Name & Preferred First Name
Students may wish to use a first name that differs from their official first/given name as recorded on official university documents. When designated in , Carnegie Mellon will use the preferred name in all university documents except where use of the official name is required by university business or legal need, .
A preferred name may not be selected and/or used for any fraudulent purposes and, in rare cases, can be denied at the discretion of the University Registrar.
Students who elect to use a preferred name are encouraged to review the considerations. Students who find that their preferred name is not displayed via a campus application should notify the University Registrar directly at jp7p@andrew.cmu.edu so that it can be resolved.
Questions? Reach out to the University Registrar's Office.
Definitions
Preferred Name: First name designated by a student in Student Information Online (SIO) by which that student prefers to be known. Students may not designate a preferred family/last name.
Given Name: Also commonly known as the first name, the university acknowledges that the given name is what is recorded as the official name.
Family/Last Name: Name officially recorded in university systems and documents; cannot be changed without taking appropriate legal steps to change one's name.
Official Name: First/given name followed by family/last name that is imported from admission data, effectively known as the official university name.
Adding a Preferred Name in SIO
Students who wish to designate a preferred name in SIO may do so by following these steps:
- Log in to using your Andrew ID and password.
- Under My Info, select the Edit My Info button .
- Enter your preferred name; this field is editable in SIO at any time and the update will be effective immediately.
- Only a preferred first name may be provided; students may not designate a preferred family/last name.
- Select the Submit button.
Students are encouraged to add a preferred name in SIO prior to the start of a semester to assist university administrators, advisors and instructors in addressing them accurately.
Considerations in Using a Preferred Name
Adding a preferred name to SIO is not the same as a legal name change through the court system. A student may be challenged if relying on documents with a Preferred First/Given Name when asked to provide proof of legal name and/or identity for employment or government purposes, such as obtaining a passport.
Other considerations include the use of both the Official First/Given Name and a Preferred First Name on various documents used for external purposes. For example, a transcript and verification from the university with the official name and a letter of reference from a faculty member who knows the student primarily by their preferred name may require some clarification when applying for internships, jobs, and/or graduate school.
The University Registrar’s Office offers a name verification document to affirm the Official First/Given Name and Preferred First Name. To request a verification document, students may log in to , and under Academic Info, select Request Verification for the Preferred Name Verification.
Student Privacy & Â鶹¹ÙÍø Directory
Consistent with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), Carnegie Mellon allows for the release of Â鶹¹ÙÍø Directory information, which is available to the public and does include a student’s preferred name when it is provided in SIO.
Students may choose to submit a Directory Information Restriction (pdf) form to the University Registrar's Office, which directs the university to not list them in the Â鶹¹ÙÍø Directory and to not confirm their student status to anyone inquiring about their student record.
View more information about student privacy.
Student-Instructors
In Student Information Online (SIO), student-instructors may choose to use their Preferred Name wherever their instructor name is listed on both internal and public-facing websites (such as the Schedule of Classes). At any time within SIO, student-instructors may opt in or out of have their preferred name displayed.
Legal Name Change
Adding a preferred name to SIO is not the same as a legal name change through the court system. If a student legally changes their name and has the required legal documentation, they may submit a form to The HUB so their student records may be updated.