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Climate Survey 2022

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

George Washington University Law School

March 23, 2022

Question 1 provided each school with a field to confirm or update their nondiscrimination statement.
 
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 make it known that we are a diverse, inclusive, LGBTQ+ friendly institution throughout our recruiting efforts, including through: 1) an LGBTQ+ brochure (displayed in the Admissions Office); 2) outreach by Lambda Law student/alum leaders to prospective and admitted students; 3) a virtual LGBTQ panel for all interested admitted students as part of our Virtual Preview series; and 4) group presentations and individual conversations with prospective students in which issues related to our curricular and extracurricular opportunities for LGBTQ+ students arise.

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:

Applicants are offered the option to Self-ID by stating whether they are interested in joining our organization for “LGBTQ Law Students.” Certain organizations and opportunities, like journals, clinics, and committees, may also invite students to submit a diversity statement.

b. If 'yes,' how many students are currently enrolled at your law school in total?:
We currently have 1902 enrolled students.
c. If 'yes,' how many self-identified LGBTQ+ students are currently enrolled at your law school, in total?:
Although students are given various opportunities to self-identify, the overall law school numbers are not tabulated across departments.
d. If 'yes,' how many of your currently enrolled LGBTQ+ students also self-identify as people of color?
Although students are given various opportunities to self-identify, the overall law school numbers are not tabulated across departments.
Lesbian?
Although students are given various opportunities to self-identify, the overall law school numbers are not tabulated across departments.
Gay?
Although students are given various opportunities to self-identify, the overall law school numbers are not tabulated across departments.
Bisexual/ Pansexual?
Although students are given various opportunities to self-identify, the overall law school numbers are not tabulated across departments.
Transgender / Nonbinary?
Although students are given various opportunities to self-identify, the overall law school numbers are not tabulated across departments.
Queer or member of gender/sexual orientation minority group?
Although students are given various opportunities to self-identify, the overall law school numbers are not tabulated across departments.
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?
Only general diversity scholarships
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:

As a University we support a variety of external job sites which promote a diverse and inclusive environment. All jobs are posted on the following:

LinkedIn, Indeed.com, HigherEd Jobs, DC DOES, Maryland Workforce Exchange, Montgomery County, Maryland Workforce Exchange, Prince George County, Virginia Employment Commission, City of Alexandria, Virginia Employment Commission, and the City of Fairfax.

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

There is an optional question on the application to self-identify race, ethnicity, gender and/or veteran status. Additionally, we do allow employees to specify their pronouns on their auto email signatures if they choose to do so

9. How many faculty (not staff/administrators) are employed by your law school in total?
We have 112 Full-time Faculty and 354 Adjunct Faculty
10. How many self-identified LGBTQ+ faculty are employed by your law school in total?
Four full-time faculty members have voluntarily self-identified as LGBTQ+. There is no formal self-identification process for faculty.
a. With reference to #10, how many LGBTQ+ faculty self-identify as people of color?
There is no formal self-identification process for faculty, however, several faculty members have voluntarily self-identified as LGBTQ+.
Lesbian?
There is no formal self-identification process for faculty, however, several faculty members have voluntarily self-identified as LGBTQ+.
Gay?
There is no formal self-identification process for faculty, however, several faculty members have voluntarily self-identified as LGBTQ+.
Bisexual/Pansexual?
There is no formal self-identification process for faculty, however, several faculty members have voluntarily self-identified as LGBTQ+.
Transgender / Nonbinary?
There is no formal self-identification process for faculty, however, several faculty members have voluntarily self-identified as LGBTQ+.
Queer or member of gender/sexual orientation minority group?
There is no formal self-identification process for faculty, however, several faculty members have voluntarily self-identified as LGBTQ+.
11. How many staff/administrators (not faculty) are employed by your law school in total?
105 Regular staff employees and 7 Temporary Staff
12. How many self-identified LGBTQ+ staff/administrators are employed by your law school in total?
We have 6 staff/administrator that have voluntarily self-identified as LGBTQ+ There is no formal self-identification process for staff/administrators.
a. With reference to #12, how many LGBTQ+ staff/administrators self-identify as people of color?
There is no formal self-identification process for staff/administrators, however, several staff/administrators members have voluntarily self-identified as LGBTQ+.
Lesbian?
There is no formal self-identification process for staff/administrators, however, several staff/administrators members have voluntarily self-identified as LGBTQ+.
Gay?
There is no formal self-identification process for staff/administrators, however, several staff/administrators members have voluntarily self-identified as LGBTQ+.
Bisexual / Pansexual?
There is no formal self-identification process for staff/administrators, however, several staff/administrators members have voluntarily self-identified as LGBTQ+.
Transgender / Nonbinary?
There is no formal self-identification process for staff/administrators, however, several staff/administrators members have voluntarily self-identified as LGBTQ+.
Queer or member of gender/sexual orientation minority group?
There is no formal self-identification process for staff/administrators, however, several staff/administrators members have voluntarily self-identified as LGBTQ+.
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://mssc.gwu.edu/lgbtqia-resource-center

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

https://hr.gwu.edu/sites/g/files/zaxdzs3571/f/2022%20Active%20Guide%20Final.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?
Yes
a. If 'yes' or ‘unsure,’ please summarize or reproduce your policy here:

https://hr.gwu.edu/sites/g/files/zaxdzs3571/f/2022%20Active%20Guide%20Final.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

https://healthcenter.gwu.edu/sites/g/files/zaxdzs1216/f/downloads/2021-2022-GW-SHIP-Plan.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:

https://healthcenter.gwu.edu/sites/g/files/zaxdzs1216/f/downloads/2021-2022-GW-SHIP-Plan.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.):

https://healthcenter.gwu.edu/counseling-and-psychological-services

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

The restrooms have signage indicating they are an “All Gender Restroom”.

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
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:

While we do not have an official policy stating the above, all restrooms are available to all students, staff, administrators, and faculty.

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 both a Gender Identity Law course and a Sexual Orientation Law course, annually
a. If 'yes,' please list course names:

6394 – Sexuality and the Law;
6427 – Selected Topics in Public Law (Gender, Race, Species Seminar);
6426 – Public Law Sem. (Law of Work, Family, and Gender)

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

21.) https://www.law.gwu.edu/student-organizations; Lambda Law is an organization of students interested in gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender (GLBT) legal issues, employment concerns, and the fostering of tolerance and awareness on campus. The organization provides a network for professional and social interaction between GLBT and ally students, faculty, and legal professionals, and for the education of the Law School community about issues facing GLBT individuals. Since its foundation in 1989, Lambda Law has become a visible and active force at the Law School. The organization was involved in adding ‘sexual orientation’ to GW’s nondiscrimination policy, developing and implementing programs with the Career Development Office regarding legal job search issues facing GLBT students, and discussing the Law School’s position toward issues concerning military recruiters on campus. Ongoing events include a mentor program with GLBT attorneys in Washington, discussions on current legal issues and developments, attendance at national legal conferences, educational activities for major advocacy events such as National Coming Out Day and Freedom to Marry Day, and social events with the Law School and other local law student groups. All students are welcome and encouraged to join Lambda Law in an effort to increase awareness and acceptance at the Law School.

21a.) The Student Bar Association (SBA) receives funding from the main University, then the SBA distributes funding to all student groups according.

22. 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:

Absent a pandemic, we would typically sponsor a Lambda Law job fair, as we have for the past 10 years. Under the umbrella of student organization funding, Lambda Law students have the resources to travel to professional conferences when appropriate.

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

https://compliance.gwu.edu/equal-opportunity-nondiscrimination-anti-harassment-and-non-retaliation#:~:text=The%20George%20Washington%20University%20does,Act%2C%20or%20other%20applicable%20law.

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?
Yes
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, mandatory for all faculty/staff/administrators
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?
Yes

26.) https://diversity.gwu.edu/chosen-name-gender-identity-pronouns

26a.) This data is recorded in MyLaw (GW Law LMS) within each users settings which will populate in the Photo Directory. This can also be recorded in GWeb. Both of these areas and results are not tabulated across departments.

This data is recorded via MyLaw; when a professor looks the class roster they are able to select each students profile within the Photo Directory where they can see students personal pronouns and honorific.

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:

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 Carmia Caesar, Associate Dean for Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, ccaesar@law.gwu.edu, 202.994.0122

Please also visit our website here: https://www.law.gwu.edu/diversity-inclusion