Over the course of the summer, the Facilities Office, Dean of Students Office, and the Office of Diversity, Inclusion, and Multicultural Education (ODIME) identified restrooms in each of WPI’s non-residential buildings to convert them into gender inclusive restrooms.
While it is something often taken for granted, inclusive restroom spaces are very important for the safety, wellbeing, and visibility of many of our student populations. “…the known presence of such policies/supports was related to a greater sense of belonging and perception of a more affirming campus climate—which have been linked to positive mental health and academic outcomes among sexual minority youth” (Russell & Fish, 2016). Beyond this positive change, campus and community members should not notice a difference in their facility experience; they may see new signage near all types of restrooms in our academic buildings.
We have also included some helpful terminology below:
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Gender Inclusive or All Gender Restroom communicates people of all genders are welcome in this restroom. This may include:
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People of all genders seeking additional privacy (i.e. single-user restrooms).
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People who are comfortable using the restroom with people of all genders.
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Parents/families/visitors with small children of a different gender.
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Transgender and nonbinary individuals.
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Single-use or single-user restrooms are those intended for a single person to use. These are usually comprised of a single locking door, a sink, and a toilet.
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Multi-use or multi-user restrooms are restrooms that are intended for multiple users. These usually have an external door that remains unlocked along with urinals, multiple sinks, and multiple stalls.
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Gender-specific restrooms are facilities designated as “Women’s” or “Men’s” restrooms.
Below is the updated list of Gender Inclusive Restrooms in each academic building on campus. You can also find this full Gender Inclusive Restrooms list on maps.wpi.edu under the “Facilities” tab.
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Atwater Kent Laboratories:
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Third Floor: both accessible and single use; one restroom with a toilet and one with urinals and a stalled toilet
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Fuller Laboratories:
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Basement Level: both accessible and multi-use; one restroom with stalled toilets and one with urinals and stalled toilets
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Gordon Library:
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First Floor (Lower Level): multi-use restroom (not accessible) adjacent to Multimedia Lab
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All Floors: single-use accessible restrooms on each floor
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Higgins Laboratory:
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Third Floor: both accessible and multi-use; one restroom with stalled toilets and one with urinals and a stalled toilet
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Laurie A. Leshin Global Project Center:
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First Floor: not accessible and single use; toilet
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Rubin Campus Center:
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First Floor (Lower Level): both accessible and multi-use; one restroom with stalled toilets and one with urinals and a stalled toilet
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Salisbury Laboratories:
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Second Floor: accessible and multi-use; urinals and stalled toilets
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Stratton Hall:
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Ground Floor: both accessible and single use; one restroom with a toilet and one with a urinal and a stalled toilet
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South Village Student Center:
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Second Floor: both accessible and multi-use; one restroom with stalled toilets and one with urinals and a stalled toilet
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Washburn Shops:
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Ground Floor: accessible and multi-use; stalled toilet
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This effort was first introduced to WPI in March of 2016 through the Interactive Qualifying Project (IQP) by Jonathan Berry, Rebekah Johnson, and Christian Peguero titled “Gender Neutral Bathrooms”. It was reinforced during the 2021-2022 academic year by members of WPI's LGBTQIAP+ community in their letter to WPI administration, calling for gender inclusive restrooms to be introduced across campus. Additionally, this change resulted from commentary heard through the Mental Health and Well-Being Task Force community forums and shared in the Addendum to Initial Findings, Phase One: Students in March 2022.
If you would like to provide suggestions of restrooms that have been overlooked or if you notice that one of the listed restrooms is gender-specific, please email Mia-Kay Fuller (they/them) at diversity@wpi.edu. We want to keep the Gender Inclusive Restrooms map up-to-date and accurate.
If you have any specific questions, comments, concerns, suggestions, or feedback please email us at diversity@wpi.edu.