Hobart and William Smith Colleges

Hobart and William Smith are home to diverse and engaged communities of LGBTQIA+ students, staff and faculty. HWS is committed to fostering a community that is open, safe and inclusive for all students, making LGBTQIA+ students feel welcomed, supported and encouraged during their time on campus. HWS’ commitment to inclusive excellence situates inclusion, equity, diversity and justice at the “core of the academic mission and institutional functioning” including faculty and staff hiring, training and evaluation, campus wide communications and assessments and regular campus climate checks and measures of accountability. The LGBTQ+ Resource Center seeks to affirm and support the identities of all LGBTQIA+ students, faculty, and staff while fostering allies that engage the community at large with compassion and empathy. Come find support, have fun, contribute allyship and get to know the Colleges' LGBTQIA+ community through events like Queer Trivia or Movie Night or participating in Transgender Day of Visibility or National Coming Out Day.

In 2002, HWS became the first college in the country to offer a Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Studies curriculum.

Located 402 Pulteney Street, the Resource Center (“the RC”) is run by Mace McDonald (they/them) and a team of student workers and operates under the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. The Resource Center coordinates campus-wide programs every semester to enhance the community’s understanding and appreciation of LGBTQIA+ people, topics, and needs. We encourage students to utilize the RC as a social or study space during open hours. Student organizations can also work with RC staff to gain access for meetings and events.