LGBTQ+ Services

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A Safe, Supportive Campus

The Office of Intercultural Student Engagement provides LGBTQ services to foster a campus environment that is positive, safe, and supportive for members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning community. Services include:

  • Supporting students who may have questions about sexual orientation and gender identity.
  • Advocating for students experiencing discrimination or harassment based on real or perceived assumptions about sexual orientation.
  • Increasing community awareness and coordinating programs on a variety of topics relevant to LGBTQ issues.
  • Facilitating Safe Space Training (identifying safe people and safe spaces on campus for LGBTQ persons) and other workshops on combating homophobia and transphobia and developing LGBTQ allies on campus.
  • Providing an LGBTQ lending library in the Cultural Exchange Lounge (Campus Center 100) on the Biddeford Campus with DVDs and books available for check-out.
  • Sponsoring educational, academic, and social events during National Coming Out Week in October, the UNE Gaypril Pride program in April, Pride Portland in June (parade/festival), and programming in the UNE Diversity Lecture Series.

View additional state and local LGBTQ resources

Safe Space Training

UNE Safe Space is a training program that helps you understand the challenges that many lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer persons experience.

Explore UNE's Safe Space Training program

Gender Inclusion

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Policies and Opportunities for UNE Students

 

ISE works across the institution to assess the climate for underrepresented students, including those who are transgender, gender-variant, or non-binary. Below, you will find more information on current policies and opportunities for UNE students.

Chosen Name and Gender

Request to Change Gender on File

You may change your gender marker on file from "Male" to "Female" or vice-versa by submitting a Request to Change Gender form in Banner to the University Registrar. 

The Chosen Name project

Do you go by a name that is different than your legal name? If so, we want to get your name right. The Chosen Name project is an initiative that allows students, faculty, and professional staff to have their Chosen Name reflected on various campus platforms.

This initiative benefits individuals who have changed their marital status or gender expression, use a different name in English than their native language or country of origin name or use their middle name. Whatever the reason may be, we support your decision to go by your Chosen Name.

If you are interested in having your Chosen Name used while at UNE contact the Office of Title IX and Civil Rights Compliance.

All-Gender Restrooms

The University is committed to providing safe and accessible campus restroom facilities. We recommend that individuals make choices about restroom usage based on their own level of comfort and their gender identity or expression. We know that many transgender individuals feel safer and more comfortable using single stall restrooms. Currently, there are single stall restrooms in many campus buildings. All of these restrooms are gender-inclusive — meaning that anyone, of any gender identity — can use that restroom. If you find that one of the restrooms on our map/list or that any single-occupancy restroom on campus is labeled incorrectly, please email us.

All-gender RESTROOM LOCATIONS

Campus Housing

Gender-Inclusive housing is an option in University residence halls. In this housing style, any gender can share a residence hall room, and each roommate must agree to live in this arrangement. This option is best for if you identify as transgender, are changing or exploring your gender expression, or you feel most comfortable living with people of a different gender than your own. This is not recommended for romantic relationships.

If you are interested, contact the Office of Housing and Residential/Commuter Life at (207) 602-2272 for more information.

Glossary

FAQ

Non-discrimination Policy

UNE's non-discrimination policy includes gender identity and expression as protected classes. If you believe you have been the target of discrimination due to your gender identity and/or expression, please contact the Division of Student Affairs or share a concern.

Student Groups

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Celebrating Diverse Populations

There are several UNE clubs and organizations that celebrate the diverse populations of our community. The Office of Intercultural Student Engagement advises or collaborates with these groups on both the Biddeford Campus and Portland Campus for the Health Sciences and encourages you to start new groups.

Religion and Spirituality

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Support for Religious, Spiritual Expression and Exploration

At the University of New England, we understand that spirituality is important to many members of our community. We are committed to creating an environment responsive to expression and exploration of your spiritual needs in our campus community.

Spirituality may include religious faith, affiliation with a particular religious group or community, values, beliefs, ethics, morals, and principles. The Office of Intercultural Student Engagement helps connect you with on- and off-campus opportunities and programs that explore spiritual wellness. Multi-faith events are held periodically on campus.

We can assist you in connecting with local places of worship and times of services. Don't worry if you do not have a car on campus. UNE offers several alternative transportation methods that you can take advantage to connect with off-campus services. To learn about our daily bus routes and more, visit our alternative transportation resource page.

Additional Resources

Nor'easters Helping Nor'easters

UNE is a community of educators and learners who care about and for each other. If you are concerned about another member of the UNE community, please let us know.

Undocumented Students

The University of New England considers applications from prospective students regardless of their citizenship status.