Voluntary Self-reporting of Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation
April 14, 2021
The Office of Academic Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, in partnership with the Division of Student Affairs, is excited to announce that you now have the option to self-report your gender identity and sexual orientation in MyNIU to best capture how you self-identify. The addition of these two categories supports our core values of equity and inclusion by allowing individuals to self-identify in broader ways, and more accurately captures the diversity of identities at NIU. As this information is gathered, we will be better equipped to make decisions regarding support services and resources for our campus community and illustrate that we truly are strengthened by the diverse perspectives and experiences of our university community. Why is this information being captured? In addition to the information listed above, the 2021 Presidential goals include a commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion and our continued efforts to increase the recruitment and retention of diverse students. Capturing information about gender identity and sexual orientation will help us to better understand and support our students as well as use data to make informed decisions on resources, programs, and services. We also recognize that individuals with marginalized gender identities and/or sexual orientations may face discrimination and/or lack of understanding in the classroom and beyond. Capturing this information from our students will assist us in removing barriers and creating pathways towards equity and inclusion. What is gender identity and sexual orientation? Sex is a category typically viewed on biological characteristics: male or female. Gender identity is an internal understanding of one’s gender. For some individuals, this may be different than the sex they were assigned at birth or that is on their legal documentation. Sexual orientation describes romantic, emotional and/or physical attraction, or lack thereof. More information about terminology related to gender/sexual identities is available on the NIU Gender and Sexuality Resource Center’s LGBTQ+ Terminology List. How do I Self-Report? To voluntarily self-report your gender identity and/or sexual orientation please follow the steps below: - Go to MyNIU.
- Click on the "MyNIU Student System" panel.
- Login with your zID and password.
- Select the "Profile" tile.
- Click on “Personal Details” in the left menu.
- Click on the “Biographic” tab.
- Click on “Gender Identity” and select the appropriate value from the drop down list.
- Click the “Save” button.
- Click on “Sexual Orientation” and select the appropriate value from the drop down list.
- Click the “Save” button.
Categories listed reflect common terms individuals may use. If you use a term not listed, you may choose “another gender identity” and/or “another sexual identity” and enter the terminology you use in an open-text field.
How will the information collected be protected?
If interested, you are encouraged to self-report your gender identity and sexual orientation. The information collected will be protected and not shared in a way that would identify any specific individual nor will it be shared publicly, such as in the NIU directory. Additionally, this information will only be used for legitimate university purposes, as described above, and will be protected in accordance with the Division of Information Technology’s (DoIT) Information Security Policy. Questions about this announcement can be directed to DeanofStudents@niu.edu. Go Huskies!
Vernese Edghill-Walden, Ph.D.
Vice President for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Chief Diversity Officer Interim Chief Human Resource Officer Pronouns: she, her, hers Kelly Wesener Michael, Ed.D.
Associate Vice President for Student Affairs
Chief Student Affairs Officer and Dean of Students Pronouns: she, her, hers | 
