Office of the Registrar

Student Name, Gender Identity & Pronouns

Students may identify a chosen first name, gender identity, and personal pronouns

Legal Name

Students whose legal name has changed may have that information updated in university records by submitting a Name Change Form to the Office of the Registrar and supplying the required supporting documentation.

Chosen First Name, Gender Identity, and Personal Pronouns

Students who wish to identify a non-legal chosen first name, gender identity and/or personal pronouns as part of their student record may do so at the time of application for admission to the university. Additionally, current students may add or edit their chosen first name, gender identity and/or personal pronouns by submitting the Chosen First Name, Gender Identity and Personal Pronouns Form to the Office of the Registrar.

Use of Chosen First Names

A student’s chosen first name will replace their legal first name as it appears in WebCentral-Banner Web, Blackboard Learn and many other campus systems where use of legal names is not required. Use of student chosen first names will continue to be expanded as Central deploys additional technology projects.

Use of chosen names in the e-mail directory/display name and on a student’s BlueChip student identification card is optional. Once a student’s chosen name has been added to their student record, they may visit Accounts Management to update their e-mail directory/display name and visit the Card Office to request an updated BlueChip identification card. The replacement card fee will be waived.

Central must use legal names in all official documents despite requests for the usage of chosen names. Legal names are to appear on all external use reports and documents including, but not limited to employment paperwork, paychecks, tax forms, student billings, financial aid forms, scholarships, transcripts, and other documents required by law.

Mail sent to home mailing addresses on file may use either chosen name or legal name depending on the purpose of the correspondence. For example, a billing statement, tax form or other official correspondence would be sent using a student’s legal name while routine correspondence or non-official documentation would be sent using a student’s chosen name.

Use of Personal Pronouns and Gender Identity

When a student provides Central with their personal pronouns and/or gender identity it becomes part of their student record. Soon, we hope to be able to display personal pronouns in various campus systems, such as class rosters and in Blackboard Learn. Gender Identity is collected for statistical purposes only and is not used for any other purpose.

Chosen First Name: A chosen first name is not a legal first name, but is generally used to change the manner in which others refer to the individual. For example, student Mathew Allan Smith may prefer the name Matt or Susan Elaine Taylor may choose to be referred to as Sue or Elly rather than Susan. Note that chosen first names or used names are not limited to variations or derivatives of a given or legal name; for example, student Margaret Ann Parker may request the chosen name Robert or Lawrence Peterson may choose to be called Sarah due to gender identity or transgender status, respectively, without court-ordered documentations.

Legal Name: A legal name is the person’s official name in accordance with the law. Legal names can only be changed on official documents when a student acquires a court order. Such a court order may arise in a number of different contexts, including a name change proceeding, an adoption, a divorce decree, individual choice, witness protection program. Additionally, a marriage certificate should be treated like a court order.

Governmentally Recognized Gender Marker: The gender marker appearing on an official government document that denotes male or female, used for official reporting to the Federal Government and other similar agencies.

Gender Identity: One's innermost concept of self as male, female, a blend of both or neither. One's gender identity can be the same or different from their sex assigned at birth.

Personal Pronouns: The pronouns used by an individual that best reflects their gender identity and by which they should be called. For example, student Taylor Doe might use the pronouns “they/them/theirs” instead of “he/his/his” or “she/her/hers.”

Additional Guidance

If students are using a chosen name in the campus systems, they must be prepared to use legal name and identification in all instances where legal identification or official information is necessary. In addition to the areas noted above, a Central ID card that displays a chosen name cannot be used as a valid form of identification where it is normally accepted such as in DHS I-9 hiring forms, and in some states for voter check-in during official elections. All students with a chosen name on a University ID card are encouraged to obtain a legal State ID, driver’s license, international ID, and/ or a Federal Passport for identity verification purposes when needed.

The use of a chosen name in the University system may also lead to more intensive examinations when seeking certain federal or state security clearances or background checks. Students are encouraged to disclose this information to their investigating authorities ahead of time to avoid unexpected discrepancies and delays.

The Division of Student Affairs and the Office for Equity and Inclusion and the LGBTQ Center are available to advise students on the ramifications of chosen first name changes.

Central has endeavored to display chosen first names or used names to the University community where feasible and has made a good faith effort to update the systems that are designated to use a chosen name. The University reserves the right to approve or disapprove chosen first name requests. Any student found to have abused this service for the purposes of fraudulent representation will be subject to a student conduct investigation.