Let us help you get connected to the resources you're most interested in and find the information you need now. If you have additional questions or need different support, please reach out to us at prism@uvm.edu.
Queer & Trans Community Resources
Student Resources
On-Campus Housing
Incoming First Year Students
Most first year UVM students live in one of ten themed learning communities. Learning communities bring students with similar interests together. Each community is expected to address core issues of social justice and inclusion. As you explore each learning community you will find information about the buildings the community occupies including gender-inclusive restroom and shower information. Each building is available in alphabetical order on this page with core information, including learning community, gender-inclusive restroom and showers, kitchens, etc. on the dropdown on the right side of the images.
Gender Inclusive Housing
The Gender-Inclusive Housing process is currently being updated as of Fall 2023. Check back here for more up-to-date information, or email Res Life with any specific needs you may have.
Residential Life statement on Gender-Inclusive Housing.
If you have concerns about finding a roommate as a queer or trans student, email us and we will try and match you with a student in the same situation.
Returning Students
Please contact Res Life and/or the Prism Center if you have questions or concerns about your learning community's environment for queer and trans people.
Off-Campus Housing
The Office of Student and Community Relations (OSCR) has many tenant resources for students living off-campus, searching for off-campus housing options, and/or looking to get involved in the Burlington and Vermont community.
Health & Wellness
Identity affirming mental and physical healthcare services are available from the Center for Health and Wellbeing through Counseling and Psychiatry Services (CAPS) and Student Health Services (SHS). For a more focused approach to wellness, UVM LivingWell offers programs and resources to assist you in your wellbeing journey.
Let's Talk
During the academic semester, students can access drop-in counseling in a safe and identity-affirming environment at the Prism Center. Days and hours vary by semester and interested students should consult our full calendar for up-to-date information.
Queer & Trans Mindfulness Circle
Open to queer & trans students and employees, this group offers a guided meditation, time for authentic sharing, and contemplative reflection on how to thrive in today's world. This is a group lead by queer & trans students who have completed the UVM Mindfulness Facilitator Training program. Interested parties should consult our full calendar and/or UVM Bored for up-to-date information.
Identity Affirming Items
The Prism Center Identity Affirming Closet is a free, on-campus resource intended for UVM students who can't afford or can't safely obtain identity-affirming clothes and other supplies. The clothing closet is currently available in the C170 student lounge. Clothing swaps and workshops are held throughout the year. To request identity affirming items such as binders and femme shapewear, please fill out the request form (requires UVM sign in) to let us know what you need. Someone from our office will be in touch to confirm the details. Requests are accepted during the academic year.
Alumni and supportive community members play a critical role in the success of this program that is run on donations. Your donation directly impacts students' lives; make a donation to the Prism Center to help support this program today.
Meezan-Brittenback Student Emergency Fund
The Prism Center operates a small fund to assist students facing emergency situations or urgent needs, particularly if the student may be at risk of leaving the University. Students should apply through the UVM Emergency Grant Program's simple online application. Awards from this fund typically range from $50-$500 and preference is given to queer and trans applicants.
William “Bill” Meezan ’67 (1947-2016) and his husband Mike Brittenback, have been long-time supporters of the Prism Center and LGBTQ+ students of UVM. They established the Meezan-Brittenback Student Emergency Fund in order to support queer and trans students during times of financial hardship.
Studying Gender & Sexuality
At UVM, queer and trans identities, history, and current events are also an academic priority. All students can take exciting classes on related subjects, present their work, and be recognized for outstanding projects.
In the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS), Gender, Sexuality, and Women's Studies offers a major and a two minors in courses of study: a B.A. in Gender, Sexuality, and Women's Studies as well as a minor of the same name, and a minor in Sexuality and Gender Studies.
We recognize students with exemplary coursework on these topics annually with the Daniel-McCarter Award, presented annually at Rainbow Graduation.
All Community Members
Gender-Inclusive Bathrooms
Learn about efforts to provide gender-inclusive restrooms at UVM.
View the campus map filter for gender-inclusive restrooms in public UVM buildings. Toggle the filters in the left-hand menu to view gender-inclusive restrooms in private buildings, such as residential halls.
Lived Names & Pronouns
All students, staff, and faculty at the University of Vermont can indicate their lived name and pronouns to the University community regardless of whether or not they have legally changed their names. You can also update your email address to reflect your lived name. Please visit this Knowledge Base article for instructions on updating your information. It will take 24-48 hours for the change to populate through to all the other systems. In a few rare cases, the lived name might still not appear in all locations.
If you find that your pronoun or lived name is not showing up correctly somewhere on campus, you can submit a help ticket with the Tech Team. The Prism Center can also advocate for you and work with other offices to fix errors when they occur.
Additionally, to help orient yourself to when it is appropriate to use someone's legal name vs. their lived name (as some systems at UVM do require legal names be used) please see the following document: Lived Name Decision Tree (PDF). You can download your own copy if you would like.
For information about legal name and gender marker changes on identity documents in the State of Vermont, please see this guide from Outright Vermont (PDF).
Other Campus Identity Centers
- Interfaith Center — from spirituality to philosphy to religion, the Interfaith Center is here to help you discover and make meaning in your relationship to life, through community building, education, and reflection.
- Mosaic Center for Students of Color (MCSC) —the MCSC strives to see all students of color empowered, engaged, and enthusiastically in community here at UVM, through mentorship opportunities, student development, and signature events.
- Women & Gender Equity Center (WAGE) — the WAGE center offers a home away from home, seeking to bring gender equity to all students at UVM, through resource sharing, recurring programs, and community outreach.
Local & State Resources
- The Pride Clinic (through Community Health Centers of Burlington)
- The Pride Center of Vermont
- Out in the Open (supporting rural LGBTQ+ people)
- Outright Vermont (serving LGBTQ+ youth ages 13-19 with parent resources)
- SafeSpace (at the Pride Center of Vermont)
- Vermont CARES
- Vermont Diversity Health Project (through the Pride Center of Vermont)
Reporting a Bias Incident
Bias is an umbrella term that includes, but is not limited to, incidents of harassment, discrimination, hate crimes, and micro-aggressions based on or motivated by race, religion, sexual orientation, ethnicity, national origin, ancestry, gender, age, disability, or gender identity and expression. Any person who has experienced or witnessed a bias incident is encouraged to report it and seek the necessary resources.