Transgender Students in Higher Education

I'd like to start this post off with an apology for the delay on getting this up. I recently started a new job and have been overwhelmed with training so a little late, but here's the post!

I chose to focus this week on transgender students in higher education because of the topics covered in this week's reading, and because of the prominence of these issues coming to light in all fields of education.

The first article I found was related to a high-school student, Calliope Wong, who had applied to an elite all women's college, Smith College of Massachusetts, because she was documented as male on government documents. Because of this discrepancy in one item of paperwork (her FAFSA was the only document that identified Wong as a male) her application was returned to her unread, twice. In order for Wong to be considered for acceptance to the school, she would need to have gender reassignment surgery. When Smith's vice president for public affairs was contacted for comment she stated that in order to be accepted to the college, all applicants must have documents stating female as their gender because of title IX funding. "Title IX is an important factor in our consideration but not the only one," she said. "Smith is focusing on the broader policy challenge of how to be inclusive and supportive of transgender students while being faithful to the mission of a women's college" (Howard, Z., 2013). 

To follow up on Wong's story, Huffington Post published an article, Smith College Plans Committee to Address Transgender Student Applicants, after a petition with over 4,000 signatures to support transgender women. Smith's Dean of Admissions Debra Shaver said that a committee will be formed to directly address the issues pertaining to transgender applicants in response to the petition. The committee is scheduled to meet at the beginning of next school year to determine the best way for the college to work with transgender students. The fact that Smith College is having this discussion shows an opportunity for other universities to take notes to best accommodate transgender students. 

I believe it is essential for all professionals in education to have the knowledge and ability to work with students of all genders in any type of setting. Knowing how students identify and how open they are to talk about these identities helps both the staff, student and peers be comfortable and successful in school. New resources are now available for advisors with suggestions for how to work with students in the LGBTQ and transgender communities. 

Howard, Z. (2013, March 28). Elite women's college rejects transgender student, prompts outcry. In Reuters. http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/03/28/us-usa-college-transgender-idUSBRE92R0YT20130328

Morgan, G. (2013, May 5). Smith College Plans Committee to Address Transgender Student Applicants. In Huffpost Gay Voices. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/03/smith-college-transgender-committee-_n_3209606.html

Moorhead, C. (2013, March 5). Advising Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Students in Higher Education. InClearinghouse Academic Advising Resource. http://www.nacada.ksu.edu/Resources/Clearinghouse/View-Articles/Advising-Lesbian--Gay--Bisexual--and-Transgender-Students-in-Higher-Education.aspx