the application for admission.
Cleveland-Marshall College of Law does not have LGBTQ+ specific scholarships; however, many of our LGBTQ+ students have been awarded academic and leadership scholarships on a competitive basis with all other law students.
The Office of Career Strategy and Employment at Cleveland-Marshall College of Law offers a micro-grant program to all students, including LGBTQ+ students, to assist with costs related to career-related travel, such as travel to a career fair.
Yes, diversity is a key component of Cleveland-Marshall’s efforts. Our Dean’s Diversity Council has as a core objective to assess and enrich the law school climate of diversity and inclusion for both faculty and staff.
Yes. Policy is attached here listing coverage for dependents. Cleveland State University provides medical, dental, vision, and supplemental life insurance plans to employees and their spouse, same-sex spouse, same-sex domestic partner, and dependent children.
Cleveland State University’s family medical leave policy, which is also attached, provides benefits to same-sex couples who are married or in registered domestic partnerships.
We offer a different health insurance plan for students who need to purchase their own plans (i.e. not on the parent plan). All the coverage for students is also available for their dependents. Policy states the following:
“All domestic and undergraduate students enrolled in 6 or more credit hours, graduate students or law students taking credit hours, including those enrolled in independent study classes are eligible to enroll in this insurance plan.
If the plan includes Dependent coverage, then eligible students who do enroll may also insure their Dependents.
When the policy includes Dependent coverage, eligible Dependents include:
- The Insured Person’s legal spouse.
- The Insured Person’s Domestic Partner, if Domestic Partner is included as a “Class of Person to be Insured” as specified in the Policyholder Application.
- Dependent children up to age 26.
- Disabled children beyond age 26 if the child is:
- Incapable of self-sustaining employment by reason of intellectual disability or physical handicap.
- Chiefly dependent upon the Insured Person for support and maintenance.
- Children for whom the parent is required by court or administrative order to provide coverage.”
Cleveland State University does not, itself, offer direct health benefits to transgender and/or transitioning employees, however, we offer three different health insurance plans and their coverage may provide direct health benefits. We do offer employee assisted programming for all employees – including counseling and therapy for transgender and/or transitioning employees.
Cleveland State University does not, itself, offer direct health benefits to transgender and/or transitioning students, however, we offer health insurance plans and their coverage may provide direct health benefits. We do offer student counseling at the Counseling Center and the LGBTQ+ Student Services for all students. We have a dedicated Trans Student Support Program for transgender students and students questioning their gender identity.
Yes. All students are equally eligible to use our counselors at the Cleveland State University Counseling Center on-campus. We also have a completely anonymous counseling and therapy program with the Cleveland Rape Center for sexual assault and/or abuse victims and survivors. We also offer group therapy sessions for LGBT+ students through our LGBTQ+ Student Services.
The Office for Institutional Equity at Cleveland State University has provided mandatory training for all faculty and staff. Safe Space training is regularly offered across campus to faculty and staff, and many of the law school’s staff/faculty/administrators have participated.
Cleveland State University’s website identifies all gender-neutral restrooms on-campus, including the nearest gender-neutral restroom in the adjacent, connected Music & Communication building.
Employment Discrimination Law is offered once per year and explores sexual orientation discrimination.
Sexual Orientation and the Law is typically offered every other year.
Yes. The student organization is OUTLaw and they do extensive programming, both scholarly and social.
Cleveland State University has a policy prohibiting discrimination and harassment. This policy applies to all students, employees, visitors, and others participating in a university activity. The policy provides:
“Respect for diversity is an essential element of the university community. The university strongly opposes and does not tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, sex (including sexual harassment, sexual violence, sexual assault, sexual exploitation, relationship violence, domestic abuse and stalking), pregnancy, religion, color, age, national origin, veteran and/or military status, genetic information, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, marital status or parental status., participation in protected activity (retaliation), and/or any other status protected by state or federal law, including Title IX of the Educational Amendments Act of 1972, rule or regulation. “Discrimination” is negative or adverse treatment of an employee, student or other member of the university community based on any of the classifications listed above.”
In addition, Cleveland State University’s Code of Student Conduct specifically states that all students have the right to be free from discrimination in any form. Specifically it states:
“Students have the right to be free from discrimination on the basis of race, sex (including pregnancy), religion, color, age, national origin, veteran and/or military status, genetic information, or disability and discrimination/harassment toward individuals for other reasons such as sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, marital status or parental status.”
The Code of Student Conduct specifically prohibits any threat or use of physical force, sexual harassment, discriminatory conduct on the premise (work, classroom, campus), sexual misconduct, endangering health and safety, hazing, stalking, and domestic violence that directly relate to LGBTQ issues.
Cleveland-Marshall College of Law includes a required session of our Orientation with brand-new students about diversity, micro-aggressions, and collegiality; this session stresses the importance we place of diversity and inclusion at our law school. This session is provided jointly by our faculty and the Cleveland State University Counseling Center. One of the five pillars of our Strategic Plan for 2018-2021 is “Foster Diversity and Inclusion Throughout the Work of the Law School, and Promote Social Justice.” Diversity and Inclusion is a very strong ethos for our Dean – we have a Dean’s Diversity Council that engages with students, faculty, and staff around diversity issues, including LGBTQ issues.
In addition, Cleveland-Marshall College of Law constantly represents, advocates for, and fights of behalf of the LGBTQ+ community. The law school’s legal clinics constantly work together with Equality Ohio – an LGBTQ+ advocacy organization headed by a Cleveland-Marshall alumna – to draft and promote legislative measures benefitting the community. Faculty has testified before state and local legislative bodies in favor of anti-discriminatory measures. We have filed Key Amicus Brief, which was cited by the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals in a major case protecting transgender employees in the workforce. Faculty was interviewed by the New York Times regarding that case, explaining the importance of recognizing the rights of the LGBTQ+ community within the workforce. These kind of activities resonate with – and are often done with active participation of – our students. They reflect the overall inclusive, dignified, and respectful manner in which we welcome LGBTQ+ members into our Cleveland-Marshall family.
Yes. Cleveland-Marshall College of Law utilizes the Candidate Referral Service of the Law School Admission Council to identify and actively recruit LGBTQ+ candidates through targeted mailings and email campaigns.
Our Dean’s Diversity Council is also mindful of activities to engage under-recruited and underrepresented populations, such as the LGBTQ+ community. The Council has identified and reached out to undergraduate campus student organizations, including LGBTQ+ organizations, to provide programming for their members.