JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (AP) — East Tennessee State University has updated some restrooms in academic buildings and residence halls with signage that identifies them as gender-neutral restrooms.

The university's Associate Vice President for Facilities Management Bill Rasnick tells the Johnson City Press that the restrooms with the new signs had previously been restrooms that were not specific to either males or females.

According to the Heartland Trans Wellness Group, an organization that works on behalf of transgendered individuals in America, gender-neutral restrooms are generally lockable, single-stall bathrooms that are available to people of all genders.

Rasnick says transgender issues did play a part in the university's decision to install the signage.

He says no new constructions or renovations have been performed to install the new restrooms.