Name Policy

The College enables students, faculty, staff, and alumni to have a chosen name, which may be the same as, or different from, their legal name, for use within College information systems and communications across campus. An individual’s chosen name will be used in systems and communications maintained by the College’s Information Technology Office except where the use of a legal name is required.

A current list of systems where chosen name may be displayed; where legal name must be displayed; and where a community member may choose to use their legal or chosen name may be found on the within OKTA.

International students should check with the Office of Student Academic Services on any implications of using a chosen name other than their legal name. 

An individual’s chosen name in the College’s systems is regarded as “directory information” under the College’s Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act policy. As such, this information may be published by the College. If any current student does not want their chosen name or any other directory information publicly disclosed, they must notify the Registrar’s Office in accordance with the College’s FERPA policy.  

The College enables Skidmore students, faculty, staff, and alumni to select their pronoun(s). If selected by an individual, pronouns will be added to the person’s entry in the College's public directory to facilitate communication.

The College enables Skidmore students, faculty, staff, and alumni to identify their gender, which may be the same as or different than their legal sex. An individual’s chosen gender will be used in systems and communications maintained by the College’s Information Technology Office except where the use of a legal sex is required.  

In some cases, an individual’s chosen name and gender identity cannot be used in College information systems, communications, and informational materials because the use of an individual’s legal name or legal sex is required for College business or legal need. Instances that require legal name or legal sex include, but are not limited to:  

• Financial documents  
• Law enforcement documents  
• Medical identification and records*
• Official transcripts  
• Tax Forms and payroll documents  
• I-9 forms and visa/immigration documents 
• Information provided to airlines for issuing tickets  
• Employment related documents and personnel files  
• Background check documents

* Please note that while Health Services and the Counseling Center must document a patient's legal name, they will also collect and use the patient's Chosen name and pronouns.

 
Students, faculty, and staff may indicate or change their chosen name, gender identity, and/or pronoun via the centralized name system. Note: A delay of up to 24 hours may occur before an individual’s chosen name, gender identity, or pronoun(s) display in Skidmore systems.  
 
The College reserves the right to request clarification and/or refuse a chosen name, such as name changes used for fraudulent purposes. 

The College is committed to exerting its best efforts to bring its technology into alignment with the College’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. While it strives to limit errors and misunderstandings, an individual’s legal name may be displayed in locations where they expect to see their chosen name. Should this occur, please email Skidmorenames@joe-yan.net and the College will address the situation as quickly as possible. 

You can submit a chosen name change request by contacting Alumni Affairs at alumni@joe-yan.net.

An individual seeking an updated email address should submit a help ticket to the College’s Information Technology Office. Changing or updating a chosen name, gender identity, or pronoun in the College’s system will not automatically result in a change to an individual’s Skidmore email address.

The Skidmore ID card is not considered a legal form of identification and may be printed with an individual’s chosen name.

Any current student, faculty, or staff member who would like to replace their Skidmore ID to reflect a chosen name should contact the Card Office. There will be no charge if you have your previous ID card.
Please allow 24 hours after submitting your name change form before requesting a new ID card.

Yes, students may elect to have a chosen name that is not their legal name on their diploma.
 
However, it is important to note that some students may need to use their diploma in conjunction with their official transcript for legal, immigration, or employment purposes. Therefore, students are advised as follows:  

• Students who plan to live, study, or work outside of the U.S. are encouraged to use their legal name on their printed diploma. Complications could arise if the name on your diploma does not match other documents like your transcript, passport, or birth certificate.  
• Students considering professional schools like law, medicine, nursing, pharmacy or dentistry should take into account licensing requirements that often require the use of legal name on all educational documents including diplomas (e.g., State Bar applications and federal employment guidelines). Using a name other than a legal name could result in rejection, delay, scrutiny, and/or requirements for additional proof of identification with any applications for employment, licensure, credentialing, visa applications, and/or processes that require verification of your education records.
• Students who wish to have an additional diploma printed with their chosen name or legal name will be responsible for ordering a replacement diploma and covering the related fees.  
  
  

No, an official college transcript must include an individual’s legal name.