About the Policy

It is the policy of Elon University that any student may select a Chosen Name in addition to their Legal Name, to be used within the University Community.  Students may request this option while submitting their Elon application for admission or with the Registrar’s Office.

Students, faculty and staff are expected to refer to individuals by their chosen name unless otherwise requested by that individual.

Any student who directs an outside agency to correspond with the University, bears the responsibility to clarify their name with all agencies if using a Chosen Name at Elon.

The Chosen Name will appear in place of the student’s Legal Name in many places, whenever legally possible. Some specific examples of when a student’s Chosen Name or Legal Name are used are cited below.

Chosen Name or Legal Name Usage

Your Chosen Name will appear in the following places:

  • Phoenix ID Cards*
  • OnTrack
  • Class Rosters
  • Campus Directory
  • Moodle
  • Degree Audit
  • Public Directory, unless a FERPA information block has been requested.

*Upon request

When there is a Chosen Name on record, use of Legal Name is still required for certain offices that perform administrative processes that legally necessitate the use of a Legal Name. These include:

  • Campus Billing Services
  • Financial Aid
  • Office of Institutional Research
  • Legal Documents provided by the University
  • Academic records, transcripts
  • External Reporting
  • Athletics
  • Human Resources/Student Employment Office
  • Payroll

Privacy

Under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) a student’s name, including ones Chosen Name, may be disclosed to the public as “directory information” unless the student opts not to permit such disclosure by requesting a FERPA information block.

Maintenance of Policy

Office of the University Registrar is responsible for the maintenance of the policy for the student body.