President Announces NSU Compliance with Safety in Private Spaces Act

NSU President and CEO George L. Hanbury II has informed the university community about a new state policy on use of bathrooms and changing facilities, which will go into effect on April 1. Here is President Hanbury’s email.

In accordance with the Florida statute, known as the Safety in Private Spaces Act (Fla. Statute § 553.865), NSU and NSU University School, as well as all educational institutions in the state, are required to implement a policy restricting the use of restrooms and changing facilities on all their Florida campuses to the exclusive use of males and females as defined by their biological sex. The law does not require educational institutions to restrict the use of unisex single-person occupancy restrooms or changing facilities because such restrooms/changing facilities can be used by anyone. The Safety in Private Spaces Act does not apply to NSU campuses outside Florida.

As required by the law, NSU’s policy states that if someone uses an exclusive-use restroom or changing facility that does not correspond with their biological sex, that individual may be requested by others to exit the facility. It also may be reported to NSU’s Office of Public Safety at (954) 262-8999. If the individual refuses to leave after a request by administrative and/or instructional personnel, faculty members, security or law enforcement personnel, the individual will be subject to sanctions described in NSU’s policy.

You can read the policy here and find Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) here. An interactive display of NSU’s unisex restrooms on its Fort Lauderdale/Davie campus can be found on the “Layer” Tab, and “Gender Neutral Restrooms” section of the interactive campus map found here.