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Climate Survey 2022

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

Northwestern Pritzker School of Law

March 23, 2022

Question 1 provided each school with a field to confirm or update their nondiscrimination statement.
 
a. If you answered 'it is incorrect,' please provide the URL from your school's website with the corrected version

https://www.law.northwestern.edu/diversity/equity-policy/

b. Does your law school (or larger University, if those policies are binding upon the law school) have a "code of conduct" which prohibits same-sex relationships (including but not limited to physical/sexual activity, marriage or registered domestic partner status, etc.) for employees or students?
No
2. Does your law school intentionally seek out LGBTQ+ prospective students?
Yes
a. If ‘yes,’ how and where are your efforts directed?

We ask LGBTQ+ identifying students to represent the School of Law at the recruitment events we host for prospective students. We provide contact information from LGBTQ+ students and members of our OUTlaw student organization to prospective students. LGBTQ+ students serve our our “Diversity the NLaw Way” student panels for admitted students.

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:

The application for admission asks applicants “Do you identify at LGBTQ+?”

 

b. If 'yes,' how many students are currently enrolled at your law school in total?:
769 JD Students
c. If 'yes,' how many self-identified LGBTQ+ students are currently enrolled at your law school, in total?:
130 current students identified as LGBTQ+ at the time of application.
d. If 'yes,' how many of your currently enrolled LGBTQ+ students also self-identify as people of color?
N/A
Lesbian?
N/A
Gay?
N/A
Bisexual/ Pansexual?
N/A
Transgender / Nonbinary?
N/A
Queer or member of gender/sexual orientation minority group?
N/A
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 intentionally seek to advertise open positions in forums that will be viewed by members of the LGBTQ+ community.

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

The Law School follows the University’s process, and currently, the University does not conduct a Self-ID program.

9. How many faculty (not staff/administrators) are employed by your law school in total?
113 Residential Faculty
10. How many self-identified LGBTQ+ faculty are employed by your law school in total?
N/A
a. With reference to #10, how many LGBTQ+ faculty self-identify as people of color?
N/A
Lesbian?
N/A
Gay?
N/A
Bisexual/Pansexual?
N/A
Transgender / Nonbinary?
N/A
Queer or member of gender/sexual orientation minority group?
N/A
11. How many staff/administrators (not faculty) are employed by your law school in total?
169 (which includes librarians)
12. How many self-identified LGBTQ+ staff/administrators are employed by your law school in total?
N/A
a. With reference to #12, how many LGBTQ+ staff/administrators self-identify as people of color?
N/A
Lesbian?
N/A
Gay?
N/A
Bisexual / Pansexual?
N/A
Transgender / Nonbinary?
N/A
Queer or member of gender/sexual orientation minority group?
N/A
13. 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 #13, 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 #13a AND/OR if you answered 'yes' or 'unsure' to #13b, please summarize or reproduce your policy here:

https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/documents/benefits/health-and-welfare-benefits-summary-plan-description-handbook.pdf

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

https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/documents/benefits/health-and-welfare-benefits-summary-plan-description-handbook.pdf

15. 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 #15, 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 #15a AND/OR if you answered yes or unsure to #15b, please summarize or reproduce your policy here

Attached please find the Northwestern University Master Policy for the 2021/2022 Policy Year. Details about the coverage can be found as follows: Infertility: See pages 27; 86-90; 109, Adoption: See pages 52-54, Gender Affirming: See pages 23; 43; 60; 80-81; 73; 165.
https://www.aetnastudenthealth.com/schools/northwestern/masterpolicy2122-0901.pdf

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

Attached please find the Northwestern University Master Policy for the 2021/2022 Policy Year. Details about the coverage can be found as follows: Infertility: See pages 27; 86-90; 109, Adoption: See pages 52-54, Gender Affirming: See pages 23; 43; 60; 80-81; 73; 165. https://www.aetnastudenthealth.com/schools/northwestern/masterpolicy2122-0901.pdf

17. 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 nonbinary patients?
Yes
b. If you answered 'yes' or 'unsure' to #17a, please provide the basis for your answer (i.e., counseling center language, etc.):

There are a number of Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) therapists on staff that have completed specialized training experiences (e.g. continuing education workshops/programs, supervised clinical internships and/or practica, etc.) that focus on evidence-based treatment approaches for conducting clinical work with clients that identify as members of the LGBTQ+ community.

Additionally, CAPS continues to monitor and update the center’s polices and procedures to make them more inclusive. For example, our intake paperwork asks students to self-identify their sexual orientation and gender identity. We also ask students for their pronouns to ensure that we are respecting and using the correct pronouns.

All law students are eligible for CAPS initial access appointments (Phone Initial Care Plan Meetings and/or Referral & Resource Appointments) but depending on a student’s treatment needs they may not be an appropriate fit for CAPS therapy and would be provided treatment recommendations and referral support to connect to therapy, counseling, or other treatment options outside of CAPS.

All CAPS therapists have general cultural and clinical competence around providing care for LGBTQ+ students, including transgender and non-binary students. With that being said, some CAPS therapists will have more specialized training or expertise in treating identity-based concerns/issues that may be specific to transgender or non-binary students. CAPS staff consult to identify either a therapist at CAPS or a therapist outside of CAPS with the training and expertise that would best fit the student’s needs.

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

Single User restrooms are indicated as gender-neutral (three total in two buildings). Additionally, two restrooms in the Law Library with fixtures for two have been designated as gender neutral. Signage indicates the type of toilet fixtures in the room (pictorially) or have photos of a figure of a man and a woman. They are accessible for people with disabilities.

19. If your law school is maintaining gender-segregated (i.e., "Women's Restroom" and "Men's Restroom") restroom stalls, does it have a policy applicable to those facilities which ensures that transgender/nonbinary students/staff/administrators/faculty, as well as anyone who does not meet gender stereotypes, have access to facilities that match their gender identity?
No
b. Do all of the gender-segregated restrooms in your law school buildings have signage specifically indicating that people may use the restroom which best reflects their gender?
No
20. Does your law school have one or more annual LGBTQ+ specific course offerings (e.g., LGBTQ+ Law and Policy, Sexual Orientation Law, Gender Identity Law, etc.)?
Yes, we offer a Sexual Orientation Law course annually
a. If 'yes,' please list course names:

LGBT Law; Sexuality, Gender, and the Law

21. Does your law school have an active LGBTQ+ law student group?
Yes
a. If you answered "yes," does that group receive annual funding from the law school administration?
The group receives funding from a source other than the administration

Students receive funding from the Student Bar Association which receives its funding from part of the student life fee. Our groups are also eligible to fundraise and receive monetary sponsorships from law firms.

22. Does your law school provide funding, including travel support, for LGBTQ+ students to participate in LGBTQ+-focused learning and/or career services opportunities?
No
23. 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 #23, does that process specifically identify sexual orientation AND/OR gender identity/expression as protected categories?
Yes, both
b. If yes to #23, does the policy set out a clear hate bias/incident reporting process for faculty, staff/administrators, and students to utilize if necessary?
Yes

Northwestern University has different policies related to this question. There is a Civility and Mutual Respect policy included in the staff handbook, section 3.1. Additionally, it is the policy of Northwestern to comply with Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, which prohibits discrimination (including sexual harassment and sexual violence) based on sex in the University’s educational programs and activities. This can be found at the University’s Office of Equity web site.

24. 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?
No

The University has in a place a mandatory and robust training related to sexual harassment; however, it does not explicitly cover same sex harassment.

25. 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, optional for all faculty/staff/administrators
Yes, optional for all students
26. Does your school enable and encourage the sharing of personal pronouns (e.g., She/Her, He/Him, They/Them) and honorifics (e.g., Ms., Mx., Mr.) in public communications (email signature blocks, Zoom profiles, nametags, event registration forms, etc.)?
Yes
a. Does your law school capture students' personal pronouns and honorifics as part of the registration process?
We capture this data elsewhere
b. If your law school captures students' personal pronouns and honorifics, is that information consistently shared with professors on class rosters with an expectation that it will be used in the classroom?
No

Students may optionally provide personal pronouns in their Canvas profile. Canvas is a web-based tool faculty may (at their discretion) use to manage and deliver course materials.

27. 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:

At Northwestern Pritzker Law, we are deeply committed to creating a welcoming and inclusive environment for all members of our community and to taking concrete action to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion and social and racial justice. We will build on our existing efforts through active listening, recognizing the importance of ongoing assessment and action.