Duke University recently announced that its student health insurance will begin to cover gender confirmation surgery, up to $50,000, for transgender students. Schools like the University of North Carolina are taking note and considering similar measures.

“The addition of sexual reassignment surgery with a $50,000 cap makes Duke’s student health care plan one of the most, if not the most, transgender-inclusive plans in the country,” Sunny Frothingham told The Chronicle. Frothingham is the incoming outreach chair of Blue Devils United, a campus LGBT undergraduate advocacy group.“This is a huge step forward for Duke.”

Blue Devils United President Jacob Tobia said Duke’s decision will help recruit students.

“This is really important symbolically for the Duke community,” said Tobia. “I hope that this will help us remain really competitive as an institution when recruiting students, because I know that in the past we have had transgendered students that have been extremely successful at Duke, including merit scholars.”

Awesome news! Props to Duke for doing the right thing; let’s hope more schools catch on.