Preferred Name FAQ

1. Can any member of the Connecticut College community set a preferred name?

Any student, faculty or staff member may opt to set a preferred name.

2. Can I set my preferred name to whatever I want?

Yes, but the College reserves the right to remove a preferred name if it is inappropriate.

3. Can I use my preferred name for everything at Connecticut College?

No. Your legal name will continue to be used in business processes that require use of the legal name, such as for payroll, tax forms, financial aid, student employment, accounting records and student transcripts.

4. Where will my preferred name display?

Students:preferred name will display in the campus directory, class lists, grade reports, advisee lists, Moodle*, Connquest*, ePortfolio, CamelWeb, and MyHousing. Contact Maureen Fowler in Dining Services at extension 2750 to request a College Photo ID with your preferred name. Email searches and display names (gmail profiles) use preferred name.  The actual email address uses legal firstname.lastname. The alumni online community will display the legal name.

Faculty: preferred name will display in the campus directory, class lists, grade reports, course schedules, Moodle*, ePortfolio, and CamelWeb. Contact Human Resources at extension 2085 to request a College Photo ID with your preferred name. Email searches and display names (gmail profiles) use preferred name.  The actual email address uses legal firstname.lastname.

Staff: preferred name will display in the campus directory, Moodle*, ePortfolio, and CamelWeb. Contact Human Resources at extension 2085 to request a College Photo ID with your preferred name.  Email searches and display names (gmail profiles) use preferred name.  The actual email address uses legal firstname.lastname.

*Moodle and Connquest will continue to display your legal name until you log into those specific systems. Once you log in, the system will update and display your preferred name.

5. How do I get my preferred name on my College Photo ID?

Students: Contact Maureen Fowler in Dining Services at extension 2750 to request a College Photo ID with your preferred name. Your College Photo ID is not a legal form of documentation. Carry your driver’s license or other legal identification when you leave campus or need to provide legal identification.

Faculty and Staff: Contact Human Resources at extension 2085 to request a College Photo ID with your preferred name.

6. Which name will the College use in news releases, official social media and on the College’s website?

If you do nothing, your legal name will be used to promote your activities, awards or accomplishments. If you want your preferred name to be used by College Relations, contact Josh Jensen at extension 2305 or Deb MacDonnell at extension 2504. Please note that all other offices on campus will use your legal name when communicating externally.

7. How do I correct or change my legal name?

The process for changing your legal name varies by state and country of residence and reason for the change. It is not something that is done at the College. If you have pursued a legal name change at the state or federal level, please bring legal documentation to the offices listed below so that the College can update your record. U.S. residents must change their names with the Social Security Administration as well.

Students: Submit legal documentation to the registrar's office. In addition, student employees must submit an updated I-9 form to the financial aid office.

Faculty and Staff: Submit legal documentation to the Office of Human Resources.

8. Who will have access to my legal name?

Select administrative staff, Campus Safety employees and, if you’re employed by the College, your supervisor(s) will have access to both your legal and preferred name. The LGBTQ Resource Center will provide regular training for key administrative staff about the use of preferred names and the importance of treating transgender individuals with respect, especially when referencing their legal names in conducting campus business.

9. I am an incoming student and I submitted a preferred name on my application. Do I need to submit a preferred name again?

Yes. The Office of Admission uses the name provided on your Common Application to communicate with you during the admission process. After you submit your Connecticut College enrollment form, you will have an opportunity to set a preferred name through CamelWeb. Your preferred name in CamelWeb is the name that you will be known by to the College community. Until that time, or if you do not choose to set a preferred name through CamelWeb, your legal name will be used.

10. What type of ID will I need to cash a check at the cashier window?

Check cashing requires the presentation of a legal photo identification such as your driver’s license. Your College Photo ID is not a legal form of identification.