All Gender Housing Options

Northwest offers all gender housing to help students find a living environment where they feel safe, comfortable and supported.

No. All gender housing is available to eligible students regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. Students who choose this option must be comfortable living with someone of any gender identity.

Continuing students who are at least 18 years old, are upperclass students or graduate students and are eligible for University housing may request all gender housing during the housing sign-up process. Incoming first-time freshmen are not eligible during their first two semesters. Incoming students with questions about housing that supports their needs can contact the Residential Life assignments staff to discuss available options.

You will be considered for all gender housing only if you request it. If you do not request it, you will remain eligible for a same-sex housing assignment.

No. Housing rates depend on the residence hall and room type.

Northwest discourages romantic partners from living together in a residence hall, regardless of sexual orientation. Students are not required to explain why they request a particular roommate.

The following policies and conditions are applicable to students who elect to live in an all gender housing option and reside with a person of a different gender (regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression). You acknowledge that you understand the terms of the policy and conditions and agree to be bound by them.

1. All roommates in all gender housing must be 18 years of age at the time of the request, must be an upper-class or graduate student and be eligible for University housing. Incoming first-time freshmen are not eligible to participate during their first two semesters.
2. If a vacancy exists in an all gender suite or apartment, the following with occur to fill the empty bed:
   • Residential and Auxiliary Services will allow the remaining residents to identify a new roommate to fill the vacancy. Residential and Auxiliary Services will define the time allocated to find a new roommate. This window of time will vary depending on the time of year and status of the housing waitlist. Typically, a resident will be allowed a minimum of 24 hours, but no more than one week to identify another roommate.
   • If a new roommate is not found by the remaining residents, Residential and Auxiliary Services reserves the right to place another student who has requested all gender housing in the open bed.
   • Residential and Auxiliary Services also reserves the right to require the remaining residents to relocate to another room; room type match not guaranteed.
   • Residential and Auxiliary Services, at its discretion, may allow the students occupying the room to pay for the additional space if all agree to the additional charge.
3. In the absence of extenuating circumstances, residents will communicate to their roommate(s) any plans to change rooms or cancel their housing agreement as soon as possible.
4. Like most universities, Northwest discourages students of any sexual orientation who are in relationships from living together in a residence hall housing unit. However, we do not question students’ motives for wanting to live in an all gender housing option.
5. It is the resident’s choice if they want to tell their parents or guardian about their decision to live in an all gender housing option. Residential and Auxiliary Services encourages residents to talk with their parents or guardian about their housing choice so that they can be in support of their decision.
6. All gender applicants follow the same room selection process and deadlines as other applicants. Students sign an additional agreement which affirms their understanding of the all gender housing guidelines.
7. There is an inherent risk in entering the room selection process in a mixed-gender group. Should all suites or apartments that have the all gender designation be selected by the time a mixed-gender group’s number is called, the group will be unable to select any housing unless it can be divided up into single-sex groups and select separate suites or rooms. If accommodations are needed during the room selection process, please contact Residential and Auxiliary Services.