Transgender Specific Resources

Here's Ithaca College's official non-discrimination policy, which notably includes "sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression."

Links:

• Ithaca College's Non-Discrimination Policy

The lovely folks at the Planned Parenthood of the Southern Finger Lakes and Out for Health have created an app, Pee in Peace, that details the locations of gender friendly restrooms throughout the Ithaca area. This app includes downtown Ithaca, Cornell's campus, and Ithaca College's campus.  

Links:

• "Pee in Peace" App

If you are a student who is transgender or outside of the gender binary, you may request a housing accommodation two ways. You may simply call the Residential Life office at 607-274-3141 or submit the Transgender and Non-binary Housing Request form. The request form is voluntary and we will work with you to meet your housing needs, regardless of whether you decide you fill out the online form. By filling out this form, Residential Life will be prompted to reach out to you before each housing selection to offer assistance with the selection process. Give Residential Life a call in January or February of each year if you would like to talk about housing for the next academic year, if you decide not to fill out this form. First year students looking for a compatible roommate can use the social media channels for admitted students or meet them in-person during orientation. Sometimes, specific LGBTQ Residential Learning Community housing and gender-inclusive floors are offered, but this depends on the interest of the students.

Links:

• Office of Residence Life
• Housing Accommodations

Want to change your name if the name you go by is different from your legal name? Want to change your gender marker at Ithaca College?  The form at the link  below has sections for each of these.  Changing your chosen/preferred name will move into most college processes, including but not limited to: student email, library information, Canvas online learning platforms, the bookstore, class rosters, and the student directory.  You can even get your student ID reissued in the name you go by!  Simply visit the ID Office on campus and request it - and look your best, they'll take a new photo of you if you wish!

Please note: The Health Center and CAPS use separate computer systems to keep all your personal health data safe - but no worries, all you need to do is ask them to input your lived name into their systems. Then their systems will be on board with the name you use too. It's an extra step for you, but it's worth it!

Links: 

• Changing your Name at IC
• Changing your Gender at IC

Are you an alumnus who has changed your name or gender? Update these with Ithaca College! Once you've done so, you can also request a transcript or a replacement diploma reflecting your current name. If you're an Ithaca College alumnus, you can change your name and gender marker through the Registrar's office (linked above in the Current Students section) and then request a new transcript and a replacement diploma. And, one's gender does not appear on Ithaca College transcripts and diplomas.

Links:

• Request a New Transcript
• Request a New Diploma

The campus LGBT Center provides resources on the legal name change process in our county, as well as the process for changing other identity documents with name and gender marker (driver's license, passport, birth certificate, etc). Resources for students changing their name or identity documents in other states are also available. The LGBT Center also partnered with Out for Health, Planned Parenthood of the Southern Finger Lakes LGBT Health & Wellness initiative, to create an awesome new booklet that has information on every process for changing your name and gender marker on important identity documents! Forms for students and employees to update the college after a legal name change are below. For each, verification of your legal name change should be submitted along with the appropriate form.

Links:

• Know-How Booklet
• Know-How Document Tracker Form

The Ithaca College student health insurance plan covers non-surgical therapy related to transition.  This includes hormone therapy and counseling.  Hormones for transgender students are covered by the Ithaca College student health insurance, in the same manner as other prescriptions as part of its prescription plan.  The college's CAPS (Counseling and Psychological Services Center) counselors and therapists are also highly skilled and knowledgeable in serving transgender students and come recommended from the LGBT Center.  In addition to our campus counselors and therapists at CAPS, there are  also a number of knowledgeable, transgender affirmative therapists locally.  Ask CAPS or the LGBT Center for information about referrals.

Links:

• IC CAPs 

Even if you aren't a student (or if you want to use off-campus health services as a student), the Ithaca community has a number of great resources for transgender health. Planned Parenthood of the Southern Finger Lakes, located in downtown Ithaca, has hormone therapy and preventive health services for transgender people.  This is not a campus service, but a service provided in the local community. There is a fee for this service but if finances are a concern these can be discussed before one's first appointment.  A person may become a new patient if they are seeking transgender related health care for the first time - or, if they are already being seen by a medical provider in their home community or their previous town that is providing transgender related health services to them, they may transfer their care and their records to this office so that they have a local provider here. You can reach them at  607.273.1513 to request an appointment or request additional information.

The Planned Parenthood website also includes an awesome new booklet that has information on every process for changing your name and information as a transgender person!

Links:

• Ithaca Planned Parenthood

• Transgender/Nonbinary Hormone Therapy

Ithaca College provides this program for transgender students, faculty, staff, and even community members!  One of the only programs like it in the country, the Voice and Communication Modification Program focuses on developing voice, articulation, non-verbal communication, language, voice-related quality of life, and self-perception.  It's open to both male to female and female to male transgender people.  The program is free to students, faculty, staff, and family of staff or faculty.  Community members who don't fit into those categories have to pay a nominal fee, and people must sign up in advance to be a part of this group.  

Links:

• Sir Alexander Ewing-Ithaca College Speech and Hearing Clinic
• Brochure