Gender Inclusive Facilities

I. Purpose and scope

The University of Rochester is committed to creating and sustaining a campus environment that supports and values all members of our community, including visitors. Gender inclusion requires providing access and equality by creating an environment that is safe, accessible, and respectful of all individuals.  One feature of an inclusive environment is the availability of safe, accessible, and convenient facilities for all individuals. This includes that employees are allowed to use facilities that are consistent with their gender identity.  The availability of all gender inclusive facilities will provide privacy for the individual user and include spaces and plumbing fixtures equivalent to gender-specific facilities.

This Policy sets forth the process that will guide the University of Rochester’s (UR) efforts toward making Gender Inclusive Facilities widely available at UR owned and operated facilities (restrooms, changing rooms, and showers) designed for use by the public and UR community (private residential spaces are not included), including new construction, renovations, and existing facilities. In addition, this policy outlines the requirements to provide single-occupancy restrooms and multi-occupancy all gender restrooms via low-cost conversion, full conversion, renovation, and new construction.

This policy does not extend to UR-leased facilities, however evaluation of the availability of gender inclusive facilities shall occur using the guidelines in this policy, when beginning or renewing leases.

See also the UR Design Standards

II. Definitions

Definitions for the purpose of this policy:

• Changing Room is a room in which one or more persons partially or fully disrobe and re-dress; this includes locker rooms.
• Gender Identity is a person’s innate sense of gender regardless of the person’s sex assigned at birth.  Gender identity can include, but is not limited to, men, women, trans men, trans women, non-binary, and/or gender expansive people.
• Gender-Inclusive Restroom (GIRR) is a restroom that is usable by persons of all genders.  A GIRR can be a single-occupancy or multi-occupancy restroom.
• Gender-Specific Restroom (GSRR) is a restroom that is usable by persons of the gender designated on signage outside the restroom. A GSRR is a multi-occupancy restroom.
• Gender Inclusive Facility includes restrooms, changing rooms, and showers designated for use by all gender identities.
• Gender-Specific Facility includes restrooms, changing rooms, and showers designated for use by one gender (e.g., men or women).
• Work Area is the portion or portions of a building consisting of all reconfigured spaces as indicated on the construction documents. Work area excludes other portions of the building where incidental work entailed by the intended work must be performed and portions of the building where work not initially intended by the owner is specifically required by this policy.
• Multi-Occupancy Restroom sometimes referred to as “multi-stall restroom” is a facility with more than one plumbing fixture, which more than one person can use at a time. Each toilet stall has a locking mechanism to ensure privacy.
• Plumbing Fixture is an exchangeable device such as a toilet, urinal or sink which is connected to a building’s plumbing system.
• Privacy Compartment is an enclosure (may be referred to as a “stall”) comprised of partitions with an inside-lockable door, offering privacy to the occupant.
• Renovation is any work that includes the complete demolition and reconstruction of a restroom or bathroom. This level of work requires a building permit.
• Restroom is any facility equipped with toilets, urinals, sinks, and/or other similar facilities, that is for use by the public for personal hygiene and comfort.  “For use by the public” in this context covers nearly all UR facilities (e.g., restrooms, changing rooms, and showers), except for facilities located within private residences or apartments, within dormitory suites, or in areas not accessible to the public.
• Shower is a space in which one or more persons bathe or shower.
• Single-Occupancy Restroom is a facility with a toilet, sink, and may include a urinal, and has a locking mechanism on the entry door to ensure privacy.
• UR Owned and Operated Building is a building that is owned and operated by UR, including off-campus buildings and buildings designed and/or built by third parties that are to become the property of UR upon completion.

III. Policy implementation

A. Existing Facilities

University Facilities (UF&S) will survey the existing restrooms, changing rooms and showers. An accurate list of Gender Inclusive Facilities will be developed and maintained in the UR Space/PLANON database, including identification of the locations of all gender inclusive facilities. UF&S will update the list of gender inclusive facilities, posted on the University website, no less than once a year.

UF&S will coordinate with Human Resources (HR), the Office of Equity & Inclusion (OEI) and University Finance to provide a prioritized list of recommended improvements and associated costs. A multi-year implementation plan will be developed by facilities and approved by University Finance. Potential upgrades may include:

1. Full Conversion of Existing Gender Specific Single-Occupancy Restrooms: Conversion of existing, Single-Occupancy Gender Specific Restrooms to Gender Inclusive Restrooms (GIRR) by replacing gender-specific signage with gender-inclusive signage. See Section D below.
2. Low-Cost Conversion of Existing Gender-Specific Multi-Occupancy Restrooms: These conversions will generally require replacing gender-specific signage with gender-inclusive signage, adding “no sightline” strips to fill side gaps at privacy compartment doors, panels, and pilasters, and adding partitions between adjacent urinals where needed.
3. Renovation: Renovation projects affecting or creating restrooms, changing rooms, and/or showers will bring the affected space type(s) into compliance with new construction requirements. If meeting the requirements is not feasible, a Design Standards Variance Request shall be submitted by facilities and reviewed with the Vice President for Equity and Inclusion and the Vice President of Human Resources.
4. As an option, restrooms may be converted from existing gender-specific multi-occupancy restrooms into multi-occupancy GIRRs.

B. New Construction

1. Restrooms: All single occupancy restrooms, and family or assisted use toilet rooms shall be gender inclusive and provide for accessibility, consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Plumbing Code of New York State (PCNYS). A minimum of one multi-occupancy gender inclusive restroom in each new building will be provided.  Where multi-occupancy GSRR restrooms are provided, a single-occupancy gender-inclusive restroom shall be provided nearby.
2. Changing Rooms: A minimum of one gender inclusive changing room shall be provided in each location in the building where changing rooms are provided. In all respects, the facility shall be consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Plumbing Code of New York State (PCNYS).
3. Showers: A minimum of one gender inclusive shower shall be provided in new buildings in which showers are provided. If the shower(s) are located within a changing room, the gender inclusive shower(s) will be located so the user does not need to leave the changing room to use the shower and shall utilize a privacy lock that includes an occupancy indicator.

C. Signage

A gender inclusive facility will be identified in a simple manner, utilizing the minimum signage required by ADA Standards for accessible design and be consistent with the UR Design Standards.  Signage shall not include gender specific pictograms. Access the University design standards.

UF&S is responsible for designing, and affixing signage to all gender inclusive facilities. If an unapproved sign is affixed, installed, or placed on UR property, UF&S is authorized to initiate a process to have it removed at the expense of the person(s) or unit who made the unauthorized placement.

D. Gender Inclusive Facilities Committee

A Gender Inclusive Facilities Committee shall be created by OEI and consist of members from UF&S, Human Resources and OEI. In addition, the Director of LGBTQ Life and a leader in the field of gender-affirming care at URMC shall be standing members of the committee.  The committee shall meet at a frequency of not less than bi-monthly. Meeting minutes shall be maintained by the Office of Equity and Inclusion.

IV. Request for gender inclusive facilities

Requests for gender inclusive facilities can be submitted to Facilities at FacCust@facilities.rochester.edu. All Requests will be acknowledged in writing within five (5) business days. All requests will be reviewed with consideration of proximity to other gender inclusive facilities, and the available annual renovation budget. Request evaluations and formal responses will be provided in writing no later than twenty-five (25) days after receipt of the request and will include consultation with OEI.

V. Design standards variance request

In instances where the University believes that compliance with the express terms of this policy may not be practicable, a Design Standards Variance Request may be submitted by the UR project manager. Variance requests are reviewed by the Design Standards Governance Committee in accordance with the committee’s bylaws and procedures, which can be viewed via the link below. All variance requests relating to gender inclusive facilities shall also be reviewed by the Office of Equity and Inclusion and shared with the All-Gender Facilities Committee. Access the Design Standards Variance Request form.

VI. Feedback Procedure

Any concerns, suggestions, or recommendations related to this policy should be submitted to the Office of Equity and Inclusion.

VII. References

1. Plumbing Code of New York State
2. 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design
3. UR Design Standards