Updating Preferred Name

Whitman College recognizes that some members of its community use a name other than their legal names to identify themselves. As long as the use of this different name is not for the purpose of misrepresentation, the college allows students, faculty and staff to use a first name different from their legal name on certain college records.

Students: How to Update Your Preferred Name

Students can submit a preferred name change request in the profile section of MyWhitman, using the Identity Information form.

Please note: Changing your preferred name for certain records does not change your legal first name. Below is a listing of all of the areas in which your preferred name will appear once changed:

• MyWhitman search
• WhitMail
• Class rosters (MyWhitman)
• Faculty advisee lists
• ID card (You can request a reprinted card from Security)

Students who have had their name legally changed should complete a name/address change form. Your new legal name will appear on ALL college documentation listed above.

Faculty & Staff: How to Update Your Preferred Name

Faculty and staff can submit a preferred name change request in the profile section of MyWhitman, using the Identity Information form.

Please note: Changing your preferred name for certain records does not change your legal first name. Below is a listing of all of the areas in which your preferred name will appear once changed:

• MyWhitman search
• WhitMail
• Class rosters (MyWhitman)
• ID card (You can request a reprinted card from Security)

Your legal name will continue to appear on official college records and correspondence, payroll and tax documents. If you find that your name displaying in a manner that doesn’t align with this information, please contact et@whitman.edu with your name and the location where it is displayed.

Faculty and staff who have had their name legally changed should contact HR. Your new legal name will appear on ALL college documentation listed above.

If your old information persists after the change with some senders, they may have a copy in their personal contacts. As these are specific to the individual account, it is not something IT can edit. The sender will need to remove the old information from their personal contacts.