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 Student Information Online (SIO), 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, such as financial aid documents, payroll systems and academic transcripts.
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 SIO 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 SIO, and under Academic Info, select Request Verification for the Preferred Name Verification.
Student Privacy & CMU Directory
Consistent with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), Carnegie Mellon allows for the release of CMU 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 CMU 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 Change of Name form to The HUB so their student records may be updated.