Procedure for Establishing Preferred First Name Usage
by Transgender-Identified Students
The word transgender is an umbrella term often used by people who transgress gender norms. At the University of Texas at Austin there is a population of students who identify as transgender. In order to facilitate their success at the university, transgender identified students can establish, through the Gender and Sexuality Center: Serving Women and LGBTQA Communities, the use of their preferred name rather than their legal or given name.
To establish the use of a preferred name, transgender identified students should schedule an appointment with the director of the Gender and Sexuality Center, which is housed in the Student Activity Center. If through conversation with the student, it is determine that use of a preferred name would facilitate the student’s success at UT the GSC director will work with staff in the Registrar’s Office to add the student’s preferred name to the student’s official record. It is important to note that the preferred name will only appear on: class rosters, grade sheets, the online student directory, TED, Clips, Blackboard, and official UT identification cards. The official university transcript and diploma cannot be changed without a legal name change.
To initiate this change students will be asked to provide their legal name, UT EID, and preferred name. Also, the student should be aware that they will incur a replacement fee for their new identification card.
Multiple changes to an established preferred name is strongly discouraged. Should a student request to use a preferred name, it is the expectation of the university that it be requested only after serious consideration on the part of the student.
