Trans@Barnard

Welcome to Trans@Barnard! This is where you will find resources for navigating Barnard while transmasculine, transfeminine, nonbinary, and/or gender-nonconforming. If you have questions, concerns, or need additional support, please don’t hesitate to reach out to one of the corresponding departments below or contact dei@barnard.edu.

• Prospective students, please contact Christina Lopez, Dean of Enrollment Management, at clopez@barnard.edu
• Current students, please contact Dylan Kapit, LGBTQ+ Outreach Coordinator, at dkapit@barnard.edu
• Faculty, please contact Alex Pittman, Associate Director, Center for Engaged Pedagogy, at apittman@barnard.edu 

Chosen Name Information

The Registrar's Office manages student records where a preferred name can be registered. Please note that Barnard is in the process of updating the language from “preferred name” to “chosen name.”

Updating Your Name

To start the process, please fill out this form for the Registrar's Office. Once your chosen name has been updated with the registrar, most other campus offices will receive this information.

Please note that, per this process, your chosen name will be used for these purposes:

• University ID card
• Class Rosters and Grading Rosters (myBarnard and SSOL)
• Courseworks
• Courseworks discussion groups
• Barnard and Columbia Public Directories (unless the student has asked that information be blocked)
• Communications (for example, if Barnard sends mail to the student at the student’s home address, it will be addressed to your chosen name)
• Diploma

Please note that Barnard and Columbia professors do not have access to deadnames and can only see the “preferred name” on their rosters.

If you have not changed your name legally, your legal name will still be used for:

• Office of International and Intercultural Student Programs
• Office of Financial Aid
• Bursar’s Office
• Federal or State Requests for Information (including tax forms)
• National Student Clearinghouse
• Transcript
• Academic certifications (of enrollment, good standing, degree completion)
• Athletics rosters
• Furman Counseling Center
• Primary Care Health Service

Barnard's transgender admissions policy

Housing accommodation request process: 

If you have a specific housing accommodation need, please contact housing@barnard.edu to discuss your request and possible options. Please note that for the 2021-2022 academic year, all requests are considered on a space-available basis. Information for the 2022-2023 academic year will be posted on this page once it is made available. 

Gender-inclusive restrooms on campus:

Barnard students may use any bathroom that aligns with their gender identity.

Residence Halls:
All corridor-style housing (the Quad and Elliot Hall) has an all-gender restroom on each floor. Floor plans are available on the Res Life website.

Academic Buildings:
There is at least one all-gender bathroom in every academic building on campus. *Map of all-gender bathroom locations coming soon.* 

Columbia University
Columbia gender-neutral restroom map 

Primary Care's services are available to all students of all gender identities and expressions.

Students who are considering any kind of gender transition that may involve medical care are encouraged to make an appointment at Primary Care to discuss potential next steps and resources.

PCHS maintains a comprehensive list of referral resources for trans* healthcare in regard to transitioning in NYC and will work with students to find appropriate resources.

Barnard College’s student health insurance, through Aetna Student Health, covers both hormonal and surgical healthcare.

Any student who has already begun receiving hormone therapy outside of New York may also be given referrals to the resources available in NYC.

Students who are self-administering injections may receive assistance from Primary Care’s clinical staff, with the appropriate medical documentation.

Furman Counseling Center provides confidential counseling and more services.

Other NYC-Based Mental Health Resources

Callen-Lorde

Callen-Lorde is the global leader in LGBTQ+ healthcare. Since the days of Stonewall, Callen-Lorde has been transforming lives in LGBTQ+ communities through excellent comprehensive care, provided free of judgment and regardless of ability to pay. In addition, Callen-Lorde continuously pioneers research, advocacy, and education to drive positive change around the world, because we believe healthcare is a human right.

Callen-Lorde Community Health Center provides sensitive, quality healthcare and related services targeted to New York’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender communities — in all their diversity — regardless of ability to pay. To further this mission, Callen-Lorde promotes health education and wellness, and advocates for LGBTQ+ health issues.
Contact information: 356 West 18th St., New York, NY 10011, (212) 271-7200

Apicha Community Health Center

Apicha Community Health Center’s mission is to improve the health of the community and to increase access to comprehensive primary care, preventative health services, mental health, and supportive services. Apicha is committed to excellence and to providing culturally competent services that enhance the quality of life. Apicha advocates for and provides a welcoming environment for underserved and vulnerable people, especially Asians and Pacific Islanders, the LGBTQ+ community, and individuals living with and affected by HIV/AIDS.
Contact information: 400 Broadway, New York, NY 10013, (866) 274-2429

The Gender and Sexuality Therapy Center

Finding a therapist who is a good fit can be a difficult experience under any circumstances, but for members of LGBTQ+ and alt sexualities communities, the search can easily become overwhelming. How can you make sure that you find someone affirming of and knowledgeable about your identity, communities, and experience living in the world? The Gender & Sexuality Therapy Center provides the safe, nonjudgmental, and empowering therapeutic space that you deserve. The Gender & Sexuality Therapy Center is a New York City-based group of psychotherapists providing a range of services, including psychotherapy, supervision, workshops, and consultation focusing on gender, sexuality, sex, and relationships for individuals, couples, multipartner relationships, and families.
Contact information: 850 7th Avenue, New York, NY 10019, (646) 797-4340

Crisis Resources

Trans Lifeline  (877) 565-8860

Trans Lifeline is run by and for trans people. Trans Lifeline is a grassroots hotline and microgrants 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization offering direct emotional and financial support to trans people in crisis — for the trans community, by the trans community.

The Trevor Project 1-866-488-7386

The Trevor Project is the leading national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer & questioning (LGBTQ) young people under 25. TrevorLifeline is a crisis intervention and suicide prevention phone service available 24/7/365.

The Center for Engaged Pedagogy has provided guidance for faculty on ways to create gender-inclusive classrooms. 

NameCoach is a tool in Canvas that allows students and faculty to record their name pronunciations and pronouns. This tool is now default-enabled in the left-hand navigation bar in all Barnard courses, and appears as “Name and Pronoun.” See the guide for details on how to use this tool, and feel free to email courseworks@barnard.edu with questions.

Suggested Best Practices for Supporting Trans Students Developed by the Consortium’s Trans Policy Working Group guide

Reporting discrimination

There are legal protections in place for Barnard community members experiencing discrimination based on their gender identity or gender expression. Barnard College is committed to providing an employment, learning and campus living environment free from discrimination or harassment. Anyone who may have been subjected to sex or gender-based discrimination or harassment (“gender-based misconduct”), sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, or stalking (together referred to as “misconduct”) is encouraged to report these incidents. Upon receiving a report, Barnard College (“the College”) will respond promptly, equitably, impartially, and fairly. In addition, the College will take steps to prevent the recurrence of the alleged misconduct and to correct its effects. Individuals involved in misconduct covered by this procedure may request academic, residential, or work accommodations by contacting the Director of Nondiscrimination and Title IX. 

For more information, please contact Barnard’s Director of Nondiscrimination and TItle IX, Dr. Elizabeth Scott-Francis, at escottfrancis@barnard.edu.

Student Experience and Engagement hosts monthly meetups for students of color, students who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and asexual (LGBTQIA), and students who identify as queer students of color. The meetups are a space to connect, build relationships, and share experiences and resources with people who share these identities.

We’re excited to see you at our community meetups! If you have any questions, need more information about any of the programs, or would like to collaborate or share/exchange ideas, please don’t hesitate to contact SEE see@barnard.edu.

Upcoming Programming

Trans Awareness Week list of events. 

“Embracing Gamer Trouble: How to Survive and Thrive in Hostile Territory: Sex Death, Identity, and Politics in Video Games,” Trans Awareness Week keynote with Professor Amanda Phillips, hosted by the Office of DEI, Diversity Council, American Studies, CCIS, and Women’s, Gender & Sexuality Studies. Register here. 

October Is Queer Awareness Month

Queer Awareness Month (QuAM) is a collaborative effort between Barnard College and Columbia University. QuAM strives to celebrate queer identities and increase awareness about lesbian, gay, bi­sexual and transgender issues and history. Recognized annually in October, QuAM features an Opening Reception, the First Friday series, special events for National Coming Out Day, and much more! 

If there is LGBTQ+ community-specific programming that you’d like to see, please don’t hesitate to reach out to  SEE see@barnard.edu.