At Marymount Manhattan College, we seek to create a residential experience that is inclusive of all gender identities and gender expressions. We believe that offering gender-neutral housing creates a safe and inclusive living and learning experience for all of our students.
What is gender-neutral housing?
Gender-neutral housing is based on the notion that there are more than two genders. In fact, there is an infinite combination of biological sexes, gender identities, or gender expressions that may comprise one’s gender identity. Gender-neutral housing means that students from all gender identities and expressions may choose to live together.
Important Information
Students must OPT IN to participate; if you are interested in gender neutral housing, you are open to living with a person of any gender.
If you are under 18, you will need your parent’s permission to participate. We encourage all students to share their decision with their family.
You may select your own roommates. All requests must be mutual, and be submitted by the deadline.
If you sign up for gender neutral housing and don’t have a roommate request, we will match you based on your application preferences.
In the event that your roommate moves out mid-year, another student may be placed into your room who has also opted-in to gender neutral housing.
Please understand that individuals are not placed into gender neutral rooms based on sex.
How should I involve my parents in this decision?
We encourage students interested in gender-neutral housing to share the decision with their parents. Let them know why this option is important to you, even though parental permission to select a gender-neutral room isn’t required for students who are 18 or over. Students who are under 18 must obtain parental consent for this option.
Additional FAQs
Yes, but all roommate requests must be mutual. Students who do not have a mutual request will be matched based on the preferences noted in the application. The deadline for requesting a roommate for the fall is July 1.
At 55th Street, double, triple, or quad bedrooms are available within an apartment. At Cooper Square, double and triple bedrooms are available within an apartment.
By opting in to gender-neutral housing, you are agreeing to have a roommate of any gender. Should a vacancy arise in your suite or room, you will have two options: pull in a friend of any gender to live in the space, or be open to receiving a roommate of any gender. As with any room assignment, it is possible you may not know the roommate assigned to the space. If later you feel uncomfortable living in a gender-neutral space, you can switch rooms to a room that is not a gender-neutral space, pending availability. If you are not sure if you would feel comfortable living with a person of a different gender, we advise you not to participate in gender-neutral housing.
As with standard housing, we will encourage the residents occupying the space to go through a roommate mediation. Should the resident still be unhappy, the resident who requested the change will be the one who is given the option to move. This request will be granted based on availability. Keep in mind, room changes start after the third week of the semester.
As a general rule, we strongly advise against it. There can be serious problems should the relationship end. While there is no way for us to enforce this option, we urge students to make another choice.
This depends on space and availability.
Gender neutral housing is not just for LGBTQ people; it’s for anyone who wants to live with people they feel comfortable with, no matter the gender. Students who elect this option must be open to living with a person of any gender. Students are interested in gender neutral housing for a variety of reasons. We hope you make the best decision for you.
Many colleges and universities offer gender-neutral housing. MMC is proud to join a community of more than 100 colleges who offer some form of gender neutral housing to upper-class and first year students, including American, Colby, Connecticut, Gettysburg, Hamilton, Oberlin, Princeton, Skidmore, University of Pennsylvania, Vassar and Wesleyan. Even more offer variations of this policy to upper-class students.
