Preferred First Name FAQ’s

A Preferred First Name is a name a student wishes to be known by in the University community that is different from a student’s Legal Name. UIC policy covers Preferred First Names. Middle name/initial and Surnames can be changed only with a legal name change.

A Legal Name is the name that appears on your passport, driver’s license, birth certificate, or U.S. Social Security Card.

No. Use of Preferred First Name is optional.

• Students will see both their full legal name and their preferred first name in parentheses throughout Student Self-Service at the top of the pages.
• Faculty/Instructors/Teaching Assistants will only see a student’s preferred first name, if one exists, and legal last name on class rosters and grade entry. Otherwise, the legal first and last name will appear.  Students should use preferred first name on scantrons, tests, and other items that are handed in since the instructor will see that preferred name on the class roster.
• Advisors and college administrative staff will see a student’s preferred first name if one has been created by the student in Student Self-Service.
• Online directories will display the preferred first name, if one exists, and legal last name, otherwise the legal first and last name.
• University i-cards issued after October 2017 will show the student’s preferred first name, if one exists, and legal last name on the front of the card. The backside of the i-card will display the full legal name in a smaller font.

Your Legal Name will be used in business and other processes that require use of a Legal Name. These include:

• International Students Documentation
• Student Financial Aid
• Student Employment
• Federal Requests for Information
• National Student Clearinghouse
• Transcripts
• Diplomas*
• Department of Public Safety

*Student Legal Name will print on diplomas unless a Diploma Name request has been submitted to the Office of the Registrar indicating the use of Preferred First Name. Please note that the use of Preferred First Name does not omit the student’s legal middle name/initial on the student diploma unless the student submit a change of demographic to the registration office to remove it.  Email records@uic.edu for details on use of Diploma Name or see https://registrar.uic.edu/student-records/diploma-faq

Preferred First Name may not be used for purposes of fraud or misrepresentation. The University reserves the right to remove a Preferred First Name if it contains inappropriate or offensive language.

Yes, your Preferred First Name will appear in the University Directory unless you request a FERPA Block.

No. An approved Preferred First Name does not change your Legal Name.

Students who would like to use a name other than their legal first name are able to enter a preferred first name or update an existing preferred first name, through Student Self-Service found at https://my.uic.edu. Please review University policy for acceptable uses of a preferred first name.

Students who would like to delete an existing preferred first name can do so through Student Self-Service found at https://my.uic.edu.

University administrators, the Department of Public safety, and your supervisor (if you are employed in a campus job) will have access to your Legal and Preferred First Names.

Your preferred first name will not be affected if you need to change your legal first name. Your preferred first name will remain, unless you change or delete it.

Contact Registration Services at registration@uic.edu with questions about preferred first name for students or if your legal name is displaying somewhere it should not.