Students smiling and touching index fingers.

FAQ's

Welcome to WMU and the Office of LBGT Student Services. The following are the most common questions that prospective and incoming Â鶹´«Ã½s have of WMU, the campus community, and resources.

ACADEMICS

Yes, the department of Gender and Women's Studies offers several courses depending on interest and availability. You can check their course offerings here.

Yes, scholarships are available for returning LGBTQ Â鶹´«Ã½s to assist with tuition and attending conference. Financial assistance is also available for trans Â鶹´«Ã½s to obtain a replacement Bronco ID card if they have not legally changed their name. Check out our scholarship page.

Yes, the Office of LGBTQ Student Services has a library that can be accessed during open office hours, Monday-Friday, 10am-5pm.

CAMPUS LIFE

Yes, faculty, staff, and Â鶹´«Ã½s are not required to take LGBTQ trainings, but are welcome to sign up for Safe on Campus training.

WMU Housing and Residence Life tries to make accommodations for LGBTQ Â鶹´«Ã½s to be placed according to how they identify. Spectrum House is an LGBTQIA+ living and learning community available to undergraduate Â鶹´«Ã½s.

WMU abides by Michigan building codes regarding multi-stall gendered restrooms. We have both a  and a  of gender-neutral, single-stall accessible bathrooms that are located throughout campus.

The Office of LBGT Student Services offers twice monthly groups such as Ace Space, Bi-Weekly Pan, Trans Thursday, and others depending on Â鶹´«Ã½ leadership availability. 

Our office offers the following annual events:Registered Student Organizations (RSOs) include:
  • ,
  • Queer Artists ()
  • WMU chapter of  (NGPA)

In 2012, WMU did a general campus climate survey where almost 6,000 people (Â鶹´«Ã½s, faculty, staff, and administrators) completed the survey. Of those who filled it out, 12.3% identified as LBGT (~690 people).

A campus climate survey was issued in spring 2024, updated data will be available soon.

WMU's non-discrimination policy includes both sexual orientation and gender identity/expression since 2006. WMU is  as the top 5 LBGT campus in the state of Michigan and the top 35% in the Midwest region. 

Students who participate in fall orientations will have a campus tour where they will stop at the Adrian Trimpe Building to learn about the Office of LBGT Student Services in addition to other departments within the Office of Diversity and Inclusion (ODI). 

Yes, you can have a preferred name displayed in several areas including (but not limited to) your email, instructor forms, and eLearning. New Â鶹´«Ã½s are encouraged to communicate their preferred name before receiving their Bronco Card to avoid paying a $30 replacement fee. If you have a legal name change, the replacement Bronco ID fee is waived. 

Legal NamePreferred Name
  • Admissions Correspondence
  • Commencement Program
  • Degree Verification
  • Enrollment Verification
  • Federal & State Agency Reporting
  • Financial Aid
  • Student Accounts
  • Transcripts
  • Bronco Card
  • Degree Works*
  • Elearning
  • Email Address & Display Name
  • First-Year Experience Programs
  • GoWMU
  • Instructor Forms**
  • People Search

* Preferred name will appear in addition to the legal name.

** Including class lists, midterm and final worksheets, academic concern, and incomplete grade forms.

LEGAL

The Office of Institutional Equity handles all instances of complaints and discrimination. You can also .

OFF-CAMPUS

The  and  prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity/expression. Kalamazoo County also offers a  where applicants must produce documents totaling . There are several LBGT-friendly organizations in the community including , and more.