Chosen Name and Gender Identity @ UNK

FERPA protects students’ data. Legal sex, gender identity, pronouns, and chosen name are not considered directory information and will not be disclosed to parties outside the University system. Students may grant guest access to their student account information to another person; however, legal sex, gender identity, pronouns, and chosen name are not viewable by guests. However, students should note that parents or guardians may access this information if they have the login credentials to review a student's admission application or campus dashboard.

UNK will provide the legal sex when required except where gender identity is needed by regulation, or the approval of gender identity has been granted.  The data elements for legal sex are Male [M], Female [F], Intersex and/or Nonbinary [X].

Gender identity data is only available to a limited number of staff. All others seeking aggregate or individual data must submit a request for student information to the University Registrar and to the campus Compliance Office for employee information.

Gender identity is 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.

Pronouns are an optional data element intended to support communications and interactions between individuals on campus.

Gender identity is an optional data element. You can elect to indicate your gender identity in MyBLUE 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.

You can enter and edit your gender identity under Profile in MyBLUE. Instructions can be found here.

To change the legal sex data element, submit legal documentation to the Office of the University Registrar. Legal documentation may include a Nebraska Driver’s License, copy of a Certification of Sex Reassignment DMV form, a Birth Certificate or Passport with your identified sex.

• He.him.his: www.mypronouns.org/he-him pronouns most associated with boys and men/masculinity
• He.they: pronouns associated with trans men and nonbinary or gender queer individuals who identify as trans or nonbinary or gender queer and also as masculine.
• No pronouns – use my name: responding to this question is optional. If you prefer to use your name, select this option.
• Prefer not to answer: responding to this question is optional. If the pronouns you want used for you are not listed, or you do not want pronouns used for you, you can choose this option.
• She.her.hers: www.mypronouns.org/she-her pronouns most associated with girls, women/femininity
• She.they: pronouns associated with trans women and nonbinary or gender queer individuals who identify as trans or nonbinary or gender queer and also as feminine
• They.them.theirs: www.mypronouns.org/they-them Pronouns that are considered gender neutral and are also used as a plural pronoun. A person who goes by “they” may identify as a man, a woman, both, neither, or something else entirely.
• Ze.hir.hirs and Ze,zir.zirs: www.mypronouns.org/ze-hir A gender neutral pronoun. Please note that “ze” is usually pronounced with a long “e” and that “hir” and its forms are usually pronounced like the English word “here.” Instead of ze/hir pronouns, some people go by "ze/zir" pronouns because of the more consistent pronunciation and spelling.

You can enter and edit your pronouns under Profile in MyBLUE. Instructions can be found here.

Instances in which pronouns may be displayed include, but are subject to change and not limited to:

• Class Rosters 
• Grade Rosters 
• Advising Lists 
• Learning Management Systems 
• Campus Dashboard Profile 
• Degree Audit System

While students, faculty, and staff are required to provide their full legal name at the time of admission or hiring, they can indicate how they would like to be addressed within the campus community regardless of their legal name. Therefore, if the use of an individual’s chosen name is not for the purposes of misrepresentation or falsification, it will be accommodated for campus use and documents except where the use of the individual’s legal name is required for University business or legal need.

The legal name is the name that appears on an individual’s passport, driver’s license, birth certificate, or U.S. Social Security Card. Students, faculty, and staff are required to provide their full legal name at the time of admission or hiring.

Students may designate a chosen first name, middle name, and last name within the campus dashboard. Instructions can be found here.

Faculty and staff may designate a chosen first name and last name within Firefly, the employee self-service portal. No legal documentation is required to make a change to the chosen name.

Instances in which Chosen Names may be displayed include, but are subject to change and not limited to:

• Class Rosters 
• Grade Rosters 
• Degree Audit
• Learning Management Systems 
• University on-line Searches/Directories (generally these directories are available to the public) 
• Official University Email Name and Address 
• Honors and Awards eg: Dean’s and Chancellor’s List, Certificates 
  Campus/University ID Cards (Front) 
• Human Resources, Student Information, and Business Systems, where applicable 
• Where Legal Name is Not Required

To change the legal name on your academic records, submit legal documentation to the Office of the University Registrar. Legal documentation may include Certificate of Marriage, Court Order or Decree, Driver’s License, Passport/Visa, or any other official government document.

To change the legal name on your employment records, provide a copy of your Social Security Card to your campus Human Resources office. Instances in which legal name will be used include, but are subject to change and not limited to:

Instances in which legal name will be used include, but are subject to change and not limited to:

• Official and Unofficial Transcripts 
• Student Clearinghouse 
• IRS Documentation (e.g., 1098-T, W2, 1095C) 
• Scholarship and Financial Aid Processing 
• Student Consolidated Bill 
• Campus/University ID Cards (Back) 
• Human Resources Data (e.g., Payroll Records, Insurance Data, I-9)
• Requests for Directory Information from Third Parties 
• Data Transmitted to Governmental Agencies or Servicing Agencies 
• When Required by Law

When can we provide this information?
We plan to have the ability to capture and store the new data elements for students, faculty and staff beginning August 1, 2021.

How will the student data be used?
By collecting aggregate data on pronouns and gender identity, the University will be able to analyze the success of the University’s efforts related to the recruitment, enrollment, retention, and academic success of the LGBTQA+ demographic. This, in turn, will help the University better understand campus community needs and to provide the data needed to inform the creation or expansion of beneficial resources and services.

Is the University encouraging and/or endorsing an LGBTQA+ culture?
The University is dedicated to ensuring a welcoming and safe environment for all faculty, staff, instruments. By recognizing or including pronouns on the admissions application, the University is indicating an acceptance and understanding of the needs of students starting with their first interaction with the University.

How will identifying a student applicant’s pronouns affect their opportunities for admission?
Choosing to answer or decline these optional identification questions does not impact an admission decision. This information is gathered strictly for the purpose of understanding the needs of students and to share University resources.

What if these questions deter students from applying or cause anxiety and stress?
These questions are optional, which allows students to answer only if they are comfortable sharing this information. Students who choose not to disclose pronouns will not be penalized in any way.

What if students change their pronouns after applying?
Students may go to their campus dashboard to adjust this information during their time as a University student. The University recognizes that students continually experience growth in their identities.

Will other students see my information in the Learning Management System (Canvas)?
Pronouns and Chosen Name may display in several locations in the Learning Management System (Canvas) such as Inbox, Discussions, User Navigation Menu, User Profile, and User Settings. This means you will see students’ chosen names and/or pronouns, and other students will see your chosen name and pronouns.

What if I change my chosen name, gender identity, and/or pronouns in the campus dashboard, will my parents/guardians find out?
If you grant a parent (or other person) guest access to your student account information, they will not see your legal sex, gender identity, pronouns, and chosen name. However, students should note that parents or guardians may access this information, if they have the student’s login credentials to review an admission application or campus dashboard.

How will faculty/staff data be used?
By collecting aggregate data on our faculty/staff pronouns and gender identity, the University will be better able to provide resources, programs, and services to further an inclusive environment at the University.

If a change is made to chosen name, how do faculty/staff manage their email name?

• Email changes will need to be addressed with NU Information Technology Services.
• UNK - support@nebraska.edu

If I have a question regarding any of the above information, who can I contact?
The campus Registrar or campus Human Resource Department can assist you.
University of Nebraska at Kearney:

• UNK Registrar’s Office - Name Change
• Office of Diversity and Inclusion
• Gender & Sexuality Resource Office

Employees email Human Resources Office: humanresources@unk.edu