Grand Valley State University is committed to providing equitable protections to transgender students, faculty, and staff. Gender identity and gender expression are protected under university policies including the GVSU Board of Trustees policies and Sex and Gender Based Harassment policy. Harassment and discrimination on the basis of gender identity and/or gender expression will continue to be protected and investigated by the university's Title IX office. 

GVSU Affirmation of Gender Identity and Expression Inclusion

For more information on ways that you can change your name at GVSU please visit our Chosen name or myName page.

Michigan legal name change tip sheet: a printable PDF

We also highly recommend connecting with the Grand Rapids Trans Foundation and their UPDATE! program.

GVSU Resources:

• University Counseling Center for FREE therapy sessions and letters of support
• Campus Health Clinic for prescriptions and more

Community Partner Resources:

• Grand Rapids Pride Center:
  • Gender Affirming Care Support
  • Health Equity Program 
• Grand Rapids Trans Foundation: "Gender Junk" Closet
• Grand Rapids LGBTQIA+ Healthcare Consortium:
  • Primary Care Provider Directory
  • Patient Resources
• Corewell Health LGBTQIA+ Patient Navigator

Current Athletics Policy:

GVSU Athletic Department's Policy on Transgender Student-Athletes
As of 2/13/2025: Update: Transgender Athletes Executive Order and NCAA Policy Changes

GVSU Fieldhouse
An ADA accessible, gender-inclusive locker room can be found in the Fieldhouse on the lower level near the ramp to Lot E.

NCAA Policy
As of 2/6/2025: Participation Policy for Transgender Student-Athletes

"The participation policy for transgender student-athletes adopted by the Board of Governors and effective February 6, 2025, does not permit competition by an individual assigned male at birth to compete on a women’s team. The policy is clear that there are no waivers available, and students assigned male at birth may not compete on a women’s team with amended birth certificates or other forms of ID. Student-athletes assigned male at birth may not receive athletic scholarships that are otherwise designated for women. If competition occurs, the team will be considered a mixed team and not eligible to compete against women’s teams. This also applies to a student-athlete assigned male at birth competing as an individual against women. Such individual competition is not permitted under the policy. Any previous policies that permitted mixed team competition against a women’s team are rendered moot and not applicable as the BOG policy adopted in February 2025 supersedes all previous policies."

Athletics Policy Pre-February 2025:

GVSU Athletic Department's Policy on Transgender Student-Athletes
"A transgender student athlete will be allowed to participate in any varsity sports activity so long as that athlete’s use of hormone therapy, if any, is consistent with the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) existing policies on banned substances. Specifically, a transgender student-athlete will be allowed to participate in varsity sports activities..."
Transgender Student-Athlete Policy

GVSU Fieldhouse
An ADA accessible, gender-inclusive locker room can be found in the Fieldhouse on the lower level near the ramp to Lot E.

NCAA Policy
As part of the NCAA, GVSU abides by their policies including the NCAA Inclusion of Transgender Student-Athletes. 

"The purpose of this resource is to provide guidance to NCAA athletic programs about how to ensure transgender student-athletes fair, respectful, and legal access to collegiate sports teams based on current medical and legal knowledge."