All-Gender Accessible Restroom Policy and Procedures for All Adelphi University Buildings

Policy Statement

This Policy establishes guidelines and procedures related to the creation, adaptation, and implementation of inclusive facilities in existing and newly constructed buildings for the health and safety of all students, faculty, staff, administrators, and visitors of Adelphi University.

Refer to gender-neutral restrooms map of the Garden City Campus

Reason for Policy

The provision of single-stall, all-gender restrooms is intended to provide safe alternatives to multi-stall, gender-specific restrooms, which can be problematic and unsafe for students, faculty, staff, administrators, and visitors who may be harassed or discriminated against based on their perceived or actual gender identity, gender expression, sex, sexual orientation, ability status or other identity, as well as other factors that make the use of a private, gender-inclusive facility preferable for certain individuals.

Individuals who may be supported and protected by this include, but are not limited to, those accompanied by young children; those who identify as transgender, gender non-conforming, or who are variant in their gender expression; those who do not wish to be identified by any sex or gender identity; those who may be uncomfortable using a multi-stall gender-specific restroom; those who have physical disabilities; and those who use wheelchairs or other assistive devices.

Who Is Governed by this Policy

Faculty, Staff, and Students

Policy

1. In accordance with this policy, the following guidelines shall be followed, subject to the laws, regulations, guidelines, and policies of those entities having oversight over buildings built and renovated by or on behalf of Adelphi University:
   1. New construction buildings, to the extent reasonably possible, shall have at least one inclusive facility on the ground or street level.
   2. New construction building(s) that have four floors or less will, to the extent reasonably possible, have at least one inclusive facility on every other floor, beginning at the ground or street level.
   3. Renovation of existing building(s) will, to the extent reasonably possible, provide at least one inclusive facility on the ground or street level.
   4. Renovation of existing building(s) that have four floors or less will, to the extent reasonably possible, have at least one inclusive facility on every other floor, beginning at the ground/street level.
   5. Multi-Stall All-Gender Accessible Restrooms, to the extent reasonably possible, should be incorporated into any new construction or renovations of existing buildings. Should Multi-Stall All-Gender Accessible Restrooms not be feasible, a Single-Stall All-Gender Accessible Restroom will be incorporated into any new construction or renovations of existing buildings, to the extent reasonable possible.
   6. The placement of signs outside all gender-specific restroom facilities indicating the position of the nearest inclusive restroom should be incorporated into any new construction or renovations of existing buildings, to the extent reasonably possible.
   7. All-Gender and All-Gender Accessible Restroom signage, to the extent reasonably possible, will be used consistently throughout University facilities.
   8. Locker, changing, and shower facilities will, to the extent reasonably possible, uphold inclusive facility standards by incorporating gender-inclusive and/or single-stall locker, changing, and shower facilities in any new construction or renovations of existing buildings, and should assume universal design standards with regards to restrooms.
   9. All-Gender Accessible Restrooms with shower facilities, to the extent reasonably possible, should be incorporated into any new construction or renovations of existing residence halls that have traditional, corridor-style restrooms.
2. Adelphi University shall work with architects, designers, and construction companies to incorporate, to the extent reasonably possible, the standards and/or principles articulated in this policy in any building constructed for the benefit of Adelphi University.

Definitions

New Construction Building: any new building construction or major renovation to an existing building on behalf of Adelphi University or any construction on buildings governed or managed by Adelphi University that takes place after the effective date of this policy. This definition shall include residence halls.

Existing Building: any building owned or governed by Adelphi University that existed prior to the effective date of this policy. This definition shall include residence halls.

All-Gender Accessible Restroom: a single-stall, single occupancy, lockable, wheelchair accessible (universal design) restroom that can be used by any person(s).

Universal Design: the design of products and environments to be usable by all people, to the greatest extent possible, without the need for adaptation or specialized design.

Multi-Stall All-Gender Accessible Restroom: a multi-stall, multiple occupancy, restroom with floor to ceiling stall dividers, vacancy/no vacancy locks, a panel of shared sinks, a wheelchair accessible stall, and appropriate signage. The design and features of these restrooms will uphold the same safety precautions and standards as all other restrooms in buildings built and renovated by or on behalf of Adelphi University.

Procedures

1. To ensure that this policy is followed and to encourage transparency in the planning of new construction and for renovations of existing building(s), the following procedures will be followed:
   1. Each year by November 1, the Department of Facilities Management shall provide to the Office of the Vice President of Diversity and Inclusion a written report that summarizes all plans, proposals, and decisions made related to new building construction and existing building renovations.
   2. The reports described in Section 1 above will include a section that discusses a survey of all existing buildings for identification of non-inclusive, nonAmericans with Disabilities Act-compliant restrooms that can be reasonably converted to an All-Gender Accessible Restroom(s).
2. The Office of the Vice President of Diversity and Inclusion will make these written reports available to the following committees and departments upon request:
   1. The Executive Leadership Team;
   2. The LGBTQ and Allies Committee;
   3. LGBTQ Task Force;
   4. Student Access Office;
   5. Office of Residential Life and Housing;
   6. Advisory Committee for Campus Security;
   7. Department of Public Safety and Transportation; and
   8. Others as needed.

Forms

This policy does not have forms associated with it at this time. Upon periodic policy review this area will be evaluated to determine if additional information is needed to supplement the policy.

Related Information

All-Gender Restroom Map

LGBTQ Support at Adelphi

LGBTQ Task Force

Document History

• Last Reviewed Date: September 25, 2017
• Last Revised Date: June 14, 2017
• Policy Origination Date: June 14, 2017

Who Approved This Policy

Executive Leadership Committee:

Christine Riordan, President
Sam Grogg, Interim Provost and Executive Vice President
Tim Burton, Senior Vice President and Treasurer
Perry Greene, Vice President of Diversity and Inclusion
Esther Goodcuff, Associate Vice President for Student Affairs
Kristen Capezza, Associate Vice President for Enrollment Management
Joanna Templeton, Associate Vice President for Brand Strategy and University Communications
Ann Louden, Special Assistant to the President
Maggie Yoon Grafer, Associate Vice President for External Relations and University Advancement