SA R20 (2015-2016): Preferred Name on ID Card to Promote LGBTQ+ Inclusivity

Acknowledged by the President

• Resolution:
  SA R20 (2015-2016): Preferred Name on ID Card to Promote LGBTQ+ Inclusivity
• Day:
  December 23, 2015
• Action:
  Acknowledged by the President
• Summary / Notes:

  ..

• File Attachments:
• Text Attachment:

  Dear Juliana,
  
  Thank you for sharing SA Resolution 20: Campus Records to Promote LGBTQ+ Inclusivity. I appreciate the Student Assembly’s interest in creating a safer and more inclusive environment for LGBTQ+ students by allowing the use of a preferred name other than their legal name and indication of preferred gender identity on campus records. I strongly support the concept of these proposed changes and have directed the relevant offices to do their best to implement these changes as logistically possible.
  
  As you know, University Registrar Cassie Dembosky is chairing a work group on preferred gender and sexual identity related to student records and information systems. The work group has endorsed pursuing the use of preferred first and middle name on ID cards. Funding has been identified to support the changes needed in PeopleSoft, the ID card system, and Student Essentials to be able to implement this option for students, faculty, and staff. The work group is communicating with offices across campus regarding the logistics of the change, and anticipates this feature will be available by Summer 2016 if not sooner.
  
  Students can currently self-report preferred first and middle names via Student Essentials and Student Center. I encourage you to help publicize this opportunity to interested students, and have them contact the University Registrar if they run into any problems using this feature. The work group has endorsed the use of preferred first and middle names on internal university documents and reports where feasible, and preferred first names will appear on class and grade rosters as of Spring ’16 semester. The work group identified the need to continue to require legal documentation to make changes to primary names that are used on official documents and in reporting to federal agencies. In the case of transgender students, the Office of the University Registrar works with the LGBT Resource Center and Gannett University Health Services to change the primary name and binary gender without documentation.
  
  The university must, legally, continue to collect binary (male/female) gender for federal reporting purposes. The work group has endorsed the addition of gender identity and sexual orientation self-reporting options in Student Center and Student Essentials, and will be analyzing the details and logistics, including technology system changes, communications, and formal policies. I look forward to the work group’s implementation recommendations in Spring ’16 so that we can take steps to put these services in place.
  
  Again, thank you for your concern for LGBTQ+ students. I appreciate the SA’s commitment to inclusivity.
  
  Sincerely,
  
  Elizabeth Garrett