Blog | Point Foundation

Collaborating with Student Changemakers

Written by Point Foundation | October 31, 2022

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Despite great strides in LGBTQ+ belonging in recent years at college campuses, a significant portion of LGBTQ+ students still report experiencing bullying, harassment, or assault at college. University resources for LGBTQ+ students – in particular, transgender students – like all-gender bathrooms, a policy of allowing transgender students to change their gender designation, and housing were reported to be present at their colleges by less than half of LGBTQ+ students surveyed.  

LGBTQ+ and ally student changemakers across the country are working with university leadership to make their colleges and universities better places for LGBTQ+ and all students. This resource is designed to support faculty/staff collaboration with student leaders. 

LGBTQ+ students' sense of belonging is lower (71.9%) than that of their peers (83.5%), which impacts their academic success. Supporting student changemakers can unite the campus community while increasing students’ sense of belonging and improving their collegiate experience. 

LISTEN

  • The LGBTQ+ community is vast, with folks who have so many different life experiences. To meet the needs of LGBTQ+ students, it is essential to look outside your own perspective and listen to the issues that matter to the LGBTQ+ community at your school.

  • From LGBTQ+ competency training to designated all-gender restrooms, there are a variety of issues LGBTQ+ students may approach faculty and leadership about. Understand what students are asking for – if you can, work together to establish goals for change.

  • Be a supportive space where students feel secure talking to you about changes they want to make on campus.

  • HRC has a guide to establishing and maintaining a safe zone program at your university. 

  • Hold scheduled space for these conversations to happen, i.e. hold scheduled brown bag discussions. Keep in mind the students’ perspective as people who are on campus only for a limited amount of time – they may have different expectations of progress than faculty or administrators. 

COMMUNICATE

  • If students don’t already have a working knowledge of the organization of your university and how policy changes are made, explain the best avenues for students to pursue their goals.

  • Make sure students are aware of relevant school history and context that might impact the university’s response to students’ concerns and goals.

  • If student are planning a protest, walk them through the ways the university may respond so they can make informed decisions about their action.

  • Be open about which aspects of the issue students are coming to you with can be addressed and which cannot, and any alternative or longer-term actions that might work.

SUPPORT

  • If the change students want to make is something you agree needs to be addressed, take this as an opportunity to share resources with student changemakers. 
  • Make sure you know your students’ rights as LGBTQ+ students.
  • If your position allows, provide opportunities for lawful protest for students who wish to engage in them. 
    • If student protests involve civil disobedience, be prepared to respond in a nonviolent, proportionate way. See PEN America’s advice on student protests involving civil disobedience.
  • Make sure students are caring for themselves. This work demands significant time and energy on top of students’ other responsibilities, increasing their risk of burnout. This can be especially true for disenfranchised students, for whom campus change may be a matter of personal survival and, therefore, take priority over other intellectual and social opportunities. 
    • Invite students to talk with you about balancing commitments. When appropriate, ask students directly if their leadership work might be negatively affecting their academic progress.  
    • Recognize when student leaders are performing labor that should be a staff responsibility and call for staffing changes to address the need.
    • Share resources about how changemakers can take care of themselves, such as the following:
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