At the University of North Alabama, concerns about the lack of gender-neutral bathrooms were raised last year by the student government association.

The group urged a policy change, approved by university officials, requiring at least one gender-neutral or family restroom within each building on campus. The costs, according to the Flor-Ala student newspaper, were $500 to convert each restroom.

"It went forward with no fanfare," Bryan Rachal, the university's spokesman, said about the policy that was instituted before the start of the 2015-2016 school year. "They just did it."

UNA isn't alone. Most of the state-run colleges and universities have already taken action to address gender-neutral access to locker rooms and bathrooms on school properties.

Institutions such as Troy University and Auburn University are also adopting policies at a time when Attorney General Luther Strange has Alabama involved in a 13-state lawsuit pushing back against the federal guidance that allows for more inclusive educational facilities.

Prohibiting discrimination

The issue on college campuses was highlighted last week when the University of South Alabama in Mobile, in an email to all faculty and students, introduced a new bathroom policy that allows students to use whichever restroom aligns with their gender identity.

USA's move references the Title IX guidelines pushed by President Barack Obama's administration in May. The Department of Justice and the U.S. Department of Education suggested the guidelines that prohibit sex-discrimination in schools and other educational programs that receive federal funds extend to gender identity.

"Our guidance sends a clear message to transgender students across the country: here in America, you are safe, you are protected and you belong - just as you are," said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Vanita Gupta, head of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division, in May.

The federal statement said institutions should allow students to access bathrooms and locker rooms consistent with their gender identity, although the guidance did not prohibit schools from offering additional private areas for any students for any reason.

USA has since issued a listing of all its single-stall and unmarked bathrooms on the main campus.

According to a university statement: "Because these compliance guidelines affect all educational institutions receiving federal financial assistance, an email with this information was sent to the university community prior to the state of the academic year."

Other universities already have similar policies in place. At the University of Alabama, more than 100 single-user facilities are located across the Tuscaloosa campus.

"The University has for two years, incorporated language in its policies prohibiting discrimination based on gender identity and gender expression," said Monica Greppin Watts, associate vice-president for communications in the Division of Strategic Communications.

Auburn University also has a listing of buildings that have gender-neutral facilities, and spokesman Mike Clardy said all new buildings are being built "to meet the unisex standards."

At Troy University, committee led by the Dean of Student Services examined the Obama Administration's federal guidance on the issue and recommended that 22 single-occupant restrooms be designated as non-gender specific, according to spokesman Clif Lusk. The restrooms are available for use this fall.

The University of Alabama at Birmingham is currently reviewing the issue and has a "draft policy in the review stages," according to spokeswoman Tiffany Westry.

K-12 focus

The actions taken by the state's public universities appear to be counter to the position from Strange, who is involved in a 13-state lawsuit challenging the Obama Administration's directive.

A federal judge in Texas on Sunday blocked the administration from enforcing the new guidelines, saying they should not apply nationwide and that they threatened student safety and privacy. The ruling allows schools in Alabama and nationwide to keep their current gender-based restroom and locker room policies in place.

The U.S. Supreme Court could take up the issue this fall.

Mike Lewis, a spokesman for Strange, said that the Attorney General advised the Alabama Board of Education, which governs K-12 public schools, that it did not have to follow the federal guidance until the lawsuit is addressed in federal court.

"While the Obama administration guidance letter applies to colleges and universities as well as K-12 schools, it's main focus is on K-12," said Lewis. "Alabama K-12 schools approached our office with questions and we responded with letters of advice. Now that the federal transgender guidance has been stayed (by the federal judge), K-12 schools, colleges and universities can make their own decisions."

Bob Lowry, a spokesman at USA, said he wasn't going to speculate on whether the university's board of trustees would reconsider their actions following the federal judge's ruling.

Jane Williams, general counsel with the Alabama Association of School boards, said the federal judge's actions won't have any impact on their current position, which is to allow individual public school districts to monitor situations on a "case-by-case basis" and "do what they can do to support these kids."

"All the order did was stop the (Obama) Administration from enforcing any complaints against a school system," Williams said. "It doesn't change how a school system interacts with a child. It's a D.C. issue more than an Alabama issue."

Williams said she's unaware of any individual school system developing its own policy similar to what the state's universities are doing. "I've not heard of a single one in Alabama that has developed a policy. There are questions that are still up in the air and there is litigation to be had. We are not suggesting they change anything."

Eva Walton Kendrick, the Alabama state manager of the Human Rights Campaign, applauded what she said was a proactive stance by the state's universities addressing restroom accessibility.

"That is what Alabama needs to move forward," she said. "It shows that there is common sense and decency and our politicians can see that facility usage is no big deal."