TAMPA (CBS4) – Transgender students at the University of South Florida in Tampa are now being offered a new housing option. USF is offering transgender students the opportunity to live alone or with a friend of a different gender in campus housing.

Beginning Thursday, students can identify themselves as male, female or transitioning on their housing applications. Anyone who checks transitioning can live alone, with a friend or with a randomly assigned roommate. A student’s choice of transitioning won’t be disclosed to any randomly selected roommate without permission.

Then, in the spring, the Tampa school will begin a pilot program with several “gender-neutral” dorm rooms for any student who wants to live with another student of a different gender. Rooming with romantic partners will be discouraged.

The changes were made after a transgender student complained about being harassed by other students in a residence hall.

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