UMR adds gender-neutral restroom on its University Square campus

To accommodate students of all gender identities, University of Minnesota Rochester has added a new, gender-neutral restroom on its University Square campus.

The decision to do so was made following a recommendation from a student, who pointed to UMR's administration that there was a need for a gender-neutral facility on the university's campus.

The new, gender-neutral facility is located on the east side of University Square's third floor, in room 308. A sign outside the restroom identifies the facility as both gender-neutral and handicapped accessible. 

"I am grateful to our student for pointing out this issue and I invite any member of the community who is aware of any similar unmet need to come forward with your concerns," UMR Chancellor Stephen Lehmkuhle said this week in an email to students.

The school, which primarily offers courses in the health sciences fields, has an enrollment of about 650 students.

The University of Minnesota's main campus in Minneapolis has made a concerted effort in recent years to increase the number of gender-neutral restrooms available to students. It now has nearly 300 such facilities throughout its campus.