1. -more-
Backgrounder
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Kari Dawson
Assistant Director of Business Administration
UWM University Housing
dawsonk@uwm.edu
UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN – MILWAUKEE’S INCLUSIVE HOUSING
Introducing New Policies on Campus
University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee introduced Inclusive Housing in 2013 as part of the
Chancellor’s Best Place to Live, Best Place to Work Initiative. Inclusive Housing provides
students with a welcoming living and learning environment where students are encouraged to
explore and embrace their identity. For many students, this means challenging gender binaries.
An Inclusive Campus
Gendered residence hall rooms and campus bathrooms end a message that students must conform
to an exclusively male or female gender identity. When students are constantly reminded of their
non-conformity, they may not feel like they are a welcomed part of the UWM community.
Physical spaces, such as gender-neutral bathrooms and residence hall rooms, allow students to
display their gender identity at their own comfort level.
Students, faculty and staff are encouraged to consider students’ identities on an individual basis.
Staff are asked to use inclusive language, or language that doesn’t exclude an individual based on
identity. Inclusive language challenges speakers to explore the meaning of common phrases and
words to identify how someone could feel marginalized through those words.
University Housing promotes inclusive environments by providing staff with specialized training
in conjunction with other campus offices. This training encourages staff to explore how they can
contribute to an inclusive environment in their individual role. For example, Resident Assistants
and all staff with daily resident interaction are trained on language and identity. Facility staff is
trained on how their jobs could affect genderless accommodations. University Housing asks for
students’ preferred and legal names on contracts. Prior to move-in, University Housing
administrators communicate with Inclusive Housing participants regarding what to expect when
they move in. Residents are referred by their legal name during the check-in process. Resident
Assistants and other staff refer to the student by their preferred name in face-to-face interactions
and door decorations.
University
Housing
Business
Administration
Office
3400 N. Maryland Ave.
Milwaukee, WI
53211-2953
414-229-4065 phone
414-229-4127 fax
www.universityhousing.uwm.edu

2. ###
Updated: December 10, 2014Updated: December 10, 2014
Cultivating Inclusive Excellence
The Inclusive Housing policy needed to gain support from campus administrators and student
government bodies before being presented to the UW System Board of Regents. Before seeking
approval from the Board of Regents, UWM’s Chancellor and Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs
supported the addition of a new campus policy that would help create a more inclusive and
comfortable living and learning environment for students. University Housing’s Student Housing
Administrative Council and UWM’s Student Association, both student government bodies,
approved the new campus policy. UWM’s Inclusive Housing Policy became the first gender-
inclusive housing policy approved by any UW System school in February 2013.
Reaching Out to Students
Initial efforts to gain awareness of the new policy included campus and local news coverage, a new
page on University Housing’s website and brochures. The first group of students to participate in
Inclusive Housing was a few returning juniors and seniors who previously lived in University
Housing and saw Inclusive Housing signage at self-assignment events. More inquiries began to
trickle in prior to the start of the school year when students spoke to staff members at orientation
and preview days. As more students are hearing about Inclusive Housing from their peers, more
students are contacting University Housing about participation. Current communication strategies
are moving from introducing the new policy to promoting safe spaces for students and allies.
Student Participation
Students may request an application to participate in Inclusive Housing by emailing inclusive-
housing@uwm.edu. The Assistant Director of University Housing and/or the Director of the
LGBT Resource Center request that the student fill out an application to determine eligibility.
Students must demonstrate that they self-select and identify as gender non-conforming or allies, or
have other cultural or identity considerations related to living in the residence halls. Students are
asked to describe previous living environments and any cultural implications related to those
environments. They must acknowledge which environments worked best and what they feel is
culturally appropriate. Students must also share what living in Inclusive Housing means to them.
The eligibility process serves as a tool t o assess individual needs of students and place them in an
accommodation that will promote personal growth and academic success.
Academic Year Number of Inquiries Number of Participants
2013-2014 22 14
2014-2015 39 26
Future Implementations
University Housing hopes to expand upon current Inclusive Housing policies as students request
further changes. Potential areas of growth would be expanding gender options on the contract to
not be an exclusive binary and designating specific communities or Living Learning Communities.
University Housing could move to an open housing assignment process, which would allow
University Housing to make assignments regardless of gender.

3. -more-
Fact Sheet
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Kari Dawson
Assistant Director of Business Administration
UWM University Housing
dawsonk@uwm.edu
INCLUSIVE HOUSING OFFERS A NEW SENSE OF COMMUNITY
UW-Milwaukee University Housing Implements Identity Inclusion
What is Inclusive Housing?
Inclusive Housing offers an inviting and welcoming space for students who self-select and self-
identify as gender non-conforming or who have other cultural or identity considerations related
to living in the residence halls at UW-Milwaukee. Students who identify as allies are also
welcome in Inclusive Housing. Inclusive Housing offers suites where students may request any
roommate without regard to gender identity or physical sex.
Who is eligible?
Students interested in Inclusive Housing must email inquiries to inclusive-housing@uwm.edu in
order to participate in Inclusive Housing. Kari Dawson, Assistant Director of University
Housing, and Jen Murray, Director of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Resource
Center, review each request on a confidential, individual basis.
University Housing then asks interested students to fill out a questionnaire. This questionnaire
determines if a student would benefit from Inclusive Housing. University Housing then engages
in a more in-depth conversation about the expectations and implications for participants of
Inclusive Housing.
Eligibility is granted at the discretion of University Housing. Students under the age of 18 at the
start of the contract period must supply parent/legal guardian’s consent to participate in Inclusive
Housing.
University
Housing
Business
Administration
Office
3400 N. Maryland Ave.
Milwaukee, WI
53211-2953
414-229-4065 phone
414-229-4127 fax
www.universityhousing.uwm.edu

4. ###
Updated: December 10, 2014
Where are students assigned?
Students who return to University Housing for a consecutive year may self-assign to a specific
room or suite. New students are assigned based on individual needs. Inclusive Housing spaces
are available all buildings. University Housing will work to pair residents with suitable
roommates and suitemates within Inclusive Housing.
When did UWM first adopt Inclusive Housing?
UWM was the first UW System institution to offer inclusive housing in the summer term of
2013. The Inclusive Housing policy was approved by the Student Housing Administrative
Council, the UWM Student Association and UWM’s administrative and student affairs leaders,
including the chancellor, as well as the UW Board of Regents prior to its adoption.
Why does UWM offer Inclusive Housing?
University Housing strives to provide an inclusive environment for all students. University
Housing and UWM campus leaders recognize that traditional room assignments do not meet the
needs of all students. Inclusive Housing extends University Housing and UWM’s purpose to
develop an environment conducive to cultural, intellectual and experiential learning.
How does UWM practice this policy?
Outside of room assignments, University Housing puts a conscious effort into creating a safe
space for all residents. University Housing staff participate in inclusive language and social
justice training seminars. Staff address residents by their preferred name and pronouns. Preferred
names are also indicated on rosters and door decorations as indicated on the resident’s contract.
Most importantly, University Housing keeps all information and requests confidential to allow
residents to explore and display their identity at their own comfort level.

5. COPY FOR INCLUSIVE HOUSING BROCHURE
Panel 1:
“Traditional” Isn’t Your Style.
UWM Inclusive Housing
Panel 2:
UWM takes pride in its commitment to diversity and inclusion. Faculty, students and staff provide
cultural programming, support services and academic opportunities that promote awareness and
appreciation for the vast array of identities represented at UWM.
Inclusive Housing offers an inviting, welcoming space for students who have cultural or identity
considerations in regards to living in the residence halls.
Panel 3:
Inquire about your place in Inclusive Housing at inclusive-housing@uwm.edu.
All inquiries are confidential. Students who are interested in Inclusive Housing will be asked to fill
out an application/questionnaire to determine eligibility.
Panel 4:
Every UWM student has individual needs and ways of expressing their identity. University Housing
recognizes that traditional room assignments do not offer every student a comfortable living and
learning environment.
Assignments are made on an individual basis to best promote individual growth and academic
success. Accommodations are available in Cambridge Commons, RiverView Residence Hall,
Sandburg Hall and Purin Hall.
Panel 5:
Students who self-select and self-identify as gender non-conforming, have other cultural or identity
considerations related to living in the Residence Halls or identify as allies may be eligible to
participate in Inclusive Housing.
University
Housing
Business
Administration
Office
3400 N. Maryland Ave.
Milwaukee, WI
53211-2953
414-229-4065 phone
414-229-4127 fax
www.universityhousing.uwm.edu

6. Panel 6:
LGBT Resource Center
Phone: (414) 229-4116
Email: peerout@uwm.edu
Web: lgbt.uwm.edu
FB / UWM.LGBTRC
Twitter / UWMLGBTRC
University Housing
Phone: (414) 229-4065
Email: university-housing@uwm.edu
Web: sa.uwm.edu/housing
FB / UWMUniversityHousing
Twitter / uwmreshalls
Design Requirements:
Style/Inspiration:
Trendy, Clean, Fun a la Contract Guidebook and LLC publications
Images:
UH building collage, photo of two students interacting in room, photo of a group of students
playing games in community lounge, photo of students eating in cafeteria, photo of RA posting Safe
Space signage
Colors:
Dark Grey, Gold, White, UWM approved complementary color pallete
Copy Font:
Arial
Logos:
UWM, University Housing, LGBT Resource Center, Facebook, Twitter