Pride Month Special: Universities with Gender Inclusive Application Forms

Inclusivity is increasingly becoming an imperative when it comes to educational communities. With growing awareness around gender identities, a lot of universities are taking initiatives to make students feel included in that respect. This pride month, we bring to you examples of universities who have taken active steps to inculcate inclusivity in their study environments, starting from the application forms.  

The inclusion of gender-inclusive categories on university application forms can be labelled as the first step towards creating a welcoming environment. It ensures that students of all gender identities can accurately represent themselves and it also send across a strong message of support to transgender and nonbinary applicants. By prioritizing inclusivity from the application stage, universities can foster a sense of belonging and promote overall student well-being. Here are a few examples of universities that have implemented gender-inclusive options in their admission forms:

1.      Stanford University: Stanford offers a "Gender Identity" question on their admission application, allowing applicants to choose from options including "Woman," "Man," "Transgender," "Genderqueer," "Two-Spirit," and "Self-Identify."

2.      University of California, Berkeley: UC Berkeley has updated its admission application to include a question about gender identity. Applicants have the option to select from a range of gender identities or self-identify with an option not listed.

3.      Harvard University: Harvard University includes a question about gender identity on its admission application. The options provided include "Female," "Male," "Transgender," "Genderqueer," "Nonbinary," and "Prefer to self-describe."

4.      University of Washington: The University of Washington allows applicants to select their gender identity from a dropdown menu on their admission application. The options include "Female," "Male," "Transgender," "Nonbinary," and "Another Gender Identity."

5.      University of Oregon: The University of Oregon provides a gender identity question on their admission application, allowing applicants to select from options such as "Female," "Male," "Transgender," "Genderqueer," "Nonbinary," and "Self-Identify."

By acknowledging the diverse range of gender identities and expressions, the above-mentioned universities among others, are now demonstrating their commitment to valuing and respecting all applicants. Embracing gender inclusivity on application forms is a powerful step towards creating a more equitable and inclusive higher education landscape and must be celebrated as a significant stride in a positive direction.