During your time at New York University or following graduation, you may need to change your personal information with our offices. This might include changing your legal name, gender identity, or social security number.

We’ve provided a breakdown of our policies regarding the following actions.

Learn more about changing your:

Legal/Primary Name

All official University documents - including but not limited to transcripts, verifications, diplomas, financial aid-related documentation and communications, and visa/travel  documentation and communications - will reflect your legal name (as it appears on a legal or government issued document such as birth certificate, social security card, court order, passport, etc.).

Legal name is referred to as “primary name” in Albert.

Primary names in Albert cannot be changed without a certified court order, marriage license, divorce decree, birth certificate, or passport reflecting the new legal name.

You’re responsible for updating their primary name on their University records if you legally change your name while in attendance at NYU.

Please contact us via email or at (212) 998-4280, with any questions regarding this policy and process.

Disclaimer: This policy does not form a contract of any kind and may be modified, changed, altered, or rescinded by NYU at its discretion.

Chosen/ Preferred Name

NYU recognizes that some students prefer to use names other than their legal names to identify themselves. If you have another name you prefer to use other than your legal name, you can change this information in Albert.

You can use a chosen/ preferred name as long as it isn’t used for purposes of misrepresentation, avoiding legal obligation, or the use of offensive or derogatory language. We reserve the right to deny or remove, without notice, your use of a chosen/ preferred name that violates any of these purposes.

Your chosen/ preferred name will be used except in cases where the use of your legal name is necessary to university business and/or legal requirements.

Your chosen/ preferred name will display on:

  • Albert Student Center
  • Class and grade rosters in Albert and NYU classes
  • NYU Connect
  • StudentLink
  • ServiceLink
  • Systems that use the NYU NetID and password authentication
  • Albert Mobile Guest Users portal
  • Your NYU Card

If you are a new student you should check your NYU Albert student center to make sure your chosen/ preferred name matches what you want to appear on the NYU Card.

Please contact us via email or at (212) 998-4280, with any questions regarding this policy and process.

Please note: 

  • Using a chosen/ preferred name is not the same as legally changing your name through the courts. You may be challenged when asked to provide proof of legal name and/or identity for employment or government purposes, such as obtaining a passport.
  • Your chosen/ preferred name may be disclosed as “directory information” unless you refuse to permit such disclosure. Read more about this through NYU’s Guidelines for Compliance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).

Disclaimer: This policy does not form a contract of any kind and may be modified, changed, altered, or rescinded by NYU at its discretion.

Diploma Name

The name displayed on your diploma will be your legal name as it appears on your transcript.

You can also elect to add your middle name or initial, an accent, or a diacritic to your name on your diploma.

Alumni Name

As an alumnus of New York University, you can change your name because of marriage, divorce, naturalization, or a court-ordered change of name. 

To request a change to your alumni name, you should fill out the Change of Student Information form and submit it with one of the following documents that indicate the legal change to your new name:

  • Court order
  • Marriage certificate
  • Divorce document
  • Birth certificate
  • Passport

After updating your name on record, to receive a diploma with your new name printed on it, please follow the instructions provided on our Diploma page.

Please contact Academic & Graduation Records via email or at (212) 998-4280, with any questions regarding this policy and process.  

Social Security Number

You can update your Social Security number if you:

  • Received a Social Security number for the first time.
  • Did not include your Social Security number on your initial application to NYU
  • Need to correct a data entry error

To update your Social Security number you must visit StudentLink in person and bring a Change of Student Information form and your original Social Security Card.

If you are an employee at NYU, you must contact HR to make the change in their system.

Please contact us via email or at (212) 998-4280, with any questions regarding this policy and process.

Legal Sex

  • Students who update their legal sex may have it updated in Albert by submitting one of the following documents that reflect the new gender marker in addition to the Change of Student Information form:
    • A letter of support signed by a physician, psychologist, or psychiatrist, life counselor, social worker, or other professional on their letterhead 
    • A birth certificate or court order
    • A valid driver's license or passpor.
  • Definitions
    • Legal Sex: Legal sex refers to the gender marker listed on government-issued identification and documents.
  • Please contact us via email or at (212) 998-4280, with any questions regarding this policy and process.

Disclaimer: This policy does not form a contract of any kind and may be modified, changed, altered, or rescinded by NYU at its discretion.

Gender Identity

You can indicate and edit your gender identity in NYU Albert. 

NYU uses the following definition regarding gender identity:

  • Gender identity: The gender with which a person identifies (i.e., whether one uses man, woman, or more individualized terminology to describe oneself). One's gender identity may or may not differ from one's legal sex which is assigned at birth based on biological characteristics.

Please note: Changing your gender identity in Albert is not the same as changing your legal sex through the courts or through a birth certificate in some states. The government and some employers may require a person to identify their legal sex, and challenge or not recognize a student’s gender identity.

Please contact us via email or at (212) 998-4280, with any questions regarding this policy and process.

Disclaimer: This policy does not form a contract of any kind and may be modified, changed, altered, or rescinded by NYU at its discretion.

Pronouns

  • Pronouns are how a person wants to be referred to in the third person. Examples of pronouns include, but are not limited to:
    • She, her, hers
    • He, him, his
    • They, them, their
    • They, she, and he (used interchangeably)
    • They, them, their and she, her, her (used interchangeably) 
    • They, them, their and he, him, his (used interchangeably) 
    • Ze, hir, hirs
    • No pronouns - use my name only
    • Any pronouns
    • Ask me my pronouns
  • By indicating their pronouns, students can have this information displayed to faculty, advisors, and administrators in Albert, as well as other NYU systems. 
  • Students can also opt out of having their pronouns viewed by their instructors, in case they feel more comfortable sharing their pronouns outside of the classroom.
  • Faculty, advisors, and administrators are encouraged to refer to Albert and other NYU systems to respect students' pronouns if indicated so as to recognize their sense of self and affirm the humanity of all members of our community.
  • Using an individual’s pronouns correctly is a way to continue to practice inclusion and foster belonging at NYU.

Please contact pronouns@nyu.edu with any questions.

Learn more about pronouns and inclusive classroom practices.

Name Pronunciation

  • Students can record the pronunciation of their name in their Albert Student Center.
  • By recording their name, students can share the pronunciation with their faculty, advisors, and administrators in Albert, as well as other NYU systems.
  • Faculty, advisors, and administrators are encouraged to refer to Albert and other NYU systems to listen to a student’s name if available.

Please contact albert@nyu.edu with any questions.