The Connecticut Board of Regents has approved a plan allowing students in the state university system access to bathrooms and locker rooms that match their chosen gender identity.

The move is designed to comply with an executive order issued by Gov. Dannel Malloy in February labeling those bathrooms and locker rooms places of public accommodation, making discrimination based on sex or gender identity expression there illegal under Connecticut law.

The board also approved a policy allowing students in the 17 universities and community colleges to use whatever first name they wish on all unofficial documents and records, including student identification cards.

According to Mark Ojakian, president of the CSCU system, the policy is designed to make sure transgender students feel "valued and empowered to pursue their education."