Santa Clara University and the Offices of Housing & Residence Life are committed to providing comfortable, welcoming, and safe housing options for all students. We are pleased to offer various types of on-campus accommodations, which meet the needs of a thriving and diverse population, including members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Questioning, Intersex, Pansexual, Asexual, and Ally (LGBTQQIPAA) community.
Beginning Fall 2025, Santa Clara University will offer the Gender Inclusive Housing Community (GIHC), which will be housed in the Unity RLC (McLaughlin-Walsh and Nobili Hall).
The GIHC is designed with an intentional focus on gender and sexuality supported by Residence Life, Housing, and the Office of Multicultural Learning (OML). SCU’s GIHC is an affinity space for first through senior year LGBTQ+ students and their allies. In addition to creating a safe space for students of all identities, this community embraces honest dialogue about gender, sexuality, and intersectionality as a means towards self-awareness. Rooms in this community will be mixed gender rooms.
Please contact our central housing email at housing@scu.edu or call the Housing Office at 408.554.4900 if you have specific questions regarding your housing accommodation for the current or following year.
We would like to encourage you to visit the Rainbow Resource Center website, which offers multiple resources, as you make your transition to campus life.
Q. Who can sign up for the gender inclusive housing community (GIHC)?
A. Any full time student who are interested in living in GIHC, and who indicate an interest in their submitted housing application.
Q. Where can a student sign up for GIHC?
A. There will be an opportunity for first-years, sophomores, juniors, and seniors who indicate an interest in living in the GIHC in their housing application.
Q. Will students who are not interested in the GIHC be placed in this community?
A. The University will look to meet the needs of all students who are needing on-campus housing. If space is available on the GIHC floor, we will use the spaces to house students who are not part of the GIHC. Said students will not be required to participate in the GIHC.
Q. What type of programming will be planned for the GIHC?
A. Planning is underway to develop the program. Programs will be focused on embracing honest dialogue around gender, sexuality, and intersectionality as a means towards self-awareness.
Q. Will all the rooms be mixed gender?
A. Mixed gender rooms will be an option in the GIHC, but based on students who join the community, there may some rooms which will not be mixed gender.
Q. What happens if a student decides to not be part of the GIHC?
A. If a student is looking to not be part of the GIHC, they would need to connect with the Unity RLC Resident Director for additional housing options.