Preferred Name Policy

Purpose

To describe availability and use of “Preferred” Name

Scope

The scope of this policy applies to all students in all programs.

Policy

Northwestern Health Sciences recognizes that some of its members use names other than their legal names to identify themselves. As long as the use of this different name is not for the purpose of misrepresentation, the University allows students to use a first name different than the legal name on certain University records.

Please note that changing your preferred name for certain records does not change your legal name with Northwestern Health Sciences University. Below is a listing of all of the areas in which your preferred name will appear (once changed) and areas in which your legal name will still appear:

Preferred First Name Will Appear:

Legal First Name Will Appear*:

• Alumni Office Records Email
• Address (*nwhealth.edu)
• Online directory
• Class rosters
• Commencement Programs
• Dean’s List
• Emergency Contact Lists
• Faculty Advisee Lists
• Library Records
• Moodle
• Student ID card

• Financial Aid and Billing Records and Communication
• Diploma
• Official and Unofficial Transcripts
• Paychecks and Paystubs
• Registrar’s Office Records (i.e. permanent student file records)
• Some official forms or correspondence from the University such as financial aid awards, new hire forms, etc.
• Study Abroad (i.e. travel documents, signature documents)
• Time Entry System (ADP)
• Transfer Credit Evaluation

* Students who have had their name legally changed should complete a name/address change form. Your new legal first and last name will appear on ALL University documentation listed above, though one’s former legal name will be stored in some University records and not redacted.

Revised: May 2017 / Effective: July 1 2017

Procedure

A student can request the use of preferred name when initially completing an application to the University or any time after by completing a Preferred Name Request Form.

Once complete the student’s preferred name will be shown an all records or documents described in the policy above until it is rescinded by the student. The “Preferred Name Request Form” must be completed to rescind the use of a preferred name.