The University of Chicago strives to be a welcoming and supportive place for trans nonbinary students. Below are a list of resources to support you as you navigate campus. Please contact LGBTQ Student Life as you have questions.
Last updated August 2024.
Athletics
Varsity Sports
Please see the Transgender policy for intercollegiate athletics competition.
Intramural Sports
The University of Chicago offers coed, open, and same gender sports and activities for both teams and individuals.Intramurals are open to all current University students.
Students interested in participating in intramural sports will be asked the gender they identify as when first creating an account on the intramural registration platform, IMLeagues . Gender options for the purpose of intramural participation are: Male, Female and Nonbinary. When selecting Nonbinary, students will still be asked to select which type of leagues they prefer to play in, Men’s or Women’s.
Coed team sports require a minimum and maximum number of female-identifying and male-identifying students to participate.
Learn more about Intramural policies and procedures on our Intramural Homepage.
Locker Rooms
Gender inclusive, single-user locker rooms are located in the Ratner Athletics Center. The private, "family" locker rooms are available upon request from the entrance attendance. Check in with the entrance attendant to request a key to the locker rooms.
Note: The "family" locker rooms are not available during Family Swim times. Family Swim occurs on Fridays from 6 p.m. to 8:45 p.m., and on Saturdays and Sundays from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Also, during the summer, Family Swim will also run on Monday and Wednesday from 5 p.m. to 8:45 pm.
These times may change, so visit Facilities & Hours Overview for the most up-to-date information.
On-Campus Housing
Gender Inclusive Housing (Open Housing)
We are committed to providing all students with on-campus housing accommodations that are safe and inclusive. All multi-occupancy spaces, with the exception of those that are part of a single-sex floor or wing, may be occupied by students who prefer gender inclusive accommodations.
No student will be assigned to such a space unless they specifically express interest. We encourage students interested in gender inclusive housing to maintain open dialogue with individuals in their support networks, including appropriate family members that may have interest in a student’s housing assignment.
Incoming new students may indicate their preference for gender inclusive housing through their housing application, while returning students may create/join a roommate group with other students who share this preference as part of the returning student room selection process. Additionally, a free text field exists within the new student housing applications for students to provide additional information that they would like considered by Housing & Residence Life during the assignment process that occurs over the summer months.
Restrooms
Most Houses have at least one all-gender and/or single user community restroom available. Students assigned to apartment or suite-style accommodations have a semi-private restroom available, shared among their room/suitemates.
Additional Assistance
Students are encouraged to engage with Housing & Residence Life if they have specific questions, concerns and/or needs regarding on-campus housing options/assignments. This can be done by emailing housing@uchicago.edu or engaging with staff through the myHousing portal live chat feature.
CNET ID/Email Address Changes
CNet/ID Email Address Changes
University of Chicago email addresses are comprised of two separate components: CNetID and email aliases. Currently, students are not allowed to change their CNetID once it has been chosen. If you are a student who has not created your CNetID, please keep this in mind when you create your CNetID.
If you have already chosen your CNetID and would like to change your email address, you may set up an email alias. If you're looking for an alternate email address, you should claim an alias.
What is a CNetID email alias?
An alias (sometimes also called a nickname) is a pointer to your cnetid@uchicago.edu address. This allows you to receive mail at alias@uchicago.edu in addition to your regular cnetid@uchicago.edu address. Please note you can't use an alias to log in to any system.
How can I add a CNetID email alias?
To add or change a CNetID email alias go to the MyAccount at UChicago, sign in using your CNetID and password, and click "Add a new mail alias". Enter the alias you want in the field and click "Add new mail alias". As long as this name is not already in use, you will be able to receive mail at alias@uchicago.edu within a couple of hours. You can have up to five aliases, in addition to your CNetID@uchicago.edu address.
How can I delete a CNetID email alias?
Go to the MyAccount at UChicago, and sign in using your CNetID and password. Next click the appropriate "Delete alias@uchicago.edu" link. Deleted aliases stop forwarding email immediately. They also immediately become available for other people to claim as aliases or CNetIDs
Healthcare & Wellness
UChicago Student Wellness
UChicago Student Wellness is committed to providing inclusive, affirming, and culturally competent services and support to our students. Please visit Services for LGBTQ+ Students to learn about the most up-to-date medical services, mental health services, campus and community outreach, and additional health and mental health resources.
Student Wellness strives to ensure that our services are comprehensive, accessible, and welcoming to students. Student Wellness staff are highly skilled, diverse, interdisciplinary team with various staff members who identify as LGBTQ+ and who have expertise and experience working with LGBTQ+ students. All of our staff are committed to supporting the diverse health and wellbeing needs of our LGBTQ+ and gender expansive communities in a variety of ways.
Student Wellness understands that students have unique and diverse intersectionality of identities, experiences, and needs. As such, we engage in continuing education trainings for updated information and terminology as well as ongoing consultations to continuously develop our services and practices. LGBTQ+ students may seek our services for a variety of reasons, such as questioning or exploring sexual orientation or sexuality, assistance with the coming out process, body image or eating issues, sexual health concerns, and considering gender transition. Throughout your time at UChicago, we are here for you.
Student Health Insurance
The University of Chicago student health insurance (U-SHIP) covers the following services:
- Psychotherapy/Counseling
- Gender Affirmation Surgeries*
- Hormone Replacement Therapy*
- Gender Dysphoria Treatment Policy Information (pdf) | March 1, 2024
Visit the Student Health Insurance website to receive the most up-to-date information on coverage and policies.
Howard Brown Health (off campus)
Howard Brown Health is one of the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) healthcare organizations. There are multiple clinics around the city. The location closest to campus is
Howard Brown Health - 55th Street
1525 E. 55th St.
Chicago, IL 60615
Howard Brown Health and UChicago Student Health Insurance
All of the physicians at Howard Brown are considered “in network”. This means that as long as the services a student receives are “eligible services” (as per the terms of the student insurance policy). For more information review the 2023-24 U-SHIP Summary Brochure https://wellness.uchicago.edu/student-insurance/u-ship/ The 2024-25 Summary Brochure will be available in August.
Please Note: Information on health care providers covered by U-SHIP may change. Students who would like to go to Howard Brown for health care, but are not sure if the services they will receive are “eligible”, can contact the on-campus student insurance staff.
Note: Students should be aware that if they see a physician outside of Student Wellness, the charges for the visit will be billed to insurance. Students will be responsible for the annual deductible and co-insurance requirements as stated in the student’s insurance policy.
Name Changes
Preferred Name Policy
Current students can indicate a “preferred” first and/or middle name, which is a name the student wishes to be commonly known as, if different from their legal first and/or middle name. Updates to preferred name can be made through my.UChicago.
Preferred name will only be seen via Class Rosters, Grade Rosters, Chalk, and the Online Directory.
Primary name will continue to be the student’s legal name. Primary name will be what appears on the transcript, diploma, UChicago Card, and any documentation involving financial aid, student accounts, or international student status. Students must continue to use their primary names when conducting official University business. To change the name listed on any University of Chicago official documents, students must follow the procedures listed above for changing their name on their student records.
Please Note: Preferred names will be regularly reviewed. Any entries deemed to be offensive will be removed by the Office of the University Registrar.
Preferred First Name
Legal Name Changes
Students who wish to change their legal name on their student records should use the following guidelines to request the change:
- You must be able to present current official government-issued documentation showing the correct spelling of your new name. Accepted documentation can include a passport, driver's license, or court order.
- You must complete the Change of Name Form. Please note that when completing this form you should not sign until you are in the presence of a notary public or a member of the University Registrar's staff. If you are mailing in your request, you may send it to:
Office of the University Registrar
1427 E. 60th Street
Chicago, IL 60637
- International Students wishing to change their names in the University records should contact the Office of International Affairs prior to submitting the Change of Name form to the Office of the University Registrar to ensure the proposed change is acceptable
- Graduating Students should submit any name change requests to the Office of the University Registrar at least 2 months before they are expected to graduate
- Alumni should also contact Alumni Relations to request a name change. Submitting a Change of Name Form to the Office of the University Registrar will not automatically update your alumni record
- Student Employees: if you are an employee of the University of Chicago, you will also need to contact HR Services to update your employee record with your new name
For information on using your preferred name on your diploma, contact Scott Campbell, University Registrar, at scottcampbell@uchicago.edu
For the most up-to-date information on legal name changes and diploma reissuances, please visit the University Registrar's website.
Directory Privacy
The University will publish your current address, phone number, and email address in the online directory and other publications unless you specify in my.UChicago that you'd like your information withheld from these publications.
If you wish to have your information withheld should log into myUChicago with their cNet ID and password. Once logged in, click on the edit link under "Privacy" in the "My Information" section to withhold your directory information. Students may then opt to withhold their information
You may choose to publish or withhold your directory onformation at any time. The initial setting is to publish your directory information
Note: If you choose to withhold publication of your directory information it affects whether your enrollment/degrees can be verified to parties with whom you have a relationship and/or prospective employers.
Directory Information
Chicago Resources
Brave Space Alliance is the first Black-led, trans-led LGBTQ Center located on the South Side of Chicago, dedicated to creating and providing affirming, culturally competent, for-us by-us resources, programming, and services for LGBTQ individuals on the South and West sides of the city. We strive to empower, embolden, and educate each other through mutual aid, knowledge-sharing, and the creation of community-sourced resources as we build toward the liberation of all oppressed peoples.
The Chicago Gender Society is organized and operated for social, charitable and educational purposes. More specifically, CGS is a social, and educational organization for all members of the Transgender community, their supporters and for the benefit of the public. The goal of CGS is to provide social and educational activities for its members, the transgender community and its supporters and the general public. It seeks to promote a positive self-image for transgender individuals in the business community, in the media and the general public. CGS is neither a therapy group nor a dating service. Each member is responsible for their own conduct.
Chicago Women’s Health Center (CWHC) is a collective that includes health care providers, counselors, outreach health educators, and doctors who work together to provide health education and affordable, respectful, and accessible gynecological and mental health care to women and trans people in the Chicago area. In 1975, a group of women healthcare providers and activists formed the health center for women in the community.
Genderqueer Chicago
Genderqueer Chicago is a free and open community group whose mission is to: bring people together to talk and think about gender in new ways; increase visibility of gender variant people; and educate the larger Chicago community on issues of importance to people in the gender variant community.
Genderqueer Chicago holds weekly safe discussion meetings, create city-wide activities, and host a community blog. This blog, like all GqC events and activities, is open to anyone who wants to talk or think about gender or identity.
Genderqueer Chicago is not an activist group or political campaign. Genderqueer Chicago is an inclusive community, and anyone wishing to take part is considered family.
GenderWork is Chicago's social, support, and activist group for FTM (female-to-male) female-assigned, masculine-identified individuals. Whether you are pre-op, post-op, non-op, on T or not, GenderWork welcomes you. This includes but is not limited to FTMs, transgendered men, transsexual men, transmen, intersex transmen, genderqueer folks, butches, transitioned men, transguys, bois, drag kings, bi/poly/pan/omni gendered, stone butches, trannyfags, two spirit, tomboys, femme tg bois, and non-gendered folks...wherever you are on the gender spectrum or in your journey of transition (or non transition), or if you are just questioning, please join GenderWork!
Illinois Gender Advocates
Illinois Gender Advocates (IGA) is the organization in Illinois performing public advocacy for transgender people. We petition for changes in the law and provide public education about transgenderism. Membership in Illinois Gender Advocates is open to all. IGA welcomes everyone who believes in the importance of achieving equal rights for gender variant people. IGA members include all sexual orientations and gender identities. Those who identify as transgendered represent all aspects of the transgender spectrum: bigender, transsexuals, transgender men and transgender women, genderqueer, friends and family.
REFUGE is a web application that seeks to provide safe restroom access for transgender, intersex, and gender nonconforming individuals. When the Safe2Pee website passed out of functionality it left a hole in our hearts. REFUGE picks up the torch where Safe2Pee left off and makes the valuable resource available to those who find themselves in need of a place to pee safely once again. Users can search for restrooms by proximity to a search location, add new restroom listings, as well as comment and rate existing listings. We seek to create a community focused not only on finding existing safe restroom access but also looking forward and participating in restroom advocacy for transgender, intersex, and gender nonconforming folk.
Transformative Justice Law Project of Illinois
The Transformative Justice Law Project of Illinois (TJLP) is a collective of radical lawyers, social workers, activists, and community organizers who are deeply committed to prison abolition, transformative justice, and gender self-determination.
TYRA (Transgender Youth Resource and Advocacy)
TYRA's vision is to create a community that celebrates the inherent worth and dignity of every person, regardless gender identity or gender expression. Most transgender youth feel unsafe in school because of gender identity or expression. The rate of dropout, suicide and homelessness is disproportionately high. Illinois Gender Advocates’ TYRA program serves as a resource for youth, their parents, schools, counselors, care providers and others. TYRA provides a weekly drop-in center: a safe, confidential place for youth, ages of 14 to 24, to come and meet other transgender or questioning youth. TYRA advocates on behalf of transgender youth for inclusive services and programs at schools, social service agencies, foster care facilities, and other agencies.