Preferred Name Statement
Updated September 2024.
New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) is committed to creating a campus environment that is inclusive of everyone’s culture, identity, and background. This commitment fosters an institutional culture where all members of the community feel welcomed and a sense of belonging.
With a strong commitment to creating an inclusive campus community, NJIT embraces the diversity of all students, faculty and staff who wish to use a preferred name in all university settings. We strive to ensure all members of the campus community respectfully use an individual’s preferred name in all university settings and support an individual to self-identify however they choose.
NJIT defines preferred name as the name by which a person wishes to be known and to have appeared in university systems, and marketing and communications, except where legal name is required. A Legal Name is defined as the name that is recorded on legal identification and used on formal legal records and documents. Preferred names are individual choices and should always align with NJIT’s Core Values.
Using self-service through Banner, at any time, a student, faculty, or staff member may update their preferred name. It may take several days for the preferred name to appear on university systems, documents, and records. You may request a new ID card by visiting the Photo ID office. Per the requirements of law and/or certain legal identification purposes, an individual’s legal name may be used for legal records and documents, including transcripts and diplomas.
NJIT defines preferred name as the name by which a person wishes to be known and to have appear in university systems, and marketing and communications, except where legal name is required.
A legal name is defined as the name that is recorded on legal identification and used on formal legal records and documents. Preferred names are individual choices and should always align with NJIT’s Core Values.
Instructions for changing your preferred name can be found in this Nexus article.
While we are mindful that these requests need to be addressed, the technology that we are using needs to be updated to accommodate preferred last name changes. We estimate these changes will be implemented by the second half of the Fall 2024 semester. Once implemented, instructions for changing your preferred last name will be provided.
Not at this time. At this point some of our systems are not able to accommodate special characters. As we continue to upgrade our systems this may change.
There is a chance that an online system is not including an individual's preferred name when it should be. If that is the case, please enter a ticket with our ServiceDesk.
For the most part, our goal is to update systems within 72 hours, but there may be circumstances where this may not be possible.
Please note that not all systems can accommodate a preferred name at this time. A listing of where the preferred name will be displayed can be found in this FAQ.
We are actively looking into a central solution to address these types of requests. You do currently have the option to update both in your profile of many third party tools (e.g. Zoom, Canvas, email signature), and should feel free to update at your convenience.
(From NJIT’s Preferred Name Statement): Preferred names are individual choices and should always align with NJIT’s Core Values.
As of the beginning of the ‘24-25 AY, the following systems will display preferred name:
This list is partial and not limited and will be updated as we actively reflect the information in more and more systems. Please check back regularly for updates.
- 25Live
- Banner Self-Service
- Class Rosters
- ContractFlow
- Employee Directory
- Everbridge
- IST Service Desk
- Library Services
- Nexus
- Parking Services
- Procurement/Purchasing
- SchoolDude
- Zoom
An individual’s legal name will still be used on University records and systems where a legal name is required to be used by law or University policy, including, but not limited to, the following:
- Admissions records
- Diplomas, transcripts, and registration records
- Disciplinary records
- Employment records, paystubs, and paychecks
- Enrollment and degree verification certificates
- Financial aid & billing records
- Immigration documents
- Health, medical, and insurance records
- Official forms or correspondence from the University such as financial aid awards, residence life contracts, departmental or program notices, and new hire forms
- Registrar’s office records
- Tax Records
- Time entry system
- Transfer credit evaluation
It depends on the nature of the print mail, if it relates to or includes any legal documents it will reflect the legal name (please reference list above).
An individual may update their preferred name as often as they see necessary. Students and employees should be aware that changing their preferred name multiple times may lead to identification issues and errors/inconsistencies in relevant systems, reports, files, and reporting.