At Rider University, we are dedicated to fostering a campus community that celebrates diversity, equity, and inclusion. As part of this commitment, Residence Life offers Gender-Inclusive Housing (GIH), a housing option designed to accommodate the diverse needs of our students and promote a welcoming and supportive living environment.
GIH provides students the opportunity to live together without the traditional constraints of the gender binary (male/female), allowing residents to select roommates and housing assignments based on personal comfort and compatibility rather than gender identity. This initiative supports our mission to create a positive and respectful campus culture where all students feel safe and valued in their living arrangements.
GIH is an opt-in program available to students of any class level, including first-year and transfer students. Participation in this housing option requires students to explicitly express their preference for a GIH assignment when making their housing selection.
Through Gender-Inclusive Housing, Rider University affirms its commitment to supporting all residents in their journey of self-discovery, respect, and inclusion.
Gender-Inclusive Housing (GIH) Request and Assignment Process
- GIH is optional, and students must expressly state their request for GIH on their online housing application. Please refer to the room selection timeline for specific process dates.
- Students will live in the same room (double, suite or apartment) without restrictions of biological sex, gender expression or gender identity.
- All roommates in GIH must be at least 18 years old and eligible for university housing. Students under the age of 18 will be handled on a case-by-case basis and will require consent from a legal guardian.
- If a vacancy occurs during the year, the existing resident(s) are encouraged to find a roommate agreeable to the terms of a GIH space. Residence Life will work with current occupants to identify other solutions, such as placement of a student from the GIH waitlist and/or assign a student who has confirmed placement interest in GIH.
- Residence Life may re-designate the room as gender specific if no GIH student can be identified to fill the vacancy.
- Students are discouraged from living with someone with whom they are in a romantic relationship.