Fresno State has taken yet another step toward allowing students to use a preferred name throughout their education experience.
At the annual fall assembly, Fresno State President Dr. Joseph Castro said, “The LGBTQ community’s desire to allow students to select their name preference was put into action.”
Specifically, Castro meant it is now possible for students to have their preferred name on their Fresno State ID cards instead of their legal name as well as on their class and grade rosters. This means that students who prefer to use a name different from their legal name will be able to go to classes and sporting events without issue.
According to Shirley Armbruster, associate vice president of university communications, “Students can add a preferred name (first and middle) in PeopleSoft. They would log into the MyFresnoState portal to access their student center. Once there, they can click on My Personal Information and then click on ‘Names.’ That is where they can add a preferred first and middle name. It will take a day or two to get through to Blackboard and the ID card system.”
Changing to a preferred name will also alter class and grade rosters and student center.
However, changing your preferred name on your student center will not change your school email.
Jessica Adams, coordinator of gender and LGBTQ+ programs and services said, “It is a separate process. Updating your student center will not update your email. However, until the systems sync, or until Fresno State streamlines the process, students can contact me and I can assist them.”
Another item that will not change along with the student center are the school admissions and records. Adams said, “Yes, any legal accounts, including school records (degree/transcript) or finances can only be updated with a legal name change.”
Fresno State is still working toward making it easier for students to use the name they identify with, Adams said.
“The university is working with IT to try to get all of the other systems on campus to communicate with each other … but not every system at Fresno State is kind of caught up with that yet,” she said.