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Managing Your Name and Identity Data at UC Santa Cruz

This guide provides instructions for updating your name and other data to what you wish to be used and displayed.

With the implementation of the Gender Recognition and Lived Name (GRLN) Policy,  your lived name should be displayed and used across all UC Santa Cruz technology systems unless a legal name is required. See the ITS GRLN project page for more information.

Changes made in MyUCSC and UCPath will not be reflected in other campus systems immediately. It may take up to 48 hours for changes made in MyUCSC and UCPath to appear in the Campus Directory. 

How to update your lived name and gender identity


Students 

  • MyUCSC: Admitted, current, and prior students can update their lived name and gender identity in MyUCSC. 
    • Lived names are visible throughout MyUCSC, but specifically the Student Center used by staff and students, on the class and grade rosters used by faculty, instructors and teaching assistants, on the Degree Progress Report (DPR) used by you and your advisors, on Canvas class rosters, and on the Campus Directory. 
    • Lived Name: Log into MyUCSC and select the Personal Information tile. Select Names from the left side menu.
    • Gender Identity: Log into MyUCSC and select the Personal Information tile. Select Gender Identity/My Pronoun.
    • Pronouns: Log into MyUCSC and select the Personal Information tile. Select Gender Identity/My Pronoun and then select the My Pronoun tab.If you provide a pronoun, your pronoun will be visible to advisers, faculty, and staff in MyUCSC and on class rosters. Your pronoun will also be displayed in the Campus Directory if you check the "Publish my pronoun in the campus directory" box.
    • FAQs for Students: Personal and Privacy Information from the UC Santa Cruz Office of the Registrar.
  • CruzID: If a student has a CruzID that is not aligned with their lived name, a CruzID rename can be requested.
  • Google Email Alias: Students may also request a Google Email Alias, which is an alternate email address associated with your UC Santa Cruz Google email address. You can use it to send and receive email, but it doesn't change your CruzID.
  • Student ID Card Changes: Current students wishing to change their identity and/or lived name can request a new Student ID card at no cost once their name is updated in MyUCSC.
  • Current students who are also current employees should review the Faculty and Staff information. MyUCSC is the primary source of name information for the campus for people who are both current students and employees.

Faculty and Staff, including Student Employees

  • UCPath: Faculty and staff can update their lived name and gender in UCPath following the guidance below.  Most technology systems at UC Santa Cruz, including the Campus Directory, display your lived name from UCPath.
    • Lived Name
      • Log in to UCPath
      • Navigate to: Employee Actions > Personal Information > Personal Information Summary
      • Answer your security question
      • Click the down arrow next to Legal Name/Name to expand the section
      • Click your name information to access the Legal Name/Name Change screen
      • On the Legal Name/Name Change screen, click the gray Edit Legal Name/Name button. This will display what your names are set to in UCPath. 
      • Scroll down to Name to edit your first, middle, or last name. Do not edit the fields under Legal Name. Note that the Preview reflects how your lived and legal name will appear in UCPath, but other UC Santa Cruz technology services will also incorporate your middle name when sourcing your lived name from UCPath. If you’d prefer your middle name to not appear in those systems, delete any information in the Middle Name field.
      • Click OK to save changes. Once these changes are made, you should see the updates in the Campus Directory the following day.  Other technology systems may take 24-48 hours to reflect your updates.
    • Gender Identity: In Employee Actions > Personal Information > Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation, update voluntary gender identity information.
    • Pronouns: UC employees will have the ability to designate pronouns in UCPath by the end of Summer 2024. Employees can provide their pronouns by updating their campus directory information currently.
  • Campus Directory: Faculty and staff can update their Campus Directory information with their pronouns, with changes reflected immediately. The Campus Directory displays your lived name from UCPath
  • CruzID: If faculty or staff have a CruzID that is not aligned with their lived name, a CruzID rename can be requested.
  • Google Email Alias: Faculty and staff may also request a Google Email Alias, which is an alternate email address associated with your UC Santa Cruz Google email address. You can use it to send and receive email, but it doesn't change your CruzID.
  • MyUCSC: Faculty and staff who use MyUCSC in their roles can change their Lived Name in MyUCSC, which is displayed in the Schedule of Classes and throughout MyUCSC. Select the NavBar (compass) icon in the top right and select Self Service > My Personal Information > Names. Name changes made in UCPath will not be reflected in MyUCSC for faculty and staff, nor will your MyUCSC Lived Name be shared with any other campus systems. 
  • Faculty and staff who are also current students should review the Student information.

How to update your legal name

Some documents and business processes at UC Santa Cruz that may require the use of a legal name include financial aid, payroll documents, tax documents, bills for payment, or medical identification and records. The Gender Recognition and Lived Name Policy describes when legal names may be required and who may have access to them.

Updating your legal name at UC Santa Cruz


Students

Faculty and Staff, including Student Employees

  • Employees who require a legal name change can update their name directly in UCPath following this guidance. You must update your legal name with the appropriate Federal agencies, such as the Social Security Administration, before you submit a request to change your legal name in UCPath.
  • If you need to change both your legal and lived names in UCPath, one change must be requested and approved before the other request can be initiated.
  • Changing your legal name in UCPath will not cause your name to be updated in AIS/MyUCSC. If you are faculty or staff and did not attend UC Santa Cruz and you want to change your legal name in MyUCSC, email registrar@ucsc.edu.
  • Prior students who are currently employed by UC Santa Cruz in faculty or staff roles and require a legal name change for their current employment role can update their name directly in UCPath. Updates made in UCPath will not be reflected on student records.

Changing your legal name in California

Additional Resources