Name change

What is a preferred name?

The UM recognizes that many of our community members use a name other than their legal name to identify themselves.  A preferred name is a name you commonly use that is different from your legal name. Any person who wants to use their legal name can continue to do so. 

The university displays preferred names in the following systems: 

• Aurora SSB (Banner) 
• Employee Self Service (ESS) 
• Active Directory and email Global Address List 
• ID Works 
• IntelliLeisure (Kinrec) 
• SignUM (includes libraries, Jump and IPA/Unix) 
• UMLearn 
• UMCommunityLink

To set up or update your preferred name:

Faculty and Staff:   

1. Sign in to VIP with your UMNetID and password.
2. Select My File, then under the Personal tab, select Personal Information.
3. Update your Preferred First Name or Preferred Surname.
4. Click Save.

Students:

1. Sign in to Aurora with your seven-digit student number and PIN.
2. Click Personal Information and then Set Preferred Name.
3. Update your Preferred First Name or Preferred Surname.
4. Click Submit. 

Legal name change

If you have changed your legal name, you must complete a name change with either the Registrar's Office (for Students) or Human Resources (for Faculty and Staff). 

• For Students: Change your personal information.
• For Staff: Changes to personal information.

Once the legal name change records are updated, you may create an IT ticket to request a (legal) name change in the university systems, including your UMNetID.

Create an IT ticket if you need assistance with name changes. Someone from the IST Service Desk will contact you to ask for more information and assist you.

Request legal name change for university systems

Edit Global Address List (GAL) information

Staff and faculty may edit some of the information others will see in the GAL. 

1. On any internet-connected device, log into signUM, and go to Self-Service > My Information.
2. Edit your Title, Team, Address, and/or Mobile phone number.
3. Select Apply.