American University, the congressionally chartered institution of higher learning in Northwest D.C., has extended the type of health insurance benefits offered to transgender students.

As In the Capital first reported, AU’s student health insurance plan will cover some surgery costs related to transitioning. From an article about the change posted to the school’s website:

The new policy from United Healthcare Student Resources provides for some surgical procedures at a maximum benefit of $500,000, with 80% coverage for in-network providers and 60% out of network—all without raising premiums more than a matter of pennies.

Indeed, this year’s health insurance brochure says “sexual reassignment surgery” is partially covered, although “cosmetic surgery, procedures and drugs are not covered even if related to sexual reassignment.”

None of this would be possible, of course, without Sarah McBride, American’s first openly transgender student body president. “This is emblematic of that national shift. It’s AU reflecting the values of American and America,” McBride told her alma mater.

While dozens of other schools across the country now offer similar health plans, American is the first university or college in D.C. to offer benefits to this extent.