Preferred First Name
North Carolina A&T State University practices inclusive strategies to ensure employees (faculty, staff, and administrators), and students have opportunities to thrive in a community that supports their identities and aspirations. As such, the University recognizes that employees and students may prefer to use another first name to identify themselves at NC A&T. The preferred first name cannot contain inappropriate or offensive language or be a misrepresentation of the person requesting the use of the preferred first name (See Equal Opportunity University Policy 211, Preferred First Name).
The preferred first name will appear instead of the legal first name in many university systems and documents as additional systems in the future are identified for preferred first name capabilities. The current systems are as follows:
STUDENTS
Students’ preferred first names will appear in the following locations:
- Aggie OneCard (identification cards);
- Blackboard (Learning Management System);
- Residential Management System (RMS);
- Aggies Nav/EAB Navigate (Early alert system.
EMPLOYEES
Employees’ preferred first names will appear in the following locations:
- Aggie OneCard (identification cards);
- Blackboard (Learning Management System).
FAQs
Your legal name will continue to be used on official university records, including but not limited to the following:
- Legal documents and reports produced by the University
- Student Account Statement (bills)
- Financial Aid and Scholarship documents
- Transcripts and diplomas
- Enrollment Verifications
- Student employment documents
- Employment Verifications
- Employment documents
- Paychecks, W2s, and other payroll documents
- Benefits enrollment
The process to request a preferred first name is as follows:
- Students and employees may designate a preferred first name as part of an initial application for admission or employment.
- Current students and employees may request the use of a preferred first name by completing and submitting the request form available online.
- The University’s Executive Diversity and Inclusion Officer will review preferred first name requests to ensure compliance with the criteria set forth in the Preferred First Name policy.
- Individuals will be notified in writing via University email of the approval or denial of a request for the use of a preferred first name. If the request is denied, the notification will include the reason for the denial and contain instructions for requesting an appeal of the denial.
- Individuals denied the use of a preferred first name may submit an appeal within 30 calendar days of the denial to the Executive Diversity and Inclusion Officer for review by the Preferred Name Committee.
You have seven days to amend your request after receiving the initial email that your name was non-permissible. Upon reviewing the amended request, the Executive Diversity and Inclusion Officer will provide notification of submission of a permissible or non-permissible preferred first name. If found non-permissible on the second review, a third review may be requested in writing of the Preferred First Name Committee.
Written requests for review must be submitted within 30 days of the denial to:
Mail:
Office of Diversity Equity Inclusion and Belonging
1020 E. Wendover Avenue, Suite 109
Greensboro, NC 27405
Email:
Content of the written request:
The written request for review must:
(1) be dated;
(2) signed by the student or employee; and
(3) set forth the reasons for the appeal and desired outcome;
Students or employees are asked to start with a dialogue on the use of their preference to be called by their preferred first name. In cases of long-standing relationships, your legal name may be used accidentally based on your relationship. The purpose of the dialogue is not to be confrontational, but informative about your preference.
If you continue to have the experience, fill out the Bias Incident Form completely and accurately. Issues that involve employees will be reported to their direct supervisor and students will be to the Dean of Students.
Students or employees that wish to change their name on official legal records must provide appropriate documentation of a legal name change, typically a court order. An individual seeking to obtain a legal name change must follow requirements as set forth by the individual’s state and county of residence. NC A&T cannot change an individual’s legal name.
The submission of the name change form and legal documentation must be dropped off for processing at the following offices:
For Employees:
You may pick up a form from the office or fill out the for out and return it to:
Division of Human Resources
1020 East Wendover Avenue, Suite 109
For Students:
You may pick up a form and return it to:
Office of the Registrar
107 Dowdy Administration Building