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Climate Survey 2020

Connect, Share Knowledge, and Succeed Within the LGBTQ+ and Ally Legal Community.

George Washington University Law School

April 27, 2020

Question 1 provided each school with a field to confirm or update their nondiscrimination statement.
 
2. Does your law school intentionally seek out LGBTQ+ prospective students?
Yes
a. If ‘yes,’ how and where are your efforts directed?

In our recruiting efforts we make it known that we are a diverse and inclusive school. We have a LGTBQ+ brochure. It is in our admissions waiting area.

3. Does your law school's welcome packet for admitted students include mention of identity group support for LGBTQ+ students, as well as for students of color or other minorities?
Yes
4. Does your school offer students the option to self-identify (also known as "Self-ID") as LGBTQ+ in admissions applications or post-enrollment forms?
Yes
a. If 'yes,' please describe your student Self-ID process:

Students can self identify through additional gender categories / identity.

b. If 'yes,' how many students are currently enrolled at your law school in total?:
1700
c. If 'yes,' how many self-identified LGBTQ+ students are currently enrolled at your law school, in total?:
We don't know because we do not tabulate the information provided.
Lesbian
We don't know because we do not tabulate the information provided.
Gay
We don't know because we do not tabulate the information provided.
Bisexual/ pansexual
We don't know because we do not tabulate the information provided.
Transgender / nonbinary
We don't know because we do not tabulate the information provided.
Queer or gender/sexual orientation minority
Answer left blank
5. Does your law school offer transgender and nonbinary students who have not legally changed their names the ability to have their name-in-use reflected on their admission applications or post enrollment forms?:
Yes
6. Does your law school provide any annual scholarships specifically for LGBTQ+ students?
No
7. Does your law school actively seek to employ diverse staff/faculty/administrators, including openly LGBTQ+ individuals?:
Yes
a. If 'yes,' please detail how and where diversity recruitment efforts are directed:

We seek diversity in admissions and in faculty and staff recruitment. We make this clear in our application. Our University EEO works with us to have the most diverse faculty and staff possible.

8. Does your law school conduct a "Self-ID" program which allows staff/faculty/administrators to voluntarily and (if they desire) confidentially identify their gender identity and sexual orientation?:
No
9. How many faculty (not staff/administrators) are employed by your law school in total?
465
10. How many self-identified LGBTQ+ faculty are employed by your law school in total?
5
Lesbian
2
Gay
3
Bisexual/Pansexual
Zero
Transgender /Nonbinary
Zero
Queer or gender/sexual orientation minority
Zero
11. How many self-identified LGBTQ+ faculty of color does your law school currently employ in total?
Zero
12. How many staff/administrators (not faculty) are employed by your law school?
20
13. How many self-identified LGBTQ+ staff/administrators are employed by your law school in total?
2
Lesbian
Zero
Gay
1
Bisexual/Pansexual
Zero
Transgender/Nonbinary
1
Queer or gender / sexual orientation minority
Zero
14. How many self-identified LGBTQ+ staff/administrators of color does your law school currently employ in total?
2
15. Does your law school provide employee benefits such as health insurance, family medical leave, parental leave, and nontraditional family planning like assisted reproduction and/or adoptive benefits?
Yes
a. If 'yes,' are those employee benefits available on equal terms to employees in same-sex marital/domestic partnership relationships as they are to employees in different-sex marital/domestic partnership relationships?
Yes
b. If you answered 'yes' to #15, are those employee benefit plans inclusive of the specific needs of LGBTQ+ employees (i.e., are assisted reproductive benefits offered without the need for extended traditional attempts at pregnancy, are care techniques such as mammograms, prostate exams, hysterectomies, etc. available to employees of all genders, are parental leave policies equal for people of all genders, etc.)?
Yes
c. If you answered 'yes' to #15a AND/OR if you answered 'yes' or 'unsure' to #15b, please summarize or reproduce your policy here:

https://mssc.gwu.edu/lgbtqia-resource-center https://benefits.gwu.edu/sites/g/files/zaxdzs1316/f/2020%20Benefits%20Active%20Guide.pdf

16. Does your law school offer transition-related health benefits including hormone therapy, gender counseling, gender-affirming surgeries, etc. to transgender employees and/or employees who are undergoing gender transition?
Yes
a. If 'yes' or ‘unsure,’ please summarize or reproduce your policy here:

https://benefits.gwu.edu/sites/g/files/zaxdzs1316/f/2020%20Benefits%20Active%20Guide.pdf

17. Does your law school offer a student benefit plan including health insurance with nontraditional family planning like assisted reproduction and/or adoptive benefits, and/or any additional benefits such as access to campus facilities?
Yes
a. If 'yes,' are those student benefits available on equal terms to students in same-sex marital/domestic partnership relationships as they are to students in different-sex marital/domestic partnership relationships?
Yes
b. If you answered 'yes' to #17, are those student benefit plans inclusive of the specific needs of LGBTQ+ students (i.e., are assisted reproductive benefits offered without the need for extended traditional attempts at pregnancy, are care techniques such as mammograms, prostate exams, hysterectomies, etc. available to students of all genders, etc.)?
Yes
c. If you answered 'yes' to #17a AND/OR if you answered 'yes' or 'unsure' to #17b, please summarize or reproduce your policy here

https://healthcenter.gwu.edu/sites/g/files/zaxdzs1216/f/downloads/GWU%201920%20PD%26BS%20FINAL%20Formatted%20Remediated.pdf

18. Does your school offer the same transition-related healthcare benefits to students and their partners/spouses who are transgender or undergoing gender transition?
Yes
a. If 'yes,' please summarize or reproduce your policy here:

https://healthcenter.gwu.edu/sites/g/files/zaxdzs1216/f/downloads/GWU%201920%20PD%26BS%20FINAL%20Formatted%20Remediated.pdf

19. Do all students at your law school have access to on-campus health, counseling and therapy services either through the law school or the larger University?
Yes
a. If 'yes,' are your school's on-campus health care providers trained to ensure they can provide culturally and clinically competent care to LGBTQ+ patients, particularly transgender and non-binary patients?
Yes
b. If you answered 'yes' or 'unsure' to #19a, please provide the basis for your answer (i.e., counseling center language, etc.):

We have a health center staffed with professionals to provide these services.

20. Does your law school provide single-stall restrooms available to people of all genders in each law school building?
Yes
a. If 'yes,' please describe how the single-stall restroom(s) is/are identified (i.e., what does the signage say, is it identified on building maps and online resources), the number of single-stall restrooms available in each law school building, and whether these are accessible for people with disabilities in each building or floor

Signage states “All Gender”

21. Does your law school have a restroom policy applicable to gender-segregated (i.e., "Women's Restroom" and "Men's Restroom") facilities which ensures that transgender students/staff/administrators/faculty have access to facilities that match their gender identity?
No
a. If "yes," please provide the language of your school's restroom use policy and details on where this policy may be found by the law school community:

We don’t need one. All restrooms are available to all students and staff.

22. Does your law school have one or more annual LGBTQ+ specific course offerings (e.g., LGBTQ+ Law and Policy, Sexual Orientation and the Law, Gender and the Law (focused on trans-inclusive materials), etc.)?
Yes
a. If 'yes,' please list course names:

Gender, Sexuality and International Human Rights Law; Sexuality and the Law; Family Law

23. Does your law school have an active LGBTQ+ law student group that is supported by the administration?
Yes
24. Does your law school provide funding, including travel support, for LGBTQ+ students to participate in LGBTQ+-focused learning and/or career services opportunities?
Yes
a. If 'yes,' please provide details and examples of when and how those opportunities have been utilized in the past three years:

We have a Lambda Law job fair for the last 10 years here at the law school. Under the umbrella of student organization finding, Lambda Law students have the resources to travel to professional conferences when appropriate.

25. Does your law school have a hate/bias incident policy that faculty, staff/administrators, and students are required to follow?
Yes
a. If 'yes' to #25, does that process specifically identify sexual orientation AND/OR gender identity/expression as protected categories?
Yes, both
b. If 'yes' to #25, does the policy set out a clear hate bias/incident reporting process for faculty, staff/administrators, and students to utilize if necessary?
Yes
26. Does your law school provide mandatory anti-sexual harassment training that explicitly covers same-sex harassment and harassment of transgender/nonbinary people, for all staff/faculty/administrators, at least every three years?
Yes
27. Does your law school provide diversity and inclusion training that incorporates robust LGBTQ+ curriculum as well as anti-racism curriculum, at least every three years? NOTE: Please check all that apply.
Yes, mandatory for all faculty/staff/administrators
28. Please describe all additional ways, not identified through your earlier responses, in which your law school works to be safe, inclusive, and welcoming for its LGBTQ+ students, faculty, and administrators:

GW Law is committed to supporting diversity and inclusion among all students, faculty, and staff. We are proud of the diverse perspectives brought to the community by individuals from around the country and the world. We strive to be a community that acknowledges and celebrates our differences, welcomes challenging dialogues, and provides a space where unique individual and group values are shared and honored. Through our many student groups and committees, GW Law works together to create an atmosphere that accepts all perspectives and champions for increased knowledge and care for one another.

If you have more questions about GW Law’s diversity and inclusion initiatives, please contact Kami Sidman, LPC, MAEd, JD, Director for Wellness, Diversity, and Student Life at 202-994-8320 or ksidman@law.gwu.edu.

Please also check https://www.law.gwu.edu/diversity-inclusion.