Topic > Providing Support for Transgender Students on Campus

With growing support for the LGBT population across the United States, colleges and universities have responded by creating positive spaces and environments for students. However, in some cases, not all populations are adequately served. One population in particular, transgender students, sometimes do not receive the same support that gay, lesbian, and bisexual students do. One issue facing LGBT services at DePauw University is providing appropriate services to transgender students. Providing educational programs, gender-neutral restrooms, college education, and counseling for transgender students could increase support for students who identify as transgender. Literature Review Currently, there is no considerable empirical research on the experiences that students who identify as transgender face. The research conducted reveals an unfavorable campus climate for transgender students. A significant amount of published information on the inclusion of transgender students discusses strategies that colleges and universities can use to improve campus climate for students. Few studies have been conducted to test the improvements a campus makes to accommodate transgender students. The literature presented discusses transgender students' coming out experiences, campus climate, and ways colleges and universities can improve campus climate. Coming Out ExperiencesPusch (2005) conducted a qualitative study to examine male college students' coming out and transition experiences from female to male (MTF) and female to male (FTM). Pusch (2005) collected data over a seven-month period using a listserv and private emails. Within the listserv, participants introduce themselves and discuss issues important to them with follow-up… half of the document… BG (2005). Making campuses more inclusive for transgender students. Journal of Gay and Lesbian Issues in Education, 3(1), 77-87. Beemyn, B., Curtis, B., Davis, M., & Tubbs, N. J. (2005). Transgender issues on college campuses. New directions for student services. 2005(111), 49-60.Dugan, J.P., Kusel, M.L., Simounet, D.M., (2012). Transgender college students: An exploratory study of perceptions, engagement, and educational outcomes. Journal of College Student Development, 53(5), 719-736. doi:10.1353/csd.2012.0067McKinney, J. S. (2005). On the margins: A study of the experiences of transgender college students. Journal of Gay and Lesbian Issues in Education. 3(1), 63-75.Pusch, R. S. (2005). Objects of curiosity: Transgender college students' perceptions of others' reactions. Journal of Gay and Lesbian Issues in Education, 3(1), 45-61. doi:10.1300/J367v03n01_06.