Diploma update: RO continues to work towards divisional DEI goals
The Office of the Registrar is excited to announce that students now have the option to select whether they want their name in use or their legal name on their diploma. Previously, only legal name was allowed. However, most importantly, it is one small but meaningful step for a more inclusive experience for our students, including our Badger alumni.
This change is in alignment with our peers, as a number of universities in the UW-System and the Big10 allow for a name other than legal name to be printed on diploma. In general, we’re seeing more and more schools moving towards offering name flexibility on the diploma.
Students can still make changes to their name in use or legal name in their student record after selecting the name they would like on their diploma. If they indicate they would like their name in use on their diploma and they make changes to their name in use after they apply to graduate, the name in use at the time of diploma order is what will be printed on the diploma. The same is true for changes to legal name. Any changes after the degree conferral date are not guaranteed to be reflected on their diploma due to the timing of degree posting and diploma ordering.
It should be noted that students indicating their commencement preferences and name in the commencement program are separate from the diploma name, and changes to name in use after the apply to graduate deadline will not impact the name that appears on the commencement program. More information on how students can select their diploma name can be found in step 6 and 7 of this KnowledgeBase document. Additionally, students that have already graduated with their legal name on their diploma can request another diploma to indicate the name in use they would like on a new diploma. There is a $60 fee associated with all duplicate/additional diplomas.
This project was an effort to create an inclusive environment for all students, including the Badger alumni community and students, and it contributes to the RO’s ongoing efforts to provide more inclusive services to our students. We want to thank all those involved in this amazing effort: Katie Block, Beth Warner, Amy Landgren, Katie Paar, and Leslie Garnder. If students have questions about the name that will print on their diploma or alumni have questions about a new diploma with a different name, feel free to direct them to the Office of the Registrar.