Statement on Gender Expression and Gender Identity
Originally adopted April 2010; Revised November 2010, July 2011, June 2013, and November 2014
Agnes Scott College is a diverse and inclusive community that strives to provide a safe learning environment for all students, including those who challenge gender norms within our society. We are proud of our many trailblazing alumnae whose lives challenged the gender conventions of their day, including the first woman to be ordained in the Presbyterian Church in the United States and one of the first women to argue a case before the Supreme Court. We believe in the distinctive value and advantages of women’s colleges and celebrate our rich legacy as an institution focused on providing a liberal arts education for women that is "fully abreast of the best institutions of this country."1 We are also proud of the ways women’s colleges have provided students the opportunity to explore freely and pursue ideas, aspirations and identities, including those considered radical or unconventional in their time. Our statement of support on gender expression and gender identity is consistent with the multitude of ways that we seek to live our mission.
Agnes Scott College is a diverse and inclusive community that strives to provide a safe learning environment for all students, including those who challenge gender norms within our society. We are proud of our many trailblazing alumnae whose lives challenged the gender conventions of their day, including the first woman to be ordained in the Presbyterian Church in the United States and one of the first women to argue a case before the Supreme Court. We believe in the distinctive value and advantages of women’s colleges and celebrate our rich legacy as an institution focused on providing a liberal arts education for women that is "fully abreast of the best institutions of this country."1 We are also proud of the ways women’s colleges have provided students the opportunity to explore freely and pursue ideas, aspirations and identities, including those considered radical or unconventional in their time. Our statement of support on gender expression and gender identity is consistent with the multitude of ways that we seek to live our mission.
- At Agnes Scott College, we “educate women to think deeply, live honorably and engage the intellectual and social challenges of their times.”2
- In our strategic plan for 2014, Engaging a Wider World, we have committed to becoming “a living laboratory of campus-wide commitment to justice, courage, integrity, respect and responsibility.” Our goal is to “develop a more inclusive campus community that provides all members with avenues for participation and voice” and to “cultivate knowledge of and respect for diversity as key ingredients for educational excellence.”3
- In light of these commitments, we support students, including students who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex or questioning (LGBTQIQ). This support takes the form of a variety of campus services designed to create a safe learning and living environment for all. We recognize and value individuals across the spectrum of gender and are proud of the trans women, trans men, and non-binary individuals who have been admitted and/or graduated from Agnes Scott. We embrace our identity as a women’s college and as a community committed to inclusive excellence in our mission.
- We will continue to support efforts to cultivate understanding and acceptance of gender diversity so that all persons regardless of their gender identity and gender expression are fully recognized as citizens and feel safe leading authentic lives.
- We encourage all members of our community to educate themselves about how they can support individuals whose gender identity or gender expression may challenge gender norms. The Gay Johnson McDougal Center for Global Diversity and Inclusion serves as a resource in providing education and support and in addressing questions or concerns for all students, faculty and staff. The Center sponsors workshops, dialogues and trainings, which include Safe Zone and Trans 101 training, a program specifically designed to promote knowledge and sensitivity towards members of the LGBTQIQ community. These programs strengthen our ongoing efforts to be a welcoming and inclusive community.
1 Agnes Scott Ideal, Frank H. Gaines, 1889
2 Mission of Agnes Scott College, 2002
3 Engaging a Wider World, The Agnes Scott Strategic Plan for 2014, 2007