This is not a required field. However, we encourage everyone to complete this field, even if you prefer to use your legal first name.

Simply put your name as you want it displayed in the name of use field. It will be combined with your legal last name to form your full name in the system.

If you leave the Name of Use field blank, then your full name will be formed using your legal first name and legal last name. If you wish to have your middle name or initials displayed, then provide a name of use to ensure your name is displayed as you wish.

The decision to use a name other than one’s legal name may be a difficult one to explain to others, and you deserve support.

Students should reach out to University Counseling Services and/or The Well for access to resources available to you to help you navigate their particular experience. The Dean of Students office can also be of assistance; please contact them at vcudean@vcu.edu. 

Employees with state health plans have access to employee assistance programs (EAPs). Included are up to four sessions with an EAP counselor at no charge. Counselors may be able to provide guidance about explaining a name of use to family and friends.

It is your responsibility to communicate your decision to all the necessary parties when selecting a name of use other than your legal name.

This includes those outside the VCU system who may not know your name of use (such as graduate schools, professional organizations or potential places of employment) and those within the VCU system who do not have access to your legal first name.

To understand more about your responsibilities, visit our What to consider page. 

VCU defines “name of use” as the first name chosen by an individual for their use.  It is used in place of a person’s legal first name.  Legal last name currently remains intact in all VCU systems.  The university is researching viable approaches to implement a “chosen name” framework, allowing for both chosen first and last names in university systems where possible.

At this time, VCU does not have the technical capacity to manage a last name of use, but we continue to explore possible options.

Systems generally update within 24 - 48 hours. If you are still having problems with updates, please email myname@vcu.edu.

Once the name of use field is updated in Banner, the first name field in VCU GSuite (email) will automatically update to the new name. This does not change your email address. That requires a change to your eID.

You can change your eID. However, this is a much more complex process that impacts a lot more than simply your email address. The changing your eID website provides specific guidelines for those who choose to move forward with this.

Yes, you can order a replacement VCUCard that identifies you by your name of use. Visit the VCUCard website for more information.

Your eServices identity is tied to you regardless of whether you are a student, employee or both. The same information is used across all university roles.

Yes, you are allowed to request your name of use on your diploma. While completing your graduation checkout, please print/type your name exactly as you wish it to appear on your diploma, include accents, spaces, capitalization and applicable suffixes. No additional titles such as Esq. or Dr. will be permitted on the diploma name. In addition, nicknames or names enclosed by parentheses or quotation marks will not be permitted.

Systems that require your legal name include:

• Financial aid documents
• Academic transcripts
• Tax documents
• Immigration/visa documents

See a full list of records requiring your legal name. 

In general, U.S. immigration documents (I-20 for F-1; DS-2019 for J-1: I-797 approval for H-1B; F-1, J-1, and H-1B visa stamps, etc.) reflect your personal information as it appears on the biodata page of the passport issued to you by your home country government. U.S. immigration documents may, in some cases, also reflect additional information (such as name of use, married name, prior name, nickname, gender, etc.) disclosed during the U.S. immigration process.

While you have put your name into the system, sometimes professors do not print new roll sheets on a regular basis. If you changed your name after the beginning of the semester, your professor may not have updated their personal rosters. Please inform your professor that you have updated your name and ask them to incorporate that into their rosters.

VCU upholds the commitment to recognize everyone’s right to use the name, gender and pronouns with which they identify. We encourage you to contact your department chair and ask for their guidance. The Dean of Students office can also be of assistance; contact them at vcudean@vcu.edu. If you do not receive a response that addresses your needs and/or your situation is severe, please contact VCU’s Title IX office at titleix@vcu.edu.

As employees, you have information records feeding several systems that require your legal name, including but are not limited to:

• Tax documents
• Health and retirement benefits systems
• Immigration

In general, U.S. immigration documents (I-20 for F-1; DS-2019 for J-1: I-797 approval for H-1B; F-1, J-1, and H-1B visa stamps, etc.) reflect your personal information as it appears on the biodata page of the passport issued to you by your home country government. U.S. immigration documents may, in some cases, also reflect additional information (such as name of use, married name, prior name, nickname, gender, etc.) disclosed during the U.S. immigration process.

For more information, contact your division's HR professional or askhr@vcu.edu.

The changes you make to eServices may not be visible to your supervisor or colleagues. Consider having a conversation with people to share your name and pronouns. 

VCU upholds the commitment to recognize everyone’s right to use the name, gender and pronouns with which they identify. We encourage you to contact your manager and ask for their guidance. Employee Relations can also be of assistance; contact them at emprel@vcu.edu. If you do not receive a response that addresses your needs and/or you believe that you are being discriminated against based on your identity, please contact VCU's Title IX office at titleix@vcu.edu.

VCU upholds the commitment to recognize everyone’s right to use the name, gender and pronouns with which they identify. We encourage you to contact Employee Relations at emprel@vcu.edu. If you do not receive a response that addresses your needs and/or you believe that you are being discriminated against based on your identity, please contact VCU's Title IX office at tileix@vcu.edu.