UAF students to have co-ed dorms available

  • Wednesday, March 11, 2015 11:57pm
  • News

FAIRBANKS, Alaska (AP) — Students at the University of Alaska Fairbanks will have a new housing option starting next fall: Coed dormitory rooms.

The university is looking at making at least one floor at Bartlett Hall and three units at Cutler Apartments available for coed-sharing.

The change is part of a new program called gender-inclusive housing. Under the program, a man and woman, two transgender students or any other two-student configurations can share a room.

ADVERTISEMENT
0 seconds of 0 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
00:00
00:00
00:00
 

If demand dictates, other campus rooms may become available as gender-inclusive dorms, said Jamie Abreu, associate director of the campus housing office.

At Bartlett Hall, bathrooms on the coed floor won’t be segregated by gender.

The option for housing is the first of its kind among campuses in the University of Alaska system. More than 100 universities in the U.S., however, already offer such housing options. Coed dormitory rooms were first offered at Oberlin College in Ohio in 1970.

Abreu said the UAF housing office held multiple meetings and forums before deciding on the gender-inclusive option.

“Some people were really excited about it,” she said. “Other people were kind of like ‘That’s a great option. I don’t know if I’d want to live there.’”

At UAF, more than 1,200 students reside in housing on campus. Other specialized campus housing options include freshmen-only dorms and a floor for engineering students.

The housing office is now taking applications for gender-inclusive quarters.

More in News

tease
Voznesenka School graduates 4

A commencement ceremony was held at Land’s End on Monday.

Graduates celebrate at the end of the Kenai Central High School commencement ceremony in Kenai, Alaska, on Tuesday, May 20, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
‘Fight as the generation who will stand tall’

Kenai Central High School graduates 113.

Guest speaker Donica Nash gave out candy matching each student, including this package of JOYRIDE to Gideon Pankratz, at the River City Academy graduation ceremony Tuesday, May 20, 2025, at Skyview Middle School just outside of Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
River City Academy graduates 9

The school serves students in seventh through 12th grade and has an enrollment of about 80

Nikiski graduates view their slideshow during a commencement ceremony at Nikiski/Middle High School in Nikiski, Alaska, on Monday, May 19, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
‘We need to change the world’

Nikiski Middle/High School graduates 31 on Monday.

State Sen. Lyman Hoffman (D-Bethel) exits the Senate Chambers after the Senate on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, adjourns until next January. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Alaska Legislature adjourns a day early in ‘smoothest ending in 20 years’ following months of budget battles

Lawmakers speed through final votes on veto override on education funding bill, budget with $1,000 PFD.

The Homer Chamber of Commerce’s float in the Fourth of July parade on Thursday, July 4, 2024, celebrates their 75th anniversary in Homer, Alaska, in the spirit of the parade’s theme, “Historical Homer.” A measure that would have increased special event fees for those looking to host gatherings in city-maintained spaces was voted down during a May 12, 2025, meeting of the Homer City Council. (Delcenia Cosman/Homer News)
Rep. Andi Story (D-Juneau), Rep. Rebecca Himschoot (I-Sitka), and Rep. Sarah Vance (R-Homer) watch the vote tally during a veto override joint session on an education bill Tuesday, May 20, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
Education funding boost stands as lawmakers successfully override Dunleavy veto

Three of the peninsula’s legislators voted to override the veto.

Jeff Dolifka and his children perform the ceremonial ribbon-cutting for the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Kenai Peninsula’s Royce and Melba Roberts Campus in Kenai, Alaska, on Saturday, May 17, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
‘So proud of what we accomplished’

New Boys and Girls Clubs campus dedicated Saturday with a ribbon-cutting and donor recognition.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks to reporters about his decision to veto an education funding bill earlier this session at the Alaska State Capitol on Thursday, April 17, 2025. He vetoed a second such bill on Monday. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire file photo)
Dunleavy vetoes 2nd bill increasing education funding; override vote by legislators likely Tuesday

Bill passed by 48-11 vote — eight more than needed — but same count for override not certain.

Most Read