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Name Changes & Pronoun Designation

Trans@VU

The purpose of the听collection of resources listed is to provide information for transgender, trans, nonbinary, gender expansive, agender, and other non-cisgender people and allies at 国产原创.听Materials on these pages are here to provide helpful information and guidance. We do not endorse any information or materials from external parties.

Student Name Change Options

Without legal documentation, students have two options to alter their exposed name in many (not all) university systems. Students can:

  1. Secure an听undocumented name change听and have only their legal first and middle听颈苍颈迟颈补濒蝉听show in most university systems (i.e. from Marcus Jason to M. J.). To do this, students may print a听 from the 听website or pick one up in person.听Write 鈥渦ndocumented鈥� as the reason for the name change.听This form must be dropped off in-person to the听.
  2. A听chosen or preferred name request puts the name of a student鈥檚 choice on select internal university systems (i.e. from Olivia to Liv). To do this, students may complete the听.

There are separate processes for each change. Students can do one or both processes based on their needs.

For questions about navigating this process, contact:

University Registrar
Email
615-322-7701

K.C. Potter Center for LGBTQI+ Life
Email
615-322-3330

Changing Your Name

  • Class Rosters & Brightspace

    听(see above) allows first and middle initials and the last name to be shown to represent the first and middle names of the student. (For example, Mary Janelle Smith will be recorded as 鈥淢.J. Smith鈥�).

    听allows in some internal University systems for a student to be known by the name of their choosing. In most cases, the faculty/staff member will still have access to the student鈥檚 legal name (unless you鈥檝e also gone through the undocumented name change, in which case your first and middle initials will show).

    If you would like additional support or assistance in contacting faculty in your classes in regard to names and pronouns, please contact the K.C. Potter Center for LGBTQI+ Life.

  • Faculty/Staff Name Changes

    If you have changed your name legally or would like to add a chosen/preferred name to your record, you can do this in听 under the Personal Information听module within the 鈥淢e鈥� section of the Navigator.

    For chosen or preferred names, your name in use will appear in many University systems, including the People Finder Directory in parenthesis after your legal name. Please note that your legal name will still show. If you do not want your legal name to display in the People Finder Directory, please contact Human Resources.

  • ID Cards

    For students,听an听undocumented name change听(see above) allows first and middle initials and the last name to be shown on the student ID. Please wait for your 鈥渦ndocumented name change鈥� form to be processed through the office of the registrar. Chosen names are not currently allowed on student IDs.

  • Student Financial Aid & Work Study Timesheet

    For federal purposes, your legal name will show on your financial aid documents and work-study timesheets.

  • Email Address Information

    VU users use the听听to change their email address. After Logging in, Click menu (3 lines at left side > end-user user tools > add email alias. You can also set your display name under the end-user tools tab. You cannot change your VUnetID after enrollment/being hired at 国产原创.

  • Anchor Link

    Go to听:

    1. Log in to your Anchor Link account.
    2. Click on your profile picture twice in order to edit your account.
    3. Edit your first name听and听click save.

    Please note: Your chosen or preferred name will show up on all Anchorlink rosters available to the public and most Anchor Link users. However, page managers will have access to the name that is on file through the Registrar鈥檚 office in addition to your preferred name.

  • Receiving Mail

    If a student fills out the chosen or preferred name request (details outlined at the top of this page), staff in the mailroom should see their name in the mail receiving system as 鈥淟egal First Name (Chosen Name) Legal Last name.鈥� This ensures that students receive official legal mail, as well as mail to their chosen name, more efficiently. As a secondary measure, students can relay any chosen name information to any mail room representative for manual entry into the mail system.

  • Student Diploma

    An听undocumented name change听(see above) allows the legal first and middle initials and the last name to be shown on the diploma. Chosen or preferred names cannot currently be used on diplomas.

  • Legal Name Changes

    In accordance with Tennessee legislation, T.C.A. 29-8-102, you must be a resident of Davidson County, Tennessee to petition for a name change recognized by the United States government. Forms for an adult name change are available for downloading at听. Please be advised that all blanks must be legibly filled in with accurate information.

    Fill out the听 and the 听under Petition for Name Change of Adult.

    DOCUMENTS TO BRING WITH YOU to legally change your name:

    1. Completed Petition form and Order form to be presented to a Chancellor.
    2. A copy of your birth certificate.
    3. Photo identification (such as a driver鈥檚 license, passport, or comparable photo identification).
    4. Social Security card.
    5. $159.50 cash or cashier鈥檚 check (no personal check accepted). This fee covers two certified copies of the court order changing your name.

    Be Advised:
    Name change petitions are heard Monday-Thursday between 8:30 am and 9:00 am. The address is Public Square, Nashville, TN and travel to the 3rd-floor suite 308 (this location is for Davidson County residents only). They encourage you to arrive at 8:10 am to guarantee you are seen that day.

    A student who is able to change their name through legal documentation (process above) can present this documentation and a听听to the Office of the Registrar to ensure that their name in University systems is correct. Graduate students employed at the University should also submit this paperwork to HR for their correct name to be ensured in all employment purposes.

    Legal Passport Changes
    If and/or when you change your name legally and have a passport you鈥檇 like to update, follow this link to find out how:听.

Setting Your Pronouns

  • Class Rosters & Brightspace

    All students have the听听through听, the university鈥檚 online student services and academic information portal.

    The options will include 鈥渉e鈥� and 鈥渟he,鈥� the gender-neutral pronouns听鈥渢hey鈥� and 鈥渮e,鈥� and a name-only option听for students who choose not to be identified by any pronoun. The pronouns will appear alongside student names on class rolls and housing rosters, be visible to advisers and other offices in regular contact with students, and will be accessible to faculty and staff, including student employees.

    Separately, there is also a field in听听where a student or faculty member can听add, make visible or change their pronouns. Log into Brightspace, go to Account Settings, click 鈥淎llow others to see my pronouns鈥� if desired, and type in your pronouns. These pronouns will be visible on the account, anywhere the profile card appears, and in the discussions and assignment evaluation sections.

  • Microsoft Teams

    Pronouns in the profile card of Microsoft 365 is now enabled in our environment. To add or change pronouns...

    1. Open the profile card in Teams by selecting your picture on the upper right corner of Teams.
    2. On the profile card, select听+Pronouns听to add your pronouns.
    3. Click听Save.
  • Zoom

    From the Desktop Application:

    1. Open the Zoom application on your desktop and log in
    2. Select your profile icon in the top right-hand corner and select 鈥渟ettings鈥� from the drop-down
    3. This will open a new window 鈥� select 鈥減rofile鈥� and then 鈥渆dit my profile鈥�
    4. Your profile will appear 鈥� under the 鈥減rofile鈥� tab, select 鈥渆dit鈥� next to your name
    5. To add your pronouns, simply add them to the end of your last name Zoom profile with pronouns highlighted after last name
    6. Click 鈥渟ave changes鈥� at the bottom of the page

    From the Web:

    1. log in at: https://vanderbilt.zoom.us/
    2. Your profile will appear 鈥� select 鈥渆dit鈥� next to your name
    3. To add your pronouns, simply add them to the end of your last name
    4. Click 鈥渟ave changes鈥� at the bottom of the page

    From the Zoom Mobile Application:

    1. Select 鈥渟ettings鈥� in the bottom right hand corner
    2. Select your name and then select 鈥渄isplay name鈥�
    3. To add your pronouns, simply add them to the end of your last name
    4. Click 鈥渟ave changes鈥� in the top right-hand corner

    From the Desktop Application:

    1. Open the Zoom application on your desktop and log in
    2. Select your profile icon in the top right-hand corner and select 鈥渟ettings鈥� from the drop-down
    3. This will open a new window 鈥� select 鈥減rofile鈥� and then 鈥渆dit my profile鈥�
    4. Your profile will appear 鈥� under the 鈥減rofile鈥� tab, select 鈥渆dit鈥� next to your name
    5. To add your pronouns, simply add them to the end of your last name Zoom profile with pronouns highlighted after last name
    6. Click 鈥渟ave changes鈥� at the bottom of the page

    From the Web:

    1. log in at: https://vanderbilt.zoom.us/
    2. Your profile will appear 鈥� select 鈥渆dit鈥� next to your name
    3. To add your pronouns, simply add them to the end of your last name
    4. Click 鈥渟ave changes鈥� at the bottom of the page

    From the Zoom Mobile Application:

    1. Select 鈥渟ettings鈥� in the bottom right hand corner
    2. Select your name and then select 鈥渄isplay name鈥�
    3. To add your pronouns, simply add them to the end of your last name
    4. Click 鈥渟ave changes鈥� in the top right-hand corner
  • Email Signature

    Adding your preferred pronouns in your email signature helps minimize misgendering and is an important strategy towards inclusivity. Below you will find some samples that you may incorporate in your email signature:

    Example 1:听

    听

    Wenhe Zhu, MEd

    Pronouns: he/him/his

    Program Coordinator, LGBTQI+ Life Office

    国产原创

    		Example 2:

    听

    June Johnson, MEd

    Program Coordinator, LGBTQI+ Life Office

    国产原创

    Pronouns: she/her/hers听

    Example 3:

    听

    Darcelle Carter, MSW (they/them/theirs)

    Program Coordinator, LGBTQI+ Life Office

    国产原创

    听

    		Example 4:

    听

    Jorge Sevilla

    Program Coordinator, LGBTQI+ Life Office

    国产原创

    Pronouns I use: he/him/his and they/them/theirs