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Task Force on Gender Recognition and Lived Name

Task Force on Gender Recognition & Lived Name

Presidential Policy on Gender Recognition & Lived Name

President Drake released this policy in November 2020. An overview of the UC policy and action items is available here. UC Riverside Information Technology Solutions is currently working on an implementation strategy and timeline (see links and updates to the right). 

Recommendations

Based on the inventory, this living document outlines categories of perceived needs, along with recommendations and/or best practices already in effect. 

One of the most common requests from departments is for training. An online training is now available and recommended for all. To access the training, entitled "Gender Recognition: A Focus on Transgender, Nonbinary, and Intersex Awareness," go to https://ucrlearning.ucr.edu/ and search for "Gender Recognition." 

To schedule an in-person training to expand on the online module, please contact Nancy Tubbs, Director of the LGBT Resource Center at nancy.tubbs@ucr.edu or 951.827.2267.

Background

The Gender Recognition Act (California Senate Bill 179) officially went into effect January 1, 2019. The bill streamlines the process for Californians to apply to change their gender markers, and creates a nonbinary gender category (the letter “x,” "n," or "nb") on California birth certificates, drivers’ licenses, identity cards, and gender-change court orders. This law provides an opportunity for our campus to update language and policies to be more inclusive of transgender, intersex, and nonbinary members of the UCR community.

To guide our campus through this transition, Chancellor Wilcox asked Vice Chancellor for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Mariam Lam, to lead a task force to examine current use of gender in systems across the campus, and to advise senior leadership on steps to incorporate a nonbinary category into these systems. This process has included:

  1. Reviewing campus data systems, report templates, surveys/assessments, physical spaces, and policy language

  2. Implementing inclusive changes to systems, policies and customer service practices

  3. Recommending training and resources to ensure appropriate implementation.

The task force is consistent with UCR’s Principles of Community, by which we affirm our commitment to equitable treatment of all students, staff, and faculty; as well as our commitment to creating an environment in which each person has the opportunity to grow and develop.  Further, this task force has been working in concert with the UC Office of the President, as it develops the system-wide Gender Identity Toolkit and Guidelines for Employees. The UCR task force has essentially completed its original objectives, and is now following up with specific departments as needed to provide consultation and training as they implement the recommendations.

Gender Recognition Act Task Force FAQ

  • Why does each unit need a point person?

    We will be communicating with this point person throughout the process to see what the needs of the unit include, and how we can best accommodate and/or assist the unit in making needed improvements.  For example, if the unit needs new signage for existing gender-inclusive restroom facilities, we need to know what existing facilities are already present and what is needed from Facilities to assist the unit in making appropriate updates.

  • How do I change the gender listed on my California ID?
  • Are there any workshops or trainings we can attend to help us understand the changes and better inform ourselves toward creating a more gender inclusive campus?

    Yes, the campus now offers and recommends a brief online training for anyone. To access the training, entitled "Gender Recognition: A Focus on Transgender, Nonbinary, and Intersex Awareness," go to https://ucrlearning.ucr.edu/ and search for "Gender Recognition." 

    For Academic Year 2019-20, the LGBT Resource Center is only conducting trainings by request of individual offices or departments, with a strong focus on the impact of the Gender Recognition Act. To schedule an in-person training to expand on the online module, please contact Nancy Tubbs, Director of the LGBT Resource Center at nancy.tubbs@ucr.edu or 951.827.2267.

  • What was supposed to be completed by January 1, 2019?

    The Act became enforceable by law on January 1, 2019, so we can now expect official IDs and birth certificates to have the nonbinary option.  To fully implement the complementary Gender Recognition and Lived Name Policy, we continue to work with ITS to gradually update systems from all units across campus.  We anticipate this work will be complete by December 2023. We recommend that as each unit proceeds with its daily activities, each document/policy/facility that is addressed be reviewed as it appears. 

  • Are we responsible for updating data systems?

    Central data systems, such as UC undergraduate admissions, Banner, and UC Path, will be administered and updated centrally as they come online.  However, if your own department/unit maintains internal applications and databases, such as for graduate recruitment, etc., please do update those within your units directly. If you are an application/system owner and ITS provides technical support or maintenance, please work with ITS to determine the impact and changes that may be required for your applications/systems. 

  • What can I do when I hear dismissive comments of this process from others?

    Since most individuals who initially react dismissively do so because they do not thoroughly understand the underlying goals, issues and ramifications, they may benefit from additional education and resources, such as the training mentioned in these FAQs and the resources below.

  • Where are gender-inclusive restrooms located on campus?

    To find gender-inclusive restrooms, visit the UCR campus map and zoom in until you see the circle-triangle symbol. Click on the symbol and room number details will become visible on the left-hand side of the window. ADA-compliant facilities information is also available on the UCR campus map. The Student Recreation Center also offers a gender-inclusive locker room.

Resources

Changing Legal Identity Documents in California
Fact Sheet from the Transgender Law Center
Example of changes made for California State Housing Entities
UCR Transgender Guide
NCAA Training Materials

Task Force Membership

Mariam Lam
Vice Chancellor and Chief Diversity Officer (Chair)

Kiersten Boyce
Associate Vice Chancellor and Chief Compliance Officer

Bracken Dailey
Registrar

Teri Eckman
Executive Director, Student Information Systems

Anthony Frisbee
Interim Chief of Police

Dan Jeske
Vice Provost, Academic Personnel

Jamie Loryn Lopez
Counsel

Nancy Jean Tubbs
Director, LGBT Resource Center 

Lorena Velasquez 
Human Resources Project Manager

Contact Information

For more information, please contact Beth Claassen Thrush (elizabeth.thrush@ucr.edu), Director of Strategic Initiatives & Special Projects, or Christine Victorino (christine.victorino@ucr.edu), Associate Chancellor.