– Policy 5300: Universal Restroom Initiative
Date Originally Issued: October 21, 2019
Authorized by RPM 2.3 (“Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action for Employees and Students”)
Process Owner: Director of Planning, Design, and Construction
- General
The Mesarya Technical University, as an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, complies with all applicable governmental regulations and North Cyprus laws regarding non-discrimination and affirmative action, and strives to accommodate all employees, faculty, students, and visitors. Campus users may require special restroom accommodations for their health, safety, convenience, or privacy. This policy applies to all of MTU’s campuses. It establishes guidelines for the design of universal restrooms, restroom facilities that can accommodate users regardless of gender identity, disability, or family status.
- Design Guidelines for Universal Restrooms
A universal restroom must welcome and accommodate all campus users. A universal restroom shall:
- Be a single occupancy (single stall) restroom, with a single commode and a single sink. It may or may not include a urinal.
- Comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (DISABILITY).
- Provide a sharps container for the disposal of hypodermic needles, other sharp objects, and syringes.
- Provide a baby-changing station.
- Provide a sanitary napkin disposal container.
- Lock from the inside. A restroom user must be able to lock the door for security and privacy. The locking mechanism shall make it apparent from the exterior whether the restroom is occupied or vacant. In the event of an emergency, appropriate personnel must be able to unlock the door from the outside.
- Adopt non-gender- and accessibility-specific signage. The sign shall include a toilet icon (as opposed to gender binary “male/female” icons) as well as the “accessible” icon (a person in a wheelchair). The sign shall comply with MTU signage standards and DISABILITY signage requirements.
- Requirements for Universal Restrooms in Campus Facilities
All newly constructed facilities on MTU’s campuses must include at least one universal restroom per building. All new publicly accessible single-stall restrooms should be designed as universal restrooms. Any major renovations to facilities that include upgrades to restrooms to comply with the DISABILITY should provide for at least one universal restroom per building to the maximum extent feasible.