Emory University Student Designated Name and Pronoun Policy


Emory University Student Designated Name and Pronoun Policy

Emory University is committed to fostering an environment of inclusiveness and supporting students’ designated forms of identification and address. With this in mind, this policy provides definitions for, and uses of, student-identified names and pronouns recorded for students.

Emory University maintains the academic record for currently enrolled students as well as alumni. To maintain accurate student records and to provide truthful verification of attendance and degrees earned, it is necessary to maintain consistent student naming conventions across all student records.

The University will use a student’s Legal Name where there is a legal or business need and for all external reporting. The University will allow the use of a Designated Student Name and Pronoun to provide a consistent
experience across university systems and where the use of one's Legal Name is not absolutely necessary.

Student Designated Name and Pronoun Descriptions

Designated Name:

Except when the use of an individual’s legal name is required by law or policy, students will be identified in Emory University data systems by the name they have designated in Emory’s student information system (Opus).  Students may add, edit, or remove their designations at any time.  Places where Designated Name can be used include university diploma, advising center, class and grade rosters, My Housing, Canvas, and EmoryCard.

Designated Pronouns:

Students/Employees may designate pronouns by entering this information in Opus Self-Service.  The designated pronoun will be displayed publicly in Opus, along with the designated name.  Providing pronoun information is optional and entirely voluntary.  Students may add, edit, or remove their pronouns at any time.  The possible gender pronoun designations and forms of address may include but are not limited to:  He/Him/His, She/Her/Hers, They/Them/Theirs, Ms., Mr., Mrs. Or Mx, and other terms associated with designating a person’s gender identity.

Keeping Your Identity Private

Under FERPA, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, directory information may be disclosed to the public. At Emory, directory information includes but is not limited to, the student’s Legal Name or Designated Name. Students may also elect to include both their Legal Name and Designated Name. A student who does not want to be included in the directory can withhold directory information.

View University Policy

Emory University is committed to protecting your personal information and respecting your privacy. We strive to follow best practices regarding data privacy and the protection of the personal information of our community members. For information about how Emory University collects and protects personal information throughout the University, see the Emory University Privacy Statement for Student Characteristics.

Designated Name and Pronoun Frequently Asked Questions

You may set or update your designated name by logging into your OPUS account and follow these instructions: Designated Name Tutorial

You may set or update your designated pronoun by logging into your OPUS account and follow these instructions: Designated Pronoun Tutorial

If you do not see your designated pronoun in the dropdown list, select “pronoun not found” which will open up a text box for you enter your designated pronoun.

No. Only you as a student with access to your OPUS account can update your designated name and pronoun.

Designated name may be used in cases where legal name is not absolutely necessary. Examples of where your primary/legal name are necessary include, but are not limited to, financial aid documents, payroll, official transcripts, and federal immigration documents.

Designated Name will display on most Student Self Service Panels with the following exceptions: to do list, online admission deposit page, emergency notification, parent/guardian addresses, religious preference, health insurance waiver pages (all), Ask OPUS, and academic calendar deadlines.  Note: Some of these pages display no name at all (legal or designated).

Your designated name and pronoun will appear in Canvas.  However, it may take up to 24 hours to appear.

Once you enter a designated name, within 24 hours this name will be available in MyNetlD for your use as part of your Emory email address. To use your designated first name in your email address, go to Identity and Access Management and select MYNETID in the upper right corner.  This requires you to be on the Emory Network or VPN.

If a designated name exists in OPUS, this name will appear in the Emory on-line directory and in the Global Address List within 24 hours. The on-line directory is available to the public and anyone doing a search on your last name will be able to view this information.

Changing your primary/legal name in University systems to a designated name can have ripple effects throughout your day-to-day experiences. Changing your designated name more than once can lead to confusion regarding your identity, challenges in customer service, and/or the interruption of your ability to access some University systems.

Designated names can be up to 30 characters in length and should only include standard European characters. Emory University reserves the right to deny or remove any designated name for misuse, including but not limited to misrepresentation, attempting to avoid legal obligation, or the use of highly offensive or derogatory names, with or without notice.

Designated name will display in OPUS the day after change is made.

Designated name is for use within the university community. International students may feel free to select a designated name for on-campus use. However, this does not apply in situations where one's legal name is required to be used. For the purpose of F-1 or J-1 student visa status, the legal name must be used on l-20s and DS-2019s. An individual's legal name is what appears on the passport.

The name of the instructor will display the professional or designated name whichever has been defined.

To add a Diploma Name, follow the steps below.

  1. Log in to OPUS
  2. Click on the Profile tile
  3. Click on the plus sign (+) under the Names section, enter the first and middle name ONLY, and Save. Note: The last name on the diploma must match the last name from the Primary/Legal Name.
  4. If editing, click on the Degree Name to update first and middle name ONLY and Save.

Your designated name is potentially visible to your family members if you grant them Guest Access to the following pages in OPUS:

  • View Unofficial Transcript
  • View Names
  • View Messages
  • View Communications
  • View Emails and Phone Numbers (if designated name is used for email address alias)

To prevent your designated name from appearing to your family members, when creating a Guest Access account in OPUS, do not select any of these options.

Please note that your designated name may also be used on university communications that are sent to either your permanent or local addresses.  If either of these addresses is a family address, then it is possible for your family to see your designated name on that correspondence.

Your designated name may be visible to your family members through the Emory Parent and Family portal (link).  This portal is supported by Campus Life. Log into the portal and review the documentation before granting any access to your family members.  

Your designated name will display in the Emory person directory, but you will only be visible to individuals that are physically on campus or who have an active VPN connection. If you enable FERPA suppression in OPUS, then you will be entirely removed from the person directory within 24-hours. To learn more about FERPA suppression, please visit our FERPA webpage, https://registrar.emory.edu/records-transcripts/ferpa.html.

Many students wish to use their designated name universally, including on mail sent to their permanent addresses. Consequently, some offices may send physical mail addressed using your designated name. Students may consider changing their designated first name to an initial to mitigate this.

You may consider changing your designated first name to an initial (e.g. G. Dooley), which may require people on campus to ask for your designated name without inadvertently exposing your designated name to your family members.

Designated pronouns are included on class rosters, in the campus housing portal, and on many student lists that are pulled by academic departments.  We consider designated pronouns to be “public” inside of the university, but they are not visible to anybody outside of the Emory community, including your family members (unless you allow them to View Names in guest access). 

The following biographical attributes are never displayed to your family members:

  • Gender Identity
  • Sexual Orientation
  • Designated Pronouns (unless you allow them to View Names in guest access)

Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation are strictly used for internal demographic reporting and will never by disclosed to anybody for individual students. 

When you create a Guest Access account, do not select View Names. This will prevent your designated pronoun from appearing to your family members in OPUS.

For additional questions, please contact the Office of the University Registrar.