Transitioning at Carolina

A Guide for Transgender and Nonbinary Students

This guide is designed to help transgender and nonbinary students at Carolina navigate services they may or may not want to utilize during or after social, medical and/or legal transition.

Policies and services are presented to assist with identifying preferred name, changing one’s name in UNC records, changing ones gender marker in UNC records, or how to change legal name and/or gender marker on government issued documents.

Terms to Know:

(The way these terms are defined are for the purpose of understanding the following instructions. These are not necessarily the most complete or widely used definitions.)

Section 1: Navigating Campus Resources

Office of the University Registrar

This is the first stop for students to make changes on campus. Best contact: Christy Samford, Deputy Registrar.

Students who wish to change the name or gender designation in their official academic record must provide to the Office of the Registrar a state or federal identification (e.g., driver's license, passport, birth certificate) reflecting the name and gender marker to which they want their record changed. For situations where an application for a passport or other approved identification with the new information has been made submitted but is not yet complete, please contact the LGBTQ Center.

Carolina (Campus) Housing

Best contact: Steven Wiley, Assistant Director of Assignments

• [email protected]
• 919-962-5401

Carolina Housing supports all students regardless of their sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.

All bedrooms in hall style, suites, and apartments will be assigned to students of the same sex.  For the purpose of room assignment, sex refers to an individual’s sex (male or female) as indicated on the official student record maintained by the Registrar’s Office. 

Except for areas specifically designated as single sex, suite and apartment buildings will offer male only and female only rooms on all floors because there are private bathrooms with showers in each suite and apartment.

Hall style buildings will offer male and female rooms on all floors unless the floor has shared community bathrooms/showering areas which are intended for residents of the same sex or it is a floor/building specifically designated as single sex.  Carolina Housing is in the process of converting the community bathroom/shower areas in hall style buildings to private bathroom pods as it allows for additional flexibility with room assignments. 

Pride Place

Pride Place is a residential community committed to the personal wellness and academic success of students of all sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions. One goal of the program is the creation of a residential community in which every student feels safe, included, and empowered. As residents, students will learn about the LGBTQ+ community at Carolina and its many intersections, build relationships, and actively engage in the community.

Break and Summer Housing

To learn more about break and summer session housing visit:

Campus Health

Campus Health downloads information from the registrar’s office so once that record is changed the name should automatically update in their records.

Hormone Therapy at Campus Health

Best Contact: Campus Health appointment line

• 919-966-2281
• Ask for an appointment specifically for transition related hormone therapy or transgender care.

Hormone therapy is available through Campus Health using an informed consent protocol. This means there is no requirement for students to present a letter from a mental health professional in order to begin hormone therapy. The provider seen would perform an initial assessment, coordinate care, and provide secondary consultation if necessary.

Avery Cook from Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) is available to meet with anyone who wants to speak with a counselor about transition related hormone therapy but there is no requirement that you do so to pursue treatment. Email Avery at [email protected] and ask to schedule an appointment for transition related matters.

UNC Transgender Health Program

Best contact: [email protected] or 1-833-UNC-TRNS

The UNC Transgender Health Program was established this year with the primary purpose of assisting patients who need gender-affirming care navigate a complex healthcare system and connect to the services they need. The Transgender Health Program acts as a primary point of contact for trans patients and can provide referrals for medical, surgical, and mental health services with vetted, gender-affirming providers. This program is separate from campus health but is available to students.

Campus Recreation

All eligible Intramural Sports participants may participate in accordance with their personal gender identity. For more information see Campus Rec's Transgender Participation Guidelines.

General Alumni Association (DAVIE Records)

Best contact: Rachel Orr, Assistant Director of Alumni Records

• 919-962-3739
• Alternate contact: [email protected]

Documentation Needed: None

Section 2: State and Federal Document Changes

Assistance and Resources

Social Security Requirements

Changing Legal Name

You must submit the following information, in person, at a Social Security Office near you. Go to ssa.gov for a listing of locations.

• A document showing your previous name and an identifiable feature such as your date of birth, age, or social security number and a document showing your current name and the same identifiable feature. For example you can show your social security card with your previous name and your license with your current name if your license has your Social Security Number on it. You could also show your birth certificate with your previous name and your license with your current name.
• A document showing your previous and current names listed together, such as the court order for your name change.

Changing Legal Gender

To change the sex identification on your Social Security record, you do not need to provide medical or legal evidence of your sex designation.

You will need to provide evidence to prove your identity, and sometimes citizenship or immigration status. The sex identification, if shown on your evidence document, can be binary (male or female) or non-binary (such as X). The sex identification does not have to match the sex identification currently on your Social Security record, or the sex identification you request.

Currently, record systems require a sex designation of female or male, and cannot accommodate a non-binary or unspecified sex designation, such as X. SSA is examining ways to address this in the future. For more details please see https://faq.ssa.gov/en-us/Topic/article/KA-01453

Passport Change Requirements

Changing Legal Name in Passport

Required Documentation:

• A completed DS-5504 Passport Re-Application Form which is downloadable Travel.state.gov
• A certified copy of a marriage certificate or name change court degree to prove that your name has legally changed.
• Your current passport.

There is no fee unless you need your passport immediately.

Mail all of this information to the following address:

Charleston Passport Center

Attention: Amendments

1269 Holland Street

Charleston, SC 29405

Changing Legal Gender in Passport

You can now select the gender you would like printed on your U.S. passport, even if the gender you select does not match the gender on your supporting documentation such as a birth certificate, previous passport, or state ID. There is no longer require medical certification required to change the gender marker on your U.S. passport.

To request a new passport with a different gender than the one you have on your current passport, or if you are applying for your first passport, submit a new application and select your preferred gender marker. Follow the steps on this page to learn which form to submit. You can select “M” or “F” which are the gender markers currently available. We are working to add a gender marker for non-binary, intersex, and gender non-conforming persons as soon as possible.

Selective Service Requirements

Legally Transitioning from Female to Male

You do not need to register with the Selective Service

You do need to receive a letter from the Selective Service stating their exemption if they were born after January 1st, 1960 for the following reasons:

• Technically, “a man who fails to register may, if prosecuted and convicted, face a fine of up to $25,000 and/or a prison term of up to five years.”
• While chances of prosecution are extremely slim, an FTM trans person who is legally male and does not register for the draft by age 26 and does not have an exemption letter may find that “some doors are permanently closed”. These doors include student financial aid, federal employment, federal job training, and US citizenship.

In order to get a letter of exemption, you may be required to send in documentation that proves you were born female (such as an un-amended birth certificate or hospital birth record) to the Selective Service along with a “Status Information Letter Request” (this form can be found at sss.gov/verify/sil)

The exemption letter they send back clearly states that you are exempt from the draft but does not give any information as to why.

Legally Transitioning from Male to Female

You must still register with selective service.