At Ball State University, Gender-Inclusive Housing is available throughout several of our residence halls providing safe and inviting living environments for LGBTQ+ students, including transgender, non-binary, and gender non-conforming students. Students interested in Gender-Inclusive Housing can indicate their preference when filling out their housing application. Please be aware that rooms are available on a limited basis.

For questions about Gender Inclusive Housing, please email or call the Office of Housing and Residence Life at 765-285-8000.

Ball State University is committed to providing a safe, comfortable and inclusive environment for all students. Ball State University faculty and students also live the school’s Beneficence Pledge, which includes valuing the intrinsic worth of each member of our community. Gender-inclusive housing provides a living environment that is respectful to all students.

Any student who is respectful of gender identity issues can live in gender-inclusive housing. A student must have a like-minded roommate secured before applying.  If a student does not have a roommate, they may log in to the housing portal, on their housing application, page ‘Room Preferences’ select ‘YES’ to the ‘Are you interested in gender-inclusive housing’ question, and you will be routed to the roommate search portal specific to only others who also indicated an interest in living in this living environment.

For the purpose of gender-inclusive housing, “gender non-conforming” is a term for individuals whose gender expression is different from societal expectations related to gender.

“Gender expression” is how a person represents or expresses one's gender identity to others, often through behavior, clothing, hairstyles, voice, or body characteristics.

“Transgender” is an umbrella term for people whose gender identity, expression, or behavior is different from those typically associated with their assigned sex at birth. This includes, but is not limited to, transsexuals, crossdressers, androgynous people, genderqueers, and gender non-conforming people. “Transgender” is a broad term and is appropriate for non-transgender people to use. "Trans" is shorthand for "transgender."

Definition Source: National Center for Transgender Equality; Mara Keisling, Executive Director, transequality.org.

Gender-inclusive rooms are available throughout several of our residence halls. Depending on availability, possible halls could include Kinghorn, Park, DeHority, Botsford/Swinford, Schmidt/Wilson, North, and North West. 

A waiting list will be established. Should a roommate cancel their housing assignment, then the room is offered to someone on the waiting list or the room reverts back to single gender.

A gender-inclusive restroom option will be available for the residents living in a gender-inclusive room. The style of these restrooms will vary based on the residence hall where the students are assigned. To learn more about the bathroom options available, please visit the web pages for our individual residence halls.

All completed applications will be considered based on availability. Additionally, only students with roommates will be able to select a room in Gender Inclusive Housing.