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.

To change your legal or primary name, you need to follow a few simple steps.

Fill out the Change of Student Information form (PDF: 422 KB) and submit it with one of the following documents that indicate the legal change for your new name:

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

The form and document can be submitted in a number of ways, including:

• In person at StudentLink
• By email to: registrar@nyu.edu
• By fax to: 212-995-4154
• By mail to: P.O. Box 910, New York, NY 10276-0910

Please note: If you submit your documents by fax, mail, or from a non-NYU email address, they must each be notarized.

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Disclaimer: This policy does not form a contract of any kind and may be modified, changed, altered, or rescinded by NYU at its discretion.

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.

Changing to a chosen/preferred name in NYU Albert:

• In the "Personal Information" section, click the "Edit Preferred Name" link
• Click the "Add a New Name" button
• Select preferred from the “name type” dropdown menu
• Enter your preferred name
• Click "Save"

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
• Your NYU Card
• When you enter a preferred name in Albert it will sync overnight to other systems you log in with using your NYU NetID, such as NYU Classes, ServiceLink, Google Apps and more.

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).

If your chosen/preferred name is not displaying correctly in your NYU Gmail:

• Click the setting gear in Gmail (top right, gear icon)
• Click the “accounts” tap
• Click on the “edit info” link to the right of “Send email as.” You can edit how your name displays through the popup.

Disclaimer: This policy does not form a contract of any kind and may be modified, changed, altered, or rescinded by NYU at its discretion.

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

By default, your "primary" name (as it is entered in Albert and as it appears on your NYU transcript) is printed on your diploma. You can elect to have your chosen/preferred name (as it is entered in Albert) printed on your diploma by updating the Diploma Options page in your Student Center before your conferral date.  

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

Important Notes:

• Although NYU considers the diploma to be a ceremonial document, some countries may require your diploma (along with your official transcript) for various legal, immigration, and employment purposes. Choosing to print your chosen/preferred name on your diploma may result in unforeseen complications due to the discrepancy between your diploma and other documents (e.g. transcript, passport, birth certificate, etc.) that contain your "primary" (i.e. legal) name. To avoid such complications, we recommend printing your "primary" name on your diploma if you plan to live, study, or work outside of the United States.
• For Students of Professional Schools (e.g. Law, Medicine, Nursing, Dentistry): Before opting to print your chosen/preferred name on your NYU diploma, please take into consideration that professional licensing requirements often require you to use your legal name. For example, State Bar application and licensure and federal employment/guidelines require the use of the legal name. Therefore, not using your "primary" legal name on a diploma may result in the rejection, delay, scrutiny, and/or requirements for additional proof of identification associated with any applications for employment, licensure, credentialing, visa applications, and/or other processes that require verification of your education records.

As an alumnus of New York University, you can change your name because of marriage, divorce, naturalization, or a court-ordered change of name.  Review NYU's policy regarding alumni name changes.

To request a change to your alumni name, you should fill out the Change of Student Information form (PDF: 422 KB) 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

Documentation should include both your old and your new name.

The form and document can be submitted in a number of ways, including:

• In person at StudentLink
• By email to: registrar@nyu.edu
• By fax to: 212-995-4154
• By mail to: P.O. Box 910, New York, NY 10276-0910

Please note: If you submit your documents by fax, mail, or from a non-NYU email address, they must each be notarized.

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) 998-4260 with any questions regarding this policy and process. 

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 (PDF: 422 KB) 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.

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 (PDF: 422 KB):

• 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 passport.

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.

You can indicate and edit your gender identity in NYU Albert under “Personal Info.”   

• 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.
• Legal sex is a person’s sex as currently indicated on a birth certificate, passport, or other official document. It may differ from one’s gender identity and/or sex assigned at birth. 

What is the difference between gender identity and legal sex in Albert?

• Gender identity is an optional data field. You can elect to indicate your gender identity in Albert if you would like and can change it at any time. It is for internal use only.
• Legal sex is a required data field. It is obtained from your initial admissions application and is used for reporting to state and federal agencies.

What gender identities are available to select in Albert?

• Woman identified (someone who identifies as a woman).
• Man identified (someone who identifies as a man).
• Non-binary (A person whose gender identity is neither man nor woman, is between or beyond genders, or is some combination of genders. This identity is usually related to or in reaction to the social construction of gender, gender stereotypes and the gender binary system; also referred to as genderqueer or genderfluid).
• You can also opt to leave the field blank.

Who can and cannot see my gender identity and legal sex in Albert?

Who can see:

• Students can see their own gender identity and legal sex in their Student Center.
• Advisors can see the gender identity and legal sex of their advisees.
• University administrators can see the gender identity and legal sex of all students.

Who cannot see:

• Faculty do not see gender identity and legal sex of any student.

How do I change my gender identity in Albert?

• You can indicate and edit your gender identity in NYU Albert under “Personal Info.”   

How does changing my gender identity in Albert affect my housing assignment?

• It does not. Room assignments are made by New York University on the basis of the legal sex of the student, which is the sex that appears on government issued IDs and as recorded in Albert. NYU does offer Gender Inclusive Housing options that allow students to be assigned without regard to their legal sex. If you want to request to be assigned housing based on your gender identity or without regard legal sex, you may indicate that option on the existing housing application. You will also have the option to indicate if you have a preferred first name in addition to your legal name as it appears on the application.

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 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

The Pronouns Toolkit provides resources and practices for integrating pronouns and gender inclusive language in your daily life.

Students

Students can access the pronouns and name pronunciation features via Albert from the Personal Info page. By indicating their pronouns, students can have this information displayed to faculty, advisors, and administrators in Albert, as well as other NYU systems. 

Clicking on the "Indicate My Pronouns" or the "Name Recording" link will open the page for both.

Select your pronouns and decide whether or not you want them used in the classroom.

You can record your name using a web recorder (microphone on your computer) or with a phone.

Make sure to click "Submit Changes" once you are done and close out of the page. Keep in mind that it may take up to 24 hours for your pronouns to display in Albert.

Watch the step-by-step video to choose your pronouns and record your name.

Faculty

Currently, faculty are unable to add their own pronouns.

For students that have indicated their pronouns should be used in 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. Rosters will be updated nightly should students add/update their information, so be sure to check back often.

Pronouns will also display on class rosters with photos and printer-friendly class rosters.

NYU Home internal directory also displays pronouns and name recordings.

Advisors

Advisors can see the pronouns of students they advise on advisee cards in Albert.  Next to a students pronouns it will also be noted whether or not the student has opt-ed out of their pronouns being displayed to faculty.

Advisors can access pronouns and name recordings for students they do not advise by using the View Data for Other Students link and going to the Demographic Data page for a student.

Administrators

Administrators can access pronouns and name recordings on the Student Services Center page by the "Demographic Data" link.  Next to a student's pronouns it will also be noted whether or not the student has opted out of their pronouns being displayed to faculty.

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.

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.