Select Page

Canisius College recognizes that faculty, staff and students may wish use a preferred first name rather than their legal first name to identify themselves. The college offers the option of the use of a preferred first name to help foster a more welcoming, supportive and respectful campus climate. In addition, you also have the ability to select a personal pronoun and gender identity. To create a preferred name, select your personal pronouns and/or your gender identity, use the link called Personal Information found under Campus Services in the portal (my.canisius.edu).

At this time, many applications such as iAdvise, D2L, the online phone directory, various reports, and my course roster have already been configured to use preferred first names. Personal pronouns have also been added if configurations allow for them.

The college has been updating applications, processes, reports and communications to use preferred names systematically based on requests from administrative offices.  If you need assistance modifying your automated letters, Emails, reports or web applications, please email ITSPROG@canisius.edu, use the subject “Preferred Name Change Request” and send as much information as you can regarding your request; screenshots or attachments are helpful. ITS will review each request and make the change(s). Certain third party integrations, such as tax documents, clearinghouse for transcript requests, FAFSA or other integrations where legal name is required may not be possible to update. This continues to be an ongoing process and your patience is appreciated.

Note: The preferred first name is not a legal name change. Students who are legally changing their names can use the link called Change Address, Name, SSN found under Forms in the portal (my.canisius.edu); faculty and staff should contact the Human Resources Office.

Submitted by: Michele Folsom, Director of Administrative Computing, ITS