Preferred Name becomes more inclusive
UW–Madison Preferred Name was implemented in 2013 to allow campus users to indicate a preferred first name, with options to suppress legal name in some systems. The 2013 policy also allowed a user to change legal middle name display to middle initial only.
Over the past several years, best language practices in the LGBTQ community have moved away from “preferred” to refer to names or pronouns because it implies a casual preference rather than a requirement based on respect and authentic identity. Thus it was proposed to fully rebrand the use of “Preferred Name” to “Name in Use” across UW–Madison systems.
The change to “name in use” allows users to describe the name they want designated in campus systems. It is an accurate phrase helps many populations of users who depend on this policy, including trans and nonbinary users, users with nicknames, and users with international names- recognizing that these categories overlap. It is essential that we consider all users’ language and name practices.
Additionally, this change will align our university with other campuses who are moving away from “preferred name” and with the UW–Madison Use Guidelines for Name and Pronouns in Use, established January 2021 with language best practices current at that time.
The change was presented to the Data Governance Council in May and was presented to the Information Technology Collaborative Coordination Committee (ITCCC) on June 21. A soft launch of the project occurred on May 31, where front-facing references were changed: MyUW tile, KnowledgeBase documents, and Office of the Registrar website.
MyUW Service Coordinator Laura Stella-Ames and Gender and Sexuality Campus Center Assistant Director Katherine Charek Briggs, along with Katie Block and Dani Creasey in the RO, as preferred name administrators, worked closely together to socialize and implement this transition.
While the change has been made, we still need your help to spread the word. Please share the change with your network and stakeholders, adopt/reference “name in use,” and identify in your own materials and resources where “preferred name” may need to be changed.
The change to “name in use” allows users to describe the name they want designated in campus systems. It is an accurate phrase helps many populations of users who depend on this policy, including trans and nonbinary users, users with nicknames, and users with international names- recognizing that these categories overlap. It is essential that we consider all users’ language and name practices.
Additionally, this change will align our university with other campuses who are moving away from “preferred name” and with the UW–Madison Use Guidelines for Name and Pronouns in Use, established January 2021 with language best practices current at that time.
The change was presented to the Data Governance Council in May and was presented to the Information Technology Collaborative Coordination Committee (ITCCC) on June 21. A soft launch of the project occurred on May 31, where front-facing references were changed: MyUW tile, KnowledgeBase documents, and Office of the Registrar website.
MyUW Service Coordinator Laura Stella-Ames and Gender and Sexuality Campus Center Assistant Director Katherine Charek Briggs, along with Katie Block and Dani Creasey in the RO, as preferred name administrators, worked closely together to socialize and implement this transition.
While the change has been made, we still need your help to spread the word. Please share the change with your network and stakeholders, adopt/reference “name in use,” and identify in your own materials and resources where “preferred name” may need to be changed.