What About My Privacy

Many transgender people use a name that is not their legal name. At times, this may be called a “chosen name,” “preferred name,” a “nickname,” or a “name-in-use.” Many cisgender people also use chosen names, such as a middle name, an Americanized name, or some other chosen name. One way to show respect for anyone is to consistently use the name that person prefers. While there are some circumstances that require a legal name (e.g. official transcripts, background checks), most communication should use chosen names.

The University supports all of the members of its community in using their chosen or preferred name where possible. Read GVSU’s Affirmation of Gender Identity and Expression Inclusion

Learn about where your name shows up, who can see it, and how you can alter your preferences in the many components of the university’s online systems. This system is still incomplete, so please Contact Us if you experience challenges!

myName Privacy Tools

GVSU's IT team is working to develop tools within our systems that allow for students, staff and faculty to have greater agency over where myName is utilized. More information is forthcoming, but please know that we have been working to integrate the complex and complicated network of GVSU-based and third-party systems across our campuses.

CURRENT CHALLENGES IN THE INTEGRATION OF myNAME:

  • MAILINGS: Your external mail will be sent using your myName to the address you have on file. Refer to Housing & Residence Life if you would like to update the address where you will receive GVSU-related mailings.
  • ID CARDS: To obtain a new GVSU ID card using myName, please visit the Registrar's Office in person at any of the Student Assistance Centers in Allendale, Grand Rapids, Holland, Muskegon, or Traverse City. Faculty and staff may visit the Registrar’s Office, located at 150 Student Services on the Allendale Campus and 115C DeVos on the Pew Campus. 

Please refer to the What To Expect page for more details on where your myName is displayed (and where it is not).

GVSU Computer Systems

There are many computer systems throughout the university. If you change your myName, some computer systems will update quickly and others will take several months to be updated. Others may not update at all. If you have any questions about any aspect of this, please contact us to discuss your situation.

Legal Name Changes

Once you have completed a legal name change you will want to share this information so that we can update systems accordingly. Please refer to the University’s Name Change process, which deals with official/legal name changes via the Social Security Administration. 

Faculty/Staff

Please work with your department administrator and/or HR Business Partner. You will need to submit proof of name change (typically a social security card bearing your new legal name) and then your HR Business Partner will perform the necessary actions to update your legal name in HR/payroll, which will then pass it along to other downstream systems. Learn more about faculty/staff name changes.

Student

Please use the Name Change online form. There are systems where your name change will be automatically updated while there are other important places where you will have to update your name manually. Learn more.

International students should ensure that their name on their visa certificate is changed first.


FOR SUPPORT & QUESTIONS

Direct questions about chosen name and support should be directed to one of the following groups: 

The Milton E. Ford LGBT Resource Center regularly offers discrete support for students, faculty and staff.



Page last modified January 18, 2024