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Chosen First Name Policy

Viterbo University Chosen First Name Policy

Viterbo University recognizes that members of the campus community may prefer to identify by a first name other than their legal first name. For this reason, the University provides students and employees with an opportunity to use a Chosen Name where possible in the course of University business and education.

Definitions

Legal Name: A first name that appears on an individual’s passport, driver’s license, birth certificate, visa, military identification, or U.S. social security card.

Chosen First Name: A name that an individual wishes to be known or identified by in the University community that is different from their legal name; this can include nicknames, aliases, and/or chosen names. The use of profane, obscene, hate-speech-derived, offensive or derogatory names will not be permitted as a chosen first name.

Please note that changing your chosen first name for certain records does not change your legal first name with Viterbo University. Below is a listing of all of the areas in which your chosen first name will appear and areas in which your legal first name will appear. To change a legal name, a change of information form should be submitted to the Office of the Registrar and requires official documentation. Chosen first name can be changed in VitNet Self-Service or with a change of information form and does not require any official documentation.

Some areas Chosen First Name will appear:

  • Admissions Decision Letters
  • Honors Program Lists
  • Class Rosters
  • Faculty Advisee Lists
  • Degree Audit
  • Dean’s List
  • Diploma (based on how student completes the Graduation Application)
  • Moodle
  • Email Display Name
  • Residence Life Rosters
  • Athletics Rosters
  • Directory

Some areas Legal First Name will appear:

  • Financial Aid and Business Office Documents and Communication
  • Official and Unofficial Transcript
  • Federal Request for Information
  • Enrollment Verifications/National Student Clearinghouse
  • Health, Insurance, Medical Documents
  • Paychecks and Employment Paperwork
  • Tax Documents
  • Study Abroad and Study Away documents
  • International Student Visa Status
  • Student Identification Card*

*Recognizing that the Viterbo University Student Identification Card is a registered voter ID, these cards will display the student’s legal first name unless otherwise directed. Students may request an ID card displaying their chosen first name at no additional charge however, displaying the chosen first name will render the ID card ineligible for voter identification. To request a new ID card with chosen name, students should contact the Physical Plant.