SMU Dedman School of Law

Policies and Practices that Impact the Student Experience 

Nondiscrimination Policy

This school has a nondiscrimination policy that covers:

• Employment
• Admissions 

The school’s nondiscrimination policy addresses discrimination on the basis of:

• Sexual Orientation 
• Gender Identity
• Gender Expression

Name in Use (a.k.a. Chosen Name)

Name in use can be used. Students can indicate name in use:

• On law school application
• When filling out enrollment information
• In school’s student information system
• Upon request

Name in use appears: 

• Upon request on school-generated name tag/materials at school events (e.g., new student orientation)
• Upon request on faculty class rosters

Pronouns and Honorifics

Faculty, administration, and staff are:

• Allowed to include pronouns in email signatures

Students can indicate pronouns:

• On law school application 
• Upon request

Student pronouns appear:

• Upon request on school-generated name tag/materials at school events (e.g., new student orientation)
• Upon request on faculty class rosters
• Upon request on school-generated materials for on-campus interviews

Students can indicate:

• Non-gendered honorifics
• Honorifics on law school application 
• Honorifics upon request

Student honorifics appear:

• Upon request on school-generated name tag/materials at school events (e.g., new student orientation)

Resources and Opportunities 

• LGBTQ+ student organization(s)  
• Funds for LGBTQ+ student organization(s) 
• Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) student committee that includes LGBTQ+ representation

Classroom Experience

• Offers at least one course that focuses primarily on LGBTQ+ issues

Faculty

• School has a diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) faculty committee
• School has faculty member(s) who conduct research primarily focused on LGBTQ+ topics

Facilities 

This law school provides: 

• All-gender-inclusive single-occupancy restroom(s)
• Gender-designated multi-stall restroom(s) that students can use based on the gender with which they self-identify

All-gender-inclusive restrooms:

• Located in main law school building
• All are ADA accessible 

Local Community

• LGBTQ+ specific events    
• Pride events  
• Readily identifiable LGBTQ+ owned businesses          
• Readily identifiable LGBTQ+ friendly businesses (e.g., pride flag sticker)     

Navigating SMU Dedman School of Law

Questions about financial aid

Ashley Griffin-Ruiz
agriffinruiz@smu.edu
214.768.2371

Questions about LGBTQ+ resources available on and/or off campus

Storey 126
Erika Fadel
efadel@smu.edu
214.768.2850

Questions about usage of chosen name, pronouns, or honorifics

Storey 130
Steve Yeager
syeager@smu.edu
214.768.4178

Questions about connecting with LGBTQ+ student organization(s)

Storey 126
Erika Fadel
efadel@smu.edu
214.768.2850

Questions about connecting with LGBTQ+ alumni

Storey 130B
Ashley Ellis
ashleyellis@smu.edu
214.768.3634