Preferred First Name Policy for Students

Student Preferred First Name Policy
It is Framingham State University’s policy that students within the University community may choose to use a preferred first name different from their legal first name to identify themselves. The preferred first name policy includes, but is not limited to the following internal University documents:

Class Attendance Rosters (Argos Report emailed to instructors)
Residence Hall General Communication Rosters
Emergency Alert System
FSU Student Email Display Name (not the actual student’s FSU email address)
Graduation Commencement Program and Diploma (Exception to External document type)
FSU Student Photo ID Card (with legal full name printed on the reverse side of card)

A community member’s legal first name will continue to appear on university documentation that requires use of a legal first name. This includes any correspondence to the student’s permanent address in addition to but not limited to the following:

Academic Transcripts
Clearinghouse Submission Reports
Dean’s List/President’s List
Financial Aid
Health Records
Student Payroll Records
Tuition Bills (TouchNet)
Police or University conduct related records

Students who wish to indicate a preferred first name may do so via myFramingham on the Student Home page: Under Personal Information, select Biographic Data Change Form. Inappropriate use of the preferred first name, including but not limited to misrepresentation or attempting to avoid a legal obligation, may be cause for denying the request. A preferred first name must not be used for the purposes of misrepresentation at the University. The overarching goal of the policy is to create a consistent first name experience for all community members across campus. A Framingham State community member may choose to use a first name different from their legal first name for a variety of reasons to ensure an experience that best reflects their identity while at the University. The University does not guarantee that all internal systems will reflect preferred first names, but will continue to expand the internal use of preferred first names across internal systems to support this goal.

Contact:
Jeffrey Coleman, VP of Diversity, Inclusion & Community Engagement
Dwight Hall, Suite 311B, Phone: (508) 626-4515
Email: jcoleman10@framingham.edu

Jerome Burke | Director, Center for Inclusive Excellence
120E O’Connor Hall / O’Connor Lounge
Email: jburke13@framingham.edu ; Phone: 508.215.5888