At the request of the student, the College will engage in reasonable and good faith efforts to use a preferred name and/or gender on internal College records such as class rosters and class schedules. The College is not permitted to use a preferred name and/or gender on the following records: enrollment verifications, transcripts, diplomas, financial aid documents, Visa documents, W-2 forms, and third party reports. There may be some situations where it may be necessary to clarify that a preferred name is different from a legal name. Examples of this include official interactions with police/law enforcement, security, and verification of medical records.
All students, faculty, staff, and visitors have the right to use the restroom that coincides with their gender identity.
College personnel shall not disclose information that may reveal a student’s transgender status.
Under the Family Education Right to Privacy Act (FERPA), only those College employees with a legitimate educational need may have access to a student’s records or the information contained within those records.
When requested by the student or employee, College staff should engage in reasonable and good faith efforts to address students and employees by their preferred names and pronouns that correspond to their gender identity, regardless of whether there has been a legal name change. Consistent with these guidelines, College personnel should make every effort to maintain the confidentiality of the student’s transgender status. Students who need to change their names or pronouns under this policy should submit a Change of Status form to the Records and Registration Office. College employees who need to change their names/pronouns under this policy should submit their requests to Human Resources.
Students and employees may request an ID card be issued in the name that reflects an individual’s gender identity that is consistently asserted at College. Once a student has submitted the Change of Status Form to the Records and Registration Office and the name change is approved, the student may obtain a new student ID card. Should students need to change a College-issued e-mail address to include the name that reflects the individual’s gender identity consistently asserted at College, they should contact the Records and Registration Office, who will complete an IT work order to change the information appropriately. Records and Registration staff will notify the student of the new login information after IT has completed the request. College employees who wish to request a change of their College-issued email under this policy should submit their requests to Human Resources.
Transgender students shall have the same opportunities to participate in physical education as all other students. Students may participate in physical education and athletics in accordance with the student’s gender identity that is consistently asserted at College. Participation in competitive athletic activities will be resolved on a case-by-case basis by the Title IX Coordinator and the Director of Athletics.
GOCC aims to support transgender students and employees while ensuring the safety of all. The use of restrooms and locker rooms by transgender students, employees and members of the community requires colleges to consider numerous factors, including, but not limited to: the transgender individual’s preference; protecting privacy; maximizing social integration; minimizing stigmatization; ensuring equal opportunity to participate; the student’s age; and protecting the safety of all persons. A transgender student or employee who expresses a need or desire for increased privacy will be provided with reasonable alternative arrangements, which may include the use of a private area, a separate changing schedule, or a single stall restroom. A transgender person may not be required to use a locker room or restroom that conflicts with the individual’s gender identity consistently asserted at the College.
In any other circumstance where students are separated by gender in College activities (i.e. overnight field trips), students will be permitted to participate in accordance with their gender identity consistently asserted at College. Activities that may involve the need for accommodations to address student privacy concerns will be addressed on a case-by-case basis considering the factors set forth above.
