Lesley community members can choose how they want their name displayed by indicating a chosen name.
Indicating a chosen name is not a legal name change. A formal legal name change must be supported by legal documentation (birth certificate, marriage certificate, passport, driver’s license, or court order, for example) and is done through the applicable office, such as the Registrar’s Office or the Office of Human Resources.
Chosen name vs. legal name at Lesley
A chosen name is a first, middle, or last name you choose — other than your legal name — to better reflect how you wish to identify. Once a chosen name has been recorded, it can take up to 72 hours to display in all university systems.
Your chosen name appears in:
- Blackboard/myLesley
- Course rosters for students
- Outlook email display name
- Lesley ID cards
- Self-Service
A legal name is the name verified by a birth certificate, marriage certificate, passport, driver’s license, or court order, for example.
Your legal name still appears in:
- Financial aid documents
- Student bill and other student financial documents
- Official and unofficial transcripts
- Enrollment verification
- Payroll
- Immigration documents
- Health Services
- Human Resources / Workday
Examples of chosen names
The following list provides examples of appropriate chosen name options:
- A shortened version of the legal name (for example, Christine to “Chris”)
- Initials (David Craig to “D. C.”; Mary Ann to “M.A.”; Teresa Luisa to “T.L.”)
- A different name than the legal name (Craig to “Christy”; Cristina to “Cory”; Lenira to “Remi”)
Even when you use a chosen name, the university uses your legal name wherever it is currently required for legal purposes, which may include, but is not limited to: financial, medical, and law enforcement documents, transcripts, diplomas, W-4 forms, I-9 forms, payroll documents, visa/immigration documents, personnel files, employment applications and related documents, background check documents, and insurance documents.
Re-issuance of IDs
If you already have an ID card and later request a name change, Campus Services will issue a new ID card free of charge, provided you turn in the old ID. If the old ID cannot be turned in, it is considered lost or misplaced and a fee will be charged.
Fees are charged for new ID cards when:
- Lost or misplaced ID — $25.00
- Damaged ID card — $25.00
- Requested name change after receiving initial card – fee waived
Current limitations
Currently, some technological limitations prevent university systems from being able to do the following:
- Display accents and symbols associated with the proper spelling and pronunciation of names
- Change the Lesley username and email address to reflect the chosen name
Considerations for name selection
The university reserves the right to refuse a chosen name if it reflects the use of profane words or other words deemed derogatory in nature.
How to enter your chosen name
- Log into Self-Service at lesley.edu/selfservice.
- Navigate to either the User Options (person) icon in the left navigation column and select User Profile from the menu, or click on your username in the upper right and select User Profile from the menu.
- Click on Edit Personal Identity.
- Fill out the form with your chosen first, middle, and/or last name.
Once a chosen name has been recorded, it can take up to 72 hours to display in the applicable university systems.