The Trans @ ISU Guide created by the Center for LGBTQIA+ Student Success was made in 2015 to help transgender identifying students, staff and faculty access resources and this upcoming year the guide will see new changes.

Any student at Iowa State can make use of this guide, according to the Center for LGBTQIA+ Student Success website. However, students who identify as trans or transgender, gender non-conforming, genderqueer, non-binary, agender or two-spirit may find this guide to be the most useful.

For more information on these identities and terms related to sex assigned at birth, gender and sexuality, a terminology list can be found on the Center’s website.

“We reach out to a variety of units, places, spaces to gain perspectives and details about how students might navigate certain processes,” said Brad Freihoefer, director of the Center for LGBTQIA+ Student Success.

Freihoefer said over the coming summer the Center plans on overhauling the entire guide to include a new restroom map and student ID information.

The Trans @ ISU Guide is split into multiple different areas so identifying students, staff and faculty are better able to find what they are looking for. Some of the main areas include restrooms, health, academics and community.

Restrooms

The guide provides a list and visual layout of gender-inclusive restrooms across campus. Currently, there are 30 gender-inclusive bathrooms on the map in 19 buildings across Iowa State, including the Memorial Union, State Gym and the Alumni Center.

According to the guide, students may either use the restroom that aligns with their gender identity or with their sex assigned at birth. Students may use whichever restroom they feel most safe and comfortable using.

“A gender-inclusive restroom is defined as a single stall, lockable restroom, open to the public, with signage that indicates that anyone may use that restroom, regardless of gender,” according to the Center’s website.

The map can be found under the restroom tab of the guide.

State Gym also has gender-inclusive changing rooms, which are rooms 1223A and 1223B on the first floor. They consist of a single stall restroom with a lock on the door, a shower and ample space for changing. State Gym also has single changing stalls with locks on the doors in the women’s locker room.

Health

According to the guide, Thielen Student Health Center staff have been educating themselves on health care needs for trans and gender non-conforming people and are prepared to meet their general health care needs.

The pharmacy at Thielen Student Health Center will refill hormone prescriptions, but at the moment, Thielen Student Health Center cannot initiate hormone replacement therapy (HRT). The staff can refer patients to providers in Iowa who can start the process of getting on hormones.

Coverage for health care services related to medical transition have been expanded under Iowa State’s Student and Scholar Insurance Plan, but students will need to consult with Wellmark to determine what is covered and to what extent. Coverage may change depending on in-network and out-of-network providers, specific prescriptions and other factors.

For mental health, the guide directs identifying students, staff and faculty to Student Counseling Services.

“The staff at Student Counseling Services are committed to being an affirming place for trans and gender non-conforming students,” according to the guide. “They know that trans people face many challenges and barriers in society, and the transitioning process can be a time of excitement, difficulty, and stress. Many of their counselors have experience providing support and counseling to trans and transitioning students.”

When starting at Student Counseling Services, identifying students do not need to say their legal name out loud to the front desk staff and just have to present their student ID to get started with the paperwork process. Students will need to include their legal name when filling out the electronic paperwork, but there is a spot for students to type in their preferred name and pronouns. The counselor meeting with the student will use the preferred name that was entered.

The guide also includes a link to One Iowa’s list of primary care providers, mental health providers, urgent care clinics, hospitals, dentists and other health care providers across Iowa.

Academics

Iowa State does not discriminate on the basis of gender identity, and the gender students designate on their admission application is not factored into the admission decision.

Students who are seeking assistance with understanding the process of legally changing their name can contact Student Legal Services.

For additional information about the process of legally changing your name in Iowa, see the Iowa Guide to Changing Legal Identity Documents.

The policy for updating student records after a legal name change can be found on the Office of the Registrar’s website. Students will be asked to provide two forms of ID with their updated legal name.

After a student has updated their name with the Registrar, they will need to update the name on their ISUCard and if they bring their old ISUCard, it is free.

The Office of the Registrar will process a gender marker change without requiring any medical or legal documentation. However, the Registrar requires that students request a change of a gender marker in writing.

For more information about this process refer to the Office of the Registrar’s website, under the section Gender Marker Change Policy.

Students who are seeking assistance with understanding the process of changing the gender marker on their state and federal identity documents can contact Student Legal Services.

For information about the process of changing their gender marker on state and federal identity documents, see the Iowa Guide to Changing Legal Identity Documents.

Students are never required to come out to professors or anyone else. However, they may want to inform their professors, particularly if they want to be referred to by their name and pronouns in class.

For tips on coming out to a professor and a sample email go to the Center’s website.

Community

Iowa State does offer gender-inclusive housing options. The Spectrum Theme House is a gender-inclusive residence community for students interested in building a supportive space for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, asexual and ally people. Located in a traditional style residence hall, students in this residence community may live with a roommate of any gender.

For more information about this option, see the Spectrum Theme House website.

For tips on coming out to roommates, see the guide’s website.

“If a student’s living situation becomes uncomfortable after coming out, their CA or hall director will be able to assist them,” according to the guide.