Identity

How it's Used

CU classifies a student's legal name as their primary name, which is associated with official records and accounts. Your primary name appears in official university systems and records, including but not limited to:

• Official academic transcripts
• Enrollment and degree verifications
• Billing and financial aid records
• Health insurance records
• Housing contracts
• Military and veterans services
• Passport names for international students
• Most student screens in Campus Solutions (CU-SIS)

How to Change Your Primary Name

Submit a completed Name Change & Record Update form, along with supporting legal documentation, to the Office of the Registrar. Documented proof of a legal name change, before and after, can include your driver's license, military ID, birth certificate or court documentation that provides proof of the name change.

The following university systems and records require additional steps to update your preferred or primary name.

Email

• Display Name: To change the name displayed in the "from" line of email messages, contact OIT at 303-724-HELP.
• Alias: To request an update to your email alias (the part of your email address before @), contact OIT at 303-724-HELP.
• Campus Directory (online student lookup): The campus directory publishes the display name from the Identity Management system.

Preferred Name/Nickname Policy for CU Anschutz ID Badge

This policy covers only Preferred First Name/Nickname. It does not include Surnames which can only be changed with a legal name change.

The Security Badging Office (SBO) allows use of a Preferred Name/Nickname on a CU Anschutz ID badge instead of a Legal First Name. New employees or students who wish to have their Preferred Name/Nickname printed on their ID badge, should request it through the school program coordinator/approver or the department badge approver, who should in turn notify the SBO. If one has already been issued a badge, he or she should contact the SBO for the name change.

Security Badging Office Location, Hours & Contact Information:

Our office is located in the Fitzsimons Building, Room N1207, and our office hours are: Monday-Thursday 8:00am to 4:00pm and Friday 8:00am to 12:30pm.

Contact Information:

Phone: 303-724-0399

Email: Security.BadgeOffice@ucdenver.edu

Contact the Office of the Registrar for instructions on updating your primary or preferred name for university systems and processes not listed here.

• Display Name: To change the name displayed in the "from" line of email messages, contact OIT at 303-724-HELP.
• Alias: To request an update to your email alias (the part of your email address before @), contact OIT at 303-724-HELP.

• Campus Directory (online student lookup): The campus directory publishes the display name from the Identity Management system.

Preferred Name/Nickname Policy for CU Anschutz ID Badge

This policy covers only Preferred First Name/Nickname. It does not include Surnames which can only be changed with a legal name change.

The Security Badging Office (SBO) allows use of a Preferred Name/Nickname on a CU Anschutz ID badge instead of a Legal First Name. New employees or students who wish to have their Preferred Name/Nickname printed on their ID badge, should request it through the school program coordinator/approver or the department badge approver, who should in turn notify the SBO. If one has already been issued a badge, he or she should contact the SBO for the name change.

Security Badging Office Location, Hours & Contact Information:

Our office is located in the Fitzsimons Building, Room N1207, and our office hours are: Monday-Thursday 8:00am to 4:00pm and Friday 8:00am to 12:30pm.

Contact Information:

Phone: 303-724-0399

Email: Security.BadgeOffice@ucdenver.edu

Contact the Office of the Registrar for instructions on updating your primary or preferred name for university systems and processes not listed here.

Note: The university reserves the right to remove any preferred name that is deemed to be inappropriate, derogatory or misrepresentation (e.g., student is attempting to avoid legal obligations or confuse their identity with that of another). Students may be subject to disciplinary action in accordance with the Student Code of Conduct.

Student-identified pronouns appear in class, grade and advising rosters and systems. Only authorized school officials (e.g., staff, advisors and others with a legitimate educational interest) have access to your pronoun settings.

Pronouns are not classified as directory information. Therefore, if a third party contacts CU and requests your pronouns, we won't release that information unless you've provided explicit consent for us to do so.

You may currently select from the following pronoun options:

• /her/hers
• he/him/his
• they/them/theirs
• ze/zir/zirs
• xe/xer/xers

The pronoun field is optional, and no documentation is required to designate your pronouns. Below are instructions on how to set your pronouns if you so choose.

1. Log in to your UCDAccess student portal.
2. In the Student Center tile, click on the Profile icon
   
3. Scroll down and click on Pronouns
4. Click to add your pronouns

 

Communication and training around the use of pronoun information is evolving on campus. If a faculty or staff member refers to you using incorrect pronouns, it is appropriate to tell them you've provided your pronouns to CU and that the Office of the Registrar can help them locate that information.

For more information on pronoun usage and other resources, please visit the CU Anschutz LGBTQ+ Hub.

Sex

Sex, also referred to as sex assigned at birth (i.e., male or female), demarcates the physical characteristics of male and female bodies and is typically included on original birth certificates. At CU, this data is requested and/or required for select business processes, including federal and state reporting, administering financial aid and processing international student statuses.

Gender identity

Gender identity reflects one's innermost concept of self as man, woman, blend of both, or neither. In other words, it's how individuals perceive themselves and what they call themselves. One's gender identity can be the same or different than their sex assigned at birth. CU recognizes that gender is not limited to, nor always congruent with, the binary categories available in legal sex and gender designations. If desired, you may self-identify as one of the following genders:

• agender/do not gender identify
• cisgender
• gender queer/non-conforming
• man/male
• non-binary
• not listed
• trans female/trans woman
• trans male/trans man
• two spirit
• woman/female

Sexual Orientation

Sexual orientation is an inherent or immutable, enduring emotional, romantic or sexual attraction to other people. CU will use this optional information to better analyze student success and retention data, to advocate for resources, and to provide adequate and appropriate services. If desired, you may self-identify as one of the following sexual orientations:

• asexual and/or aromantic
• bisexual/fluid
• gay
• heterosexual/straight
• lesbian
• not listed
• pansexual
• queer

Campus Usage

The collection and use of gender identity and sexual orientation data at CU is a new and evolving practice. Campus officials are analyzing systems and business processes that currently store and use student's assigned sex to determine appropriate and/or required use.

Please note that some campus departments or programs may ask you to provide sex, gender identity and sexual orientation information separately, because their systems don't interface with the main student system.

While sex (at birth) data is required for compliance with select business processes, it's always optional for you to provide gender identity and sexual orientation information. You may enter, edit or remove this data at any time through your student portal.

Data Privacy and Security

Sex, gender identity and sexual orientation data, including information about individuals who identify as LGBTQ, is protected by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). Access to this information through university systems is restricted to staff who have a legitimate educational interest and have completed student data privacy training.

Campus officials will primarily use this information in aggregate to make informed, data-driven decisions related to strategic resources and student support.

Inquiries and Concerns

If you believe your sex, gender identity or sexual orientation information is being accessed or used inappropriately, and/or if you have suggestions for appropriate use, please report your concerns or recommendations to the following CU Denver office(s) as appropriate:

• LGBTQ+ Hub (support, training, on-campus resources)
• Office of Equity (discrimination and harassment reports)
• Office of the Registrar (suggestions or concerns related to data usage)

The gender identity and sexual orientation fields are completely optional, and no documentation is required to designate them.

1. Log in to your UCDAccess student portal.
2. In the Student Center tile, click on the Profile icon
3. Scroll down and click on either Gender Identity or Sexual Orientation
4. Click to add your gender identity or sexual orientation

During the semester, simply:

1. Log in to your UCDAccess student profile.
2. In the Student Center tile, click on the Profile icon
3. In the pop-up menu, click on the type of information you want to update: Addresses, Email Addresses, Phone Numbers or Emergency Contact.
4. Follow the steps on the page to add, edit or delete (if allowed) your existing information.

If you don't have access to MyCUInfo, complete the Name Change & Record Update Request form and return it to the Office of the Registrar.

Personally identifiable information is secured and accessed only by school officials with a legitimate educational interest, per university policy and federal law. CU business offices use your SSN or TIN to match your credentials with state and federal databases to process your financial aid, tuition statements for tax purposes, student employment, College Opportunity Fund (COF) stipend and Selective Service verification, among other things.

Complete the Name Change & Record Update Form and submit it with the required documentation, such as a copy of your Social Security card, to the Office of the Registrar.

Do not email documentation that includes your SSN or TIN; instead fax, mail or deliver the form to the Office of the Registrar.