Safe Space Allies are change agents on campus who ensure the gender and sexual diversity of our Monarch community is celebrated and respected. Safe Space Allies ensure the inclusion of the LGBTQIA+ communities and support the advancement of a campus community that values diversity specifically around gender/sexual identity. Through volunteerships and collaborations, Safe Space Allies bring together Monarchs to freely explore issues of gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, and the intersections with each other and other identities, while advocating for awareness and social justice.
The goals of our training sessions include:
- Provide an overview of what it means to be an "ally" for any ODU faculty, staff or student.
- Educate the community on issues/trends/concerns with LGBTQ students, faculty and staff.
- Provide additional resources (websites, theories, contacts, etc.) that might be of use to an ally.
Safe Space Ally Certification
2024
Fall Faculty & Staff Training Dates
There will be two Faculty/Staff Safe Space Trainings offered each semester. Private group training is available upon request for groups of 9 or more people.
- Tuesday, Sept. 10 | In Person
- Friday, Nov. 22 | Virtual
Register for either training date.
The purpose of becoming a Safe Space Ally is to become a part of the movement on campus to create a more inclusive and affirming environment for LGBTQIA+ students, faculty, and staff. Safe Space Allies are change agents on campus who ensure the gender and sexual diversity of our Monarch community is celebrated and respected. Safe Space Allies ensure the inclusion of the LGBTQIA+ communities and support the advancement of a campus community that values diversity specifically around gender/sexual identity. Through volunteerships and collaborations, Safe Space Allies bring together Monarchs to freely explore issues of gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, and the intersections with each other and other identities, while advocating for awareness and social justice.
To claim allyship is to commit to a lifelong journey of self-learning. To be an ally is more than a label to claim or a hat to wear. Allyship is only demonstrated through action. Beginning Fall 2023, the Safe Space Ally Program will be implementing a new experiential certification process with additional requirements in an effort to center accountability and action as key components to allyship.
Historically, Safe Space Ally Certification only required attending Safe Space Ally Training. With the previous model, there was no long-term commitment or engagement expected making it difficult to measure the impact of the training program itself. Beginning Fall 2023, in addition to attending a Safe Space Ally Training, participants will be required to attend educational programs and volunteer at select social programs throughout the year to support LGBTQIA+ initiatives on campus.
In order to complete the certification program, participants must complete the following within the same academic year:
- Attend & Complete Safe Space Ally Training
- Attend two educational events or trainings offered through the Women's & Gender Equity Center's LGBTQIA+ Initiatives
- Volunteer at two LGBTQIA+ Initiatives sponsored events OR co-sponsor/collaborate with the LGBTQIA+ Initiatives on an LGBTQIA+ campus program
The certification review period will begin May 1st through May 31st. Participants Ally placards will be available for pick up beginning June 1st. The placards can be picked up at the Women's & Gender Equity Center (1101 Monarch Hall).
Certification will be valid for 1 academic year.
Yes, Safe Space Ally Certification will be valid for only 1 academic year. Recertification begins the first day of Fall semester and ends April 30th which means requirements must be met within that time period.
Beginning Fall 2023, in order to integrate this new model for ally certification, if you have not attended a Safe Space Ally Training since Fall 2020, you will need to go through the entire training and new requirements in order to "renew" your ally certification.
If you have attended a training within the previous academic year, in order to renew your certification, you will need to complete the following within 1 academic year:
- Attend two educational events or trainings offered through the Women's & Gender Equity Center's LGBTQIA+ Initiatives
- Volunteer at two LGBTQIA+ Initiatives sponsored events OR co-sponsor/collaborate with the LGBTQIA+ Initiatives on an LGBTQIA+ campus program
Also, those who's recertification has not lapsed may recertify without having to attend Safe Space Ally Training.
The Safe Space Ally Training itself is designed to provide a strong foundation to begin one's journey to allyship. While these new requirements ask more from prospective allies, they are designed to be experiential learning opportunities for you to continue to sharpen the skills you learn during the training. Ultimately, these new requirements support efforts focused on creating a stronger sense of belonging for LGBTQIA+ students. They are allyship in action.
2024
Fall Training Dates for Students
There will be two Safe Space Training for undergraduate students offered each semester. Private group training for student organizations is available upon request for groups of 9 or more people.
- Friday, Sept. 13 | Virtual
- Thursday, Nov. 19 | In Person
Register for either training date.
The purpose of becoming a Safe Space Ally as an undergraduate student is to become a part of the student movement on campus aimed at creating a more inclusive and affirming environment for LGBTQIA+ students. Safe Space Allies are change agents on campus who ensure the gender and sexual diversity of our Monarch community is celebrated and respected so that Monarchs across the identity spectrum can equitably attain success. Safe Space Allies ensure the inclusion of the LGBTQIA+ communities and support the advancement of a campus community that values diversity specifically around gender/sexual identity.
To claim allyship is to commit to a lifelong journey of self-learning. To be an ally is more than a label to claim or a hat to wear. It is important to learn during one's collegiate years, that allyship can only be demonstrated through action. Therefore, beginning Fall 2023, the Undergraduate Safe Space Ally Program will be implementing a new experiential process that includes additional certification requirements in an effort to center allyship as demonstrated through action.
Historically, Safe Space Ally Certification only required attending Safe Space Ally Training. With the previous model, there was no long-term commitment or engagement expected making it difficult to measure the impact of the training program itself. Beginning Fall 2023, in addition to attending a Safe Space Ally Training, participants will be required to attend educational programs and volunteer at select social programs throughout the year to support LGBTQIA+ initiatives on campus.
In order to complete the certification program for undergraduate students, participants must complete the following within the same academic year:
- Attend & Complete Undergraduate Safe Space Ally Training
- Attend one educational event or training offered through the Women's & Gender Equity Center's LGBTQIA+ Initiatives
- Volunteer at one LGBTQIA+ Initiatives sponsored event
- For Student Organizations:
- If your student organization wants to become certified, all Executive Board members and officers must attend a Safe Space Ally Training.
- In lieu of the volunteering and attending event requirement, a student organization can opt to co-sponsor/collaborate with the LGBTQIA+ Initiatives on one LGBTQIA+ campus program instead.
The certification review period will begin May 1st through May 31st. Participants Ally placards will be available for pick up beginning June 1st. The placards can be picked up at the Women's & Gender Equity Center (1101 Monarch Hall).
Certification will be valid for 1 academic year.
Yes, Safe Space Ally Certification will be valid for only 1 academic year. Recertification begins the first day of Fall semester and ends April 30th which means requirements must be met within that time period.
Undergraduate students only have to go through the training and certification process once. The certification is valid through graduation.
For student organizations:
- Student organizations who wish to retain group-level certification, they will need to recertify each academic year.
- Each new executive board member or officer will need to go attend a Safe Space Ally Training.
- Additionally, the organization as a whole will need to co-sponsor/collaborate with the LGBTQIA+ Initiatives on one LGBTQIA+ campus program or host their own LGBTQIA+ centered program.
The Safe Space Ally Training is designed to provide a strong foundation to begin one's journey to allyship. The additional volunteer/co-sponsor/educational event attendance requirements are designed to be experiential learning opportunities for undergraduate students to sharpen the skills learned during the training.
Beginning Fall 2023, previously distributed placards will no longer be reprinted. In order to obtain a new placard, all previously certified allies will need to go through the recertification process. New placards will be printed on June 1st.
Beginning Fall 2024, all replacement placard requests can be submitted and printed during the first week of each semester.
- For name or pronoun change replacement placards, requests will be taken on an ongoing basis and fulfilled within 1 week's time.
- No placards will be mailed and are available for pick-up only at the Women & Gender Equity Center from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m..
**For questions or additional information regarding the Safe Space Ally Program, please contact Mallory Fields, Administrative Officer for Safe Space & Graduate Assistant for LGBTQIA + Initiatives, directly at safespace@odu.edu.**
2024
Fall Faculty & Staff Training Dates
There will be two Faculty/Staff Safe Space Trainings offered each semester. Private group training is available upon request for groups of 9 or more people.
- Tuesday, Sept. 10 | In Person
- Friday, Nov. 22 | Virtual
Register for either training date.
The purpose of becoming a Safe Space Ally is to become a part of the movement on campus to create a more inclusive and affirming environment for LGBTQIA+ students, faculty, and staff. Safe Space Allies are change agents on campus who ensure the gender and sexual diversity of our Monarch community is celebrated and respected. Safe Space Allies ensure the inclusion of the LGBTQIA+ communities and support the advancement of a campus community that values diversity specifically around gender/sexual identity. Through volunteerships and collaborations, Safe Space Allies bring together Monarchs to freely explore issues of gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, and the intersections with each other and other identities, while advocating for awareness and social justice.
To claim allyship is to commit to a lifelong journey of self-learning. To be an ally is more than a label to claim or a hat to wear. Allyship is only demonstrated through action. Beginning Fall 2023, the Safe Space Ally Program will be implementing a new experiential certification process with additional requirements in an effort to center accountability and action as key components to allyship.
Historically, Safe Space Ally Certification only required attending Safe Space Ally Training. With the previous model, there was no long-term commitment or engagement expected making it difficult to measure the impact of the training program itself. Beginning Fall 2023, in addition to attending a Safe Space Ally Training, participants will be required to attend educational programs and volunteer at select social programs throughout the year to support LGBTQIA+ initiatives on campus.
In order to complete the certification program, participants must complete the following within the same academic year:
- Attend & Complete Safe Space Ally Training
- Attend two educational events or trainings offered through the Women's & Gender Equity Center's LGBTQIA+ Initiatives
- Volunteer at two LGBTQIA+ Initiatives sponsored events OR co-sponsor/collaborate with the LGBTQIA+ Initiatives on an LGBTQIA+ campus program
The certification review period will begin May 1st through May 31st. Participants Ally placards will be available for pick up beginning June 1st. The placards can be picked up at the Women's & Gender Equity Center (1101 Monarch Hall).
Certification will be valid for 1 academic year.
Yes, Safe Space Ally Certification will be valid for only 1 academic year. Recertification begins the first day of Fall semester and ends April 30th which means requirements must be met within that time period.
Beginning Fall 2023, in order to integrate this new model for ally certification, if you have not attended a Safe Space Ally Training since Fall 2020, you will need to go through the entire training and new requirements in order to "renew" your ally certification.
If you have attended a training within the previous academic year, in order to renew your certification, you will need to complete the following within 1 academic year:
- Attend two educational events or trainings offered through the Women's & Gender Equity Center's LGBTQIA+ Initiatives
- Volunteer at two LGBTQIA+ Initiatives sponsored events OR co-sponsor/collaborate with the LGBTQIA+ Initiatives on an LGBTQIA+ campus program
Also, those who's recertification has not lapsed may recertify without having to attend Safe Space Ally Training.
The Safe Space Ally Training itself is designed to provide a strong foundation to begin one's journey to allyship. While these new requirements ask more from prospective allies, they are designed to be experiential learning opportunities for you to continue to sharpen the skills you learn during the training. Ultimately, these new requirements support efforts focused on creating a stronger sense of belonging for LGBTQIA+ students. They are allyship in action.
2024
Fall Training Dates for Students
There will be two Safe Space Training for undergraduate students offered each semester. Private group training for student organizations is available upon request for groups of 9 or more people.
- Friday, Sept. 13 | Virtual
- Thursday, Nov. 19 | In Person
Register for either training date.
The purpose of becoming a Safe Space Ally as an undergraduate student is to become a part of the student movement on campus aimed at creating a more inclusive and affirming environment for LGBTQIA+ students. Safe Space Allies are change agents on campus who ensure the gender and sexual diversity of our Monarch community is celebrated and respected so that Monarchs across the identity spectrum can equitably attain success. Safe Space Allies ensure the inclusion of the LGBTQIA+ communities and support the advancement of a campus community that values diversity specifically around gender/sexual identity.
To claim allyship is to commit to a lifelong journey of self-learning. To be an ally is more than a label to claim or a hat to wear. It is important to learn during one's collegiate years, that allyship can only be demonstrated through action. Therefore, beginning Fall 2023, the Undergraduate Safe Space Ally Program will be implementing a new experiential process that includes additional certification requirements in an effort to center allyship as demonstrated through action.
Historically, Safe Space Ally Certification only required attending Safe Space Ally Training. With the previous model, there was no long-term commitment or engagement expected making it difficult to measure the impact of the training program itself. Beginning Fall 2023, in addition to attending a Safe Space Ally Training, participants will be required to attend educational programs and volunteer at select social programs throughout the year to support LGBTQIA+ initiatives on campus.
In order to complete the certification program for undergraduate students, participants must complete the following within the same academic year:
- Attend & Complete Undergraduate Safe Space Ally Training
- Attend one educational event or training offered through the Women's & Gender Equity Center's LGBTQIA+ Initiatives
- Volunteer at one LGBTQIA+ Initiatives sponsored event
- For Student Organizations:
- If your student organization wants to become certified, all Executive Board members and officers must attend a Safe Space Ally Training.
- In lieu of the volunteering and attending event requirement, a student organization can opt to co-sponsor/collaborate with the LGBTQIA+ Initiatives on one LGBTQIA+ campus program instead.
The certification review period will begin May 1st through May 31st. Participants Ally placards will be available for pick up beginning June 1st. The placards can be picked up at the Women's & Gender Equity Center (1101 Monarch Hall).
Certification will be valid for 1 academic year.
Yes, Safe Space Ally Certification will be valid for only 1 academic year. Recertification begins the first day of Fall semester and ends April 30th which means requirements must be met within that time period.
Undergraduate students only have to go through the training and certification process once. The certification is valid through graduation.
For student organizations:
- Student organizations who wish to retain group-level certification, they will need to recertify each academic year.
- Each new executive board member or officer will need to go attend a Safe Space Ally Training.
- Additionally, the organization as a whole will need to co-sponsor/collaborate with the LGBTQIA+ Initiatives on one LGBTQIA+ campus program or host their own LGBTQIA+ centered program.
The Safe Space Ally Training is designed to provide a strong foundation to begin one's journey to allyship. The additional volunteer/co-sponsor/educational event attendance requirements are designed to be experiential learning opportunities for undergraduate students to sharpen the skills learned during the training.
Beginning Fall 2023, previously distributed placards will no longer be reprinted. In order to obtain a new placard, all previously certified allies will need to go through the recertification process. New placards will be printed on June 1st.
Beginning Fall 2024, all replacement placard requests can be submitted and printed during the first week of each semester.
- For name or pronoun change replacement placards, requests will be taken on an ongoing basis and fulfilled within 1 week's time.
- No placards will be mailed and are available for pick-up only at the Women & Gender Equity Center from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m..
**For questions or additional information regarding the Safe Space Ally Program, please contact Mallory Fields, Administrative Officer for Safe Space & Graduate Assistant for LGBTQIA + Initiatives, directly at safespace@odu.edu.**
See our Campus Allies
Interested in seeing how many of our campus faculty, staff, and graduates students are Safe Space Campus Allies? We do not list undergraduate students for both privacy concerns and as this population is ever-changing. Have you taken the training and don't see your name listed? Contact safespace@odu.edu and we will add you!
Become a Facilitator
We are happy that you are interested in becoming a Safe Space Ally Training facilitator and helping us to educate the Monarch community on LGBTQIA+ experiences and identities. We would love to talk with you about this! A few notes
- This opportunity is available to faculty, staff and graduate assistants. If you are an undergraduate student leader, we would love to still meet with you and discuss how you can also be engaged with the ODU LGBTQIA+ community.
- To qualify, you must register for and attend one Safe Space Certification session in its entirety as a participant, where you will sign our Ally Agreement, and note that you are interested in becoming a facilitator. If you have already attended a training, and now wish to become a faciltator, please email safespace@odu.edu.
- After expressing interest, you will meet with one or both of the Safe Space co-chairs to discuss any questions you have, recieve your facilitation guide, and schedule your observation of a second Safe Space session. After your observation, there will be a debrief, and you will be added to the training schedule!
- If you have any questions about this policy or how it applies to you, please email safespace@odu.edu.